Intermittent Instument Panel problem

BillGriff1 · January 18, 2006

My 2003 Suburban began having intermittent instrument panel failures in July of 2005. While returning from vacation, the instrument panel did not work after starting the vehicle. Nothing on the panel worked at all. No speedometer, no gauges, no driver information center... not even an gear indicator. Radio, A/C, wipers, headlights, turn indicators worked properly.

As it was the weekend, I decided to continue driving home and take it in to the dealer on Monday. After driving an hour or so with no instruments, I heard a bell and the instrument panel cycled on and began working properly. I didn't take it in to the dealer since it was working properly, however, in a couple of weeks I had the same problem.

This time I took it to the dealer. The technician read the service code(s) and determined my instrument panel needed to be replace. While he was checking the codes, the panel began working properly again. With the significant cost of replacing the panel, I decided to wait on the repair.

I searched the Internet for information and found something that seemed to indicated the electrical system was highly sensitive to low voltage situations. I had my battery checked and found I had a dead cell. I replaced the battery and the problem seems to disappear.

Today the problem reappeared. When I entered the vehicle this morning, I noticed the driver's information center (DIC) was fully lit; each character position was fully illuminated... rectangles across the entire DIC. I started the vehicle without any problem... but the instrument panel is not working.

Any ideas? Any help would be very much appreciated.

mikejbar · February 26, 2009

I am having the same issue- did you come to any conclusions??

CapitalTruck · February 26, 2009

Yikes, I would sure be interested to hear what this is all about. You could dig in there and see what's going on, I've heard that the instrument panels are pretty easy to remove. Worth a try (then you could replace it yourself anyway in the future if that's what it comes down to, they're all over ebay).

dlstewart01 · February 26, 2009

I am having the same issue- did you come to any conclusions??

He had that issue 3 years ago??? And if you look at his profile he hasn't been on this forum sense 2006.

bill190 · February 26, 2009

If this were my vehicle, I would look at the factory wiring diagram and find locations for common (main) ground or +12 Volt power wires going to the instrument panel. Then use a multimeter to see if these connections were getting to the panel or not. And then troubleshoot from there.

Basically I would look for and test wires which were common to all gauges. Then also test the printed circuit board traces on the instrument panel and solder connections as well.

If it was an intermittent problem, I might leave my multimeter in the truck and the instrument panel loose so I could pull it out and test various wires/points when it was not working.

wlvrn1215 · February 26, 2009

Just got my buddy a new cluster for his 03 HD. If your vehicle has under 70,000 miles on it then there is a TSB on the cluster that GM will replace for free. Hope this helps

HOLY OLD POST BATMAN!!!! its from 06. Ive been had...

txab · February 26, 2009

Just got my buddy a new cluster for his 03 HD. If your vehicle has under 70,000 miles on it then there is a TSB on the cluster that GM will replace for free. Hope this helps
HOLY OLD POST BATMAN!!!! its from 06. Ive been had...

But the other posts are from yesterday, so it's still all good.

woody68 · July 8, 2013

I had this problem with my truck recently. Turned out that my alternator was on it's last legs. Once i replaced the Alternator, never happened again.

Bob D · July 8, 2013

Had identical problem w/ my 03 Silv.

But curiously ONLY when it was very cold (I live in the land of the wind chill factor).

Once vehicle was sufficiently warmed / driven a bunch-o miles, cluster worked.

Dealer reluctantly replaced it under recall warranty. It did not solve problem.

Temp related PCM / connection issue?

One thread suggests replacing ignition switch (relatively cheap, easy) as they have been an issue in these years, and voltage to cluster is supplied through same.

PS: My heater blower motor stopped working (coldest night of the year, of course). Lengthy search suggested ign. sw. was the culprit. Never would have guessed, but replaced and all was fine.