'02 Silverado Dash Lights/gauge Gremlins

Fasted58 · October 27, 2007

I have a '02 Silverado 1500 4X4 5.3 auto. After 15-30 min. run time the battery icon (message center), ABS, service engine, brake, seatbelt, and airbag lights come on momentarily (2-3 secs.) and the speedo, water temp and fuel gauges cut out. Tach, volts and oil pressure gauges have been OK. The ABS light may also come on momentarily by itself more randomly. Volts are always 14+. This problem started when the original battery (5+ yrs. old) died and was replaced. Start and run OK. There was no juice anywhere in the truck the next day, pulled the battery to charge, but was near full charge, charged at about 4 amps, reinstalled and truck started. The dash light/ gauge problem began shortly after this. One month later the new battery was drained. Charged battery, start and run OK, put in shop. Mechanic checked all engine, chassis and cab grounds OK. Underhood and glovebox lamps shut off OK too. Replaced the PRNDL switch, problem still persists. Next suspect is the ignition switch. Am I correct to suspect the light/ gauge problem may be linked to the battery drain problem, or can it just be coincidental? I have no backup vehicle at this time. Any advice would be highly appreciated. Thanks much.

craig muckridge · October 27, 2007

I have a '02 Silverado 1500 4X4 5.3 auto. After 15-30 min. run time the battery icon (message center), ABS, service engine, brake, seatbelt, and airbag lights come on momentarily (2-3 secs.) and the speedo, water temp and fuel gauges cut out. Tach, volts and oil pressure gauges have been OK. The ABS light may also come on momentarily by itself more randomly. Volts are always 14+. This problem started when the original battery (5+ yrs. old) died and was replaced. Start and run OK. There was no juice anywhere in the truck the next day, pulled the battery to charge, but was near full charge, charged at about 4 amps, reinstalled and truck started. The dash light/ gauge problem began shortly after this. One month later the new battery was drained. Charged battery, start and run OK, put in shop. Mechanic checked all engine, chassis and cab grounds OK. Underhood and glovebox lamps shut off OK too. Replaced the PRNDL switch, problem still persists. Next suspect is the ignition switch. Am I correct to suspect the light/ gauge problem may be linked to the battery drain problem, or can it just be coincidental? I have no backup vehicle at this time. Any advice would be highly appreciated. Thanks much.

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Sometimes I have found if you remove both battery cables from battery and touch them together for about 15-30 seconds that this will reset the control modules in the truck. If the battery voltage was low and continued to run on the old battery, it somehow memorizes that situation and makes everything wig out. I have had many trucks here in Iraq do that to me after we replaced the battery. If it had the electronic throttle body it makes that wig out as well.

hodo78 · October 27, 2007

I have a '02 Silverado 1500 4X4 5.3 auto. After 15-30 min. run time the battery icon (message center), ABS, service engine, brake, seatbelt, and airbag lights come on momentarily (2-3 secs.) and the speedo, water temp and fuel gauges cut out. Tach, volts and oil pressure gauges have been OK. The ABS light may also come on momentarily by itself more randomly. Volts are always 14+. This problem started when the original battery (5+ yrs. old) died and was replaced. Start and run OK. There was no juice anywhere in the truck the next day, pulled the battery to charge, but was near full charge, charged at about 4 amps, reinstalled and truck started. The dash light/ gauge problem began shortly after this. One month later the new battery was drained. Charged battery, start and run OK, put in shop. Mechanic checked all engine, chassis and cab grounds OK. Underhood and glovebox lamps shut off OK too. Replaced the PRNDL switch, problem still persists. Next suspect is the ignition switch. Am I correct to suspect the light/ gauge problem may be linked to the battery drain problem, or can it just be coincidental? I have no backup vehicle at this time. Any advice would be highly appreciated. Thanks much.

I had this same problem on my '03 Avlalanche. It got so bad, that I finally took it to the dealer and they had to order me a new gauge cluster. This was covered under my extended warranty, but the straight out cost on the service sheet was around $300 for the cluster and 1 hour install and reprogram.

just my 2 cents!

Fasted58 · November 12, 2007

I have a '02 Silverado 1500 4X4 5.3 auto. After 15-30 min. run time the battery icon (message center), ABS, service engine, brake, seatbelt, and airbag lights come on momentarily (2-3 secs.) and the speedo, water temp and fuel gauges cut out. Tach, volts and oil pressure gauges have been OK. The ABS light may also come on momentarily by itself more randomly. Volts are always 14+. This problem started when the original battery (5+ yrs. old) died and was replaced. Start and run OK. There was no juice anywhere in the truck the next day, pulled the battery to charge, but was near full charge, charged at about 4 amps, reinstalled and truck started. The dash light/ gauge problem began shortly after this. One month later the new battery was drained. Charged battery, start and run OK, put in shop. Mechanic checked all engine, chassis and cab grounds OK. Underhood and glovebox lamps shut off OK too. Replaced the PRNDL switch, problem still persists. Next suspect is the ignition switch. Am I correct to suspect the light/ gauge problem may be linked to the battery drain problem, or can it just be coincidental? I have no backup vehicle at this time. Any advice would be highly appreciated. Thanks much.

I had this same problem on my '03 Avlalanche. It got so bad, that I finally took it to the dealer and they had to order me a new gauge cluster. This was covered under my extended warranty, but the straight out cost on the service sheet was around $300 for the cluster and 1 hour install and reprogram.

just my 2 cents!

krwyellowz28 · April 5, 2010

I know this is an old thread, but I am experiencing the exact same problem with my 2000 GMC. Does anyone else have any experience with this, and how they managed to fix it?

jro909 · April 5, 2010

guage cluster...they are known to be shotty in the early gmt-800s...let alone the stepper motors

Nytemare · April 5, 2010

I know this is an old thread, but I am experiencing the exact same problem with my 2000 GMC. Does anyone else have any experience with this, and how they managed to fix it?

Yup, I would wager at least 75% of us here have had issues with the cluster

You likely have to get the cluster replaced.

Check your battery terminals to ensure a good clean solid connection, and you could have your alternator checked for issues...but there is a 95% chance its your cluster.

22zxla · April 5, 2010

ive got the same problem and changed the cluster and no luck! From what i can tell, the cluster that goes bad is an 03 and not an 02 like we have! I will try what irag guy said because it did start about a week after my new battery. I remember thinking i didnt tighten the cables good, but not the problem! my battery has never drained and it starts everytime! So frustrating!