Instrument Cluster

[Yukon Lover]

I have a 2003 yukon with the 5.3 v8. Im having a problem with my guages, well a few electrical issues actually but ill stick to the guages in this thread. The guages light up but none of the needles move. Also most of the warnings dont work except the check engine light of course. Like when it shuts down due to the reduced engine power i have no warning until the throttle doesnt respond. The digital readout is out too.

---------- Post added at 08:24 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:59 PM ----------

I talked with a parts place today and of course they didnt have a used one for me to try but they were all in agreement that its the cluster itself not some other cause and they can get one all programmed for $220

 

[EMF Audio]

I think a bigger question is why is it going into limp mode?

 

[Yukon Lover]

Yes thats driving me nuts too but this is about gauges. There are plenty of threads about the reduced engine power issue.

 

[EMF Audio]

Yes thats driving me nuts too but this is about gauges. There are plenty of threads about the reduced engine power issue.

You're experiencing exactly the same thing I was when the plug that goes from my ignition harness to the fuse box wiggled every so slightly loose. I unplugged and plugged back in, problem solved. Alternatively, it could be your ignition switch causing the same problem.

 

[Yukon Lover]

You dont think its just the cluster?

 

[Screwd up 6]

I am not a fan of replacing parts using the whole guess and check method (try a part and hope it fixes then try another if not...repeat til complete) BUT I have done it before in desperate times. I had a blazer that had some eletrical issues, everyone swore the limp mode was ignition switch harness, that they commonly fail. So I tore the colum apart, replaced the switch....No go. $100 and a few hrs wasted. I then was told the BCM, so spent a few hrs messing with the harness and that, still nothing. Then was told it could be the PCM itself, still nothing.

My problem ended up being the mainwire harness in the transmission. I am NOT saying that is what yours is, I am just saying there could be a ton of things it could be.

Have you taken the gauges out recently? Is it possible the main harness on the back has not been plugged in all the way? I know my response is kinda all over the place...sorry, I ramble at times.

The gauges take no time to pull out, do you have a friend or anyone that you can test their gauges in yours to see if maybe its the circuits that are out or if it is directly related to the gauge cluster itself?

 

[Yukon Lover]

Thanks for the reply, i sometimes too am all over the place with responses. Transmission! What the?! I havent taken the gauges out they just stopped working one day. The needles are pegged at normal operating range and do not move but still light up. I dont know if putting another cluster in would work as it needs to be programmed for your vehicle but thats why I went to the junk yard to try it and they would let me just try it and if it didnt work still let me return it.

 

[Screwd up 6]

I guess I didnt realize the guages cant just be swapped out. Well keep us updated on what you find out.

 

[alc5m]

they can just be swapped out, the only thing that will be different will be your mileage

 

[Yukon Lover]

I knew that about the mileage but i thought there wre other reasons for programming to function properly in your vehicle. Do you know this for sure? Also I cant turn off my traction control or shift the electric four wheel drive. Connected? If so maybe i can find a used one elsewhere at least to try and them maybe go for the all programmed one for $220.

 

[alc5m]

yea, i forget who it was, but in the tech section he replaces the soldered led's (i think its like scottyboy maybe?) but to test everythng to make sure its good before he ships it back to you he sticks it in his truck to make sure everything works, as far as i know you can just swap them all day long with the mileage changing

also for your 4wd do you have auto4? if you do try putting it in auto first and then switching back into to 2

 

[Screwd up 6]

Any progress? Just noticed you live in Maine....have you check all your grounds? Possible that they may not be great due to salt on roads and corrosion? Just another thought...

 

[Yukon Lover]

Alc5m im talking about my local junkyard for the $220 dollar cluster not shipping out. Also yes its auto four wheel but i only have the option to shut it off as its in that all the time i dont have two wheel. Screwed up i checked a couple of them dont know where they all are. Im finding now that i have voltage issues. I have a maf sensor code and in checking that and the tac harness at the pedal sensor the voltage is way off with just the key on. Also i had a catalyst code that I guess 98% off the time is the converter and spent a bunch of time trying to figure out hacking in a couple magnaflow ones and now i dont have it anymore. PCM? I tried a new battery and it got a little better but still not good. What controls the voltage to your sensors and whatnot? Is it the pcm? I feel like im creeping up on it but getting very annoyed with the truck and even messing with it anymore.

 

[alc5m]

I know you're talking about junkyard cluster, i was just using the example of (scottyboy?) to say that the gauges and everything will work just by swapping, its just a matter of wrong mileage

and i'm not 100% sure on the sensor voltage, my guess would be the pcm as you are thinking, but the other option would be the bcm, but that would probably just control the gauges itself

also it would be cheaper for you to 1) take apart your cluster and solder in new motors assuming thats the problem, or 2) send it out to get them done

i wouldnt spend 220 personally on a cluster from a junk yard just to find the stepper motors are bad and the problem continues, ya know?

edit: nvm, forgot it said that the digital readout was out as well

 

[Yukon Lover]

The $220 cluster is new and all programmed. Just an option they threw out when i called about a used one to try but they didnt have one and would take like four days to get the new programmed one. Whats the bcm? How can we find out about the voltage? Im thinking that it may be causing all the issues. Ive searched online and havent found an answer to what controls the voltage.

---------- Post added at 02:35 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:33 PM ----------

Also was thinking about the new one cause i would probably spend that on fixing and overnight shipping anyway.

---------- Post added at 02:37 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:35 PM ----------

ps. I think i should try to figure out this voltage crap before the cluster to see if it comes back after and also its making it run like crap and giving me the ever annoying reduced engine power.

 

[SunlitComet]

working on your pm now yukon.

 

[Yukon Lover]

Just a little update. Ive been pming sunlit and working with him on the issue and others. it seems that i have a voltage issue which may have caused the cluster to fail. Alternator tests fine and new batt so we are trying to track down the culprit. Also there is a tsb out for mine (apparently 03 only) for the dealer to reprogram the cluster at my cost for labor, but thats also only good if nothing went wrong with the cluster internally, but we need to sort out the other issues before i try to put it back in. dont want spend the money on it to put it in and fry it again. So thats where were at just wanted to let you guys know and when we figure it out and get it back together and working again ill update again.

 

[alc5m]

yuk lover, whats that tsb for? i've got an 03 too

 

[Yukon Lover]

Its to have you cluster reprogrammed by the dealer, you pay the labor. Its 03 only and also only certain part numbers. Youll have to pull yours out to get the part number and see if its included. Msg sunlitcomet with your number he has the bulletin.

---------- Post added at 10:33 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:28 PM ----------

Also alc i found out (from sun) that it is the pcm that controls voltage to your sensors, but some also have a 12 volt source from the batt as well. Like my maf sensor actually has both. Also found that my voltage woes were actually my meter reading wrong, got a new one and all is well.

 

[alc5m]

thats good to hear yuk, so that means it was just the programming issue? or was the cluster actually bad?