Cluster Problems....

Jasonsupafly · November 2, 2005

Ive got to bring this up again....2001 Z71 5.3.....ive mentioned in previous post about my tachometer not working right when the truck is cranked up.....I went by the dealer today and talked to them to maybe see what the problem is.....They said that sometimes they can reprogram the computer to fix it but the majority of the time they just have to repalce the cluster...He informed me that the cluster runs about 350.00...I have an extended warranty on the truck but am not sure if it covers the cluster.....As I was leaving I stopped by their body shop to see some people I knew and to ask them about it and they said that the service dept. replaces 2-3 a day and it is a common problem on these trucks......Come to find out my brother has the same problem upon start up but its his speedometer that doesnt work until you drive a little ways...Whats yalls input on my problem, and does that sound about right for a replacement cluster ? I like for my stuff to work especially since I paid such a high dollar for the truck....

arens · November 3, 2005

I had to have my cluster replaced at about 65k. I was having problems with both the speedo needle and tach needle. Two local dealers quoted me in the $450 to $500 range to get it fixed. I used another local garage that sent my cluster in for replacement and it only cost about $300, and that was with the shop doing all the removal/install work. I did hear from the shop owner that he has seen this alot on the NBS trucks.

Jasonsupafly · November 3, 2005

Arens , they sent it in for replacement or repair ? How long were you without the truck ? Just wondering why they may of sent it in and didnt throw it away and just put the new one in ? Cant you buy one of those cool looking aftermarket clusters for cheaper then the prices Ive been quoted for an original ? Im gone call the extended warranty people today and see if they will cover it.....I only have 55000 miles on it and its going bad.......

arens · November 4, 2005

I didn't know about this site or any after market clusters at the time. I am not sure if they replaced it or repaired it. I was told by the shop I used there was not a Chevy dealership in San Antonio that could fix it in-house and it had to be sent to Houston. The Chevy dealers I got my quotes from also told me they couldn't fix it and it would have to be shipped out, but didn't say where to. From that I am assuming it was repaired. Surely they would be able to do the reprogram if it had been a new one. If I remember correctly I was without my truck for 4 or 5 days.

I am now at about 98k and am assuming the cluster is going to go again within the next year or two. Next time I will be doing a bit more research and it will be replaced with a cluster with a trans temp gauge.

CapitalTruck · November 7, 2005

There is a TSB about this.

04-08-49-015

This bulletin says that there is something called a "Tachometer Stepper Motor" that goes bad. I am guessing that this is the micro-sized motor that moves the tachometer needle. This is probably what is causing the heartache with your cluster.

It mentions that Delphi (the company that makes almost every part for our trucks) is exchanging them and retrofitting them with new motors.

I have seen gauge clusters for sale on ebay, they even include the Tranny temperature gauge (just plug and play, your truck has the sender even if it currently doesn't have that gauge).