Trying to repair a stolen Tahoe! help!

[CHILLINdaMOST]

OK if this don't belong here, please direct me to the right section!

My Tahoe was stolen a couple of months ago and I only had liability insurance on it so I'm having to put it all back together myself.


Vehicle info;
2004
Tahoe
5.3 flex fuel
2wd


OK onto the repairs.. they stole everything..Stripped it. It was the higher end model with Bose/DVD player.

Anyways, I can figure most of it out, what I'm having questions with is.. they stole my instrument cluster. Are they interchangeable with Silverados? And what years? And would I need it to be reprogrammed?

Also they punched in my driver's door lock and messed up my ignition cylinder. I though these trucks had a passkey system so they wouldn't start without the right key? It looks like the jammed something in the ignition and then used channel locks to turn it to start it? Nothing else looks boogered up but the cylinder so can I just put in a new cylinder and call it a day? Or do I need to get it reprogramed?

I'd really appreciate any info or help I can get!! So thanks in advance for any insight!

 

[S1nemesis1s]

OK if this don't belong here, please direct me to the right section!

My Tahoe was stolen a couple of months ago and I only had liability insurance on it so I'm having to put it all back together myself.


Vehicle info;
2004
Tahoe
5.3 flex fuel
2wd


OK onto the repairs.. they stole everything..Stripped it. It was the higher end model with Bose/DVD player.

Anyways, I can figure most of it out, what I'm having questions with is.. they stole my instrument cluster. Are they interchangeable with Silverados? And what years? And would I need it to be reprogrammed?

Also they punched in my driver's door lock and messed up my ignition cylinder. I though these trucks had a passkey system so they wouldn't start without the right key? It looks like the jammed something in the ignition and then used channel locks to turn it to start it? Nothing else looks boogered up but the cylinder so can I just put in a new cylinder and call it a day? Or do I need to get it reprogramed?

I'd really appreciate any info or help I can get!! So thanks in advance for any insight!

Man I am sorry about that - people suck, that is so not cool. At least you got it back. Not sure on the other stuff - but I don't think they have passkey. At least mine does not. I had my keys cut the local hardware store and they work. I have an 04 Z71 with all the bells (mostly worn out lol)

 

[rockola1971]

If the ingition lock cylinder was indeed punched and twisted as you said then there will be a detent type lock pin that is busted now and possibly more in the steering column. All those parts can be had at a salvage yard. An easy way to tell what all is interchangeable is to go on carparts.com and search for a steering column or door or whatever for your year, make and model and it will show you what years are usable by listing all the ones available across the U.S. and what years the donor vehicle was. Your replacement instrument cluster will need to be reprogrammed with your mileage (which is unknown now). Technically if you sell your vehicle it will have to be disclosed that the odometer is not the actual mileage and the title will have to be marked that way in accordance with your specific state rules. The replacement radio will also have to be programmed to the vin also. I recommend getting a ****** Tech 2 scanner for around $260 and it will do much of all of this instead of paying the stealership. Search my thread i started on the Tech 2 scanner for more info.

 

[TheAutumnWind]

I feel your pain. I am dealing with the same on my old commuter (96 integra), which sat for over a year until i got around to it, and had terrible leaks so it was full of water. Its gutted in my driveway atm.

Good luck!

 

[Tonyrodz]

If the ingition lock cylinder was indeed punched and twisted as you said then there will be a detent type lock pin that is busted now and possibly more in the steering column. All those parts can be had at a salvage yard. An easy way to tell what all is interchangeable is to go on carparts.com and search for a steering column or door or whatever for your year, make and model and it will show you what years are usable by listing all the ones available across the U.S. and what years the donor vehicle was. Your replacement instrument cluster will need to be reprogrammed to your vin and your mileage (which is unknown now) will also need to be programmed. Technically if you sell your vehicle it will have to be disclosed that the odometer is not the actual mileage and the title will have to be marked that way in accordance with your specific state rules. The replacement radio will also have to be programmed to the vin also. I recommend getting a ****** Tecreviscanner for around $260 and it will do much of all of this instead of paying the stealership. Search my thread i started on the Tech 2 scanner for more info.

I know clusters keep the mileage that they originally had, unless reprogrammed, but I've never heard of them having to be reprogrammed for the vin too. What's the reason for that? As far as I know, they'll work from vehicle to vehicle.

 

[rockola1971]

I know clusters keep the mileage that they originally had, unless reprogrammed, but I've never heard of them having to be reprogrammed for the vin too. What's the reason for that? As far as I know, they'll work from vehicle to vehicle.

I got vin happy. Just the radio is programmed to vin, not the Cluster. Ill edit the post.

 

[Tonyrodz]

I got vin happy. Just the radio is programmed to vin, not the Cluster. Ill edit the post.

Ok. Thx for the correction. You had me scratching my head on that one!

 

[retiredsparky]

If you google or search for rebuilt clusters, there are multiple companies on Ebay, Amazon, the internet that sell repaired clusters with a warranty. They even have a phone number. Most are easy to deal with, don't buy from them if they don't have a phone number. Call to check if they answer.

 

[CHILLINdaMOST]

OK I'll check out the clusters! Thanks for the info.

I sure do hate a theif!! This is the third vehicle I've had stolen.. I guess I have nice rides lol.

 

[TheAutumnWind]

OK I'll check out the clusters! Thanks for the info.

I sure do hate a theif!! This is the third vehicle I've had stolen.. I guess I have nice rides lol.

You might consider taking some steps to keep your vehicles from being stolen in the future. A hidden ignition kill switch might be good cheap insurance.

 

[CHILLINdaMOST]

You might consider taking some steps to keep your vehicles from being stolen in the future. A hidden ignition kill switch might be good cheap insurance.

I had a fuel pump relay button. they figured it out

 

[SDuncan2006]

You can purchase gauge cluster from O'riellys for around $200.00. They will order Dorman unit and you pay when it arrives. About 2-3 days. It will be a refurbished unit with all new bulbs and stepper motors. You will need to provide vin# and mileage (within 200). Finding a tahoe/sub/silverado in a salvage yard around here is impossible. 2000-2006 silverado gauges are the same I think.

I ruined my cluster while trying to solder new bulbs on. Fried the DIC.

 

[Shunto]

Damn, I hate to hear stuff like this...I wish Peoples would leave other peoples stuff alone.... if you want one like he has go get a GD job and buy it.
End of Rant.

 

[Tonyrodz]

You can purchase gauge cluster from O'riellys for around $200.00. They will order Dorman unit and you pay when it arrives. About 2-3 days. It will be a refurbished unit with all new bulbs and stepper motors. You will need to provide vin# and mileage (within 200). Finding a tahoe/sub/silverado in a salvage yard around here is impossible. 2000-2006 silverado gauges are the same I think.

I ruined my cluster while trying to solder new bulbs on. Fried the DIC.

I have a spare Gm cluster that looks similar to ours and it has the display that shows mileage-odometer-need it? If not, I'm trashing it.

 

[CHILLINdaMOST]

I have a spare Gm cluster that looks similar to ours and it has the display that shows mileage-odometer-need it? If not, I'm trashing it.

Yes I do need it!

 

[Tonyrodz]

Yours if you want it. Let me know what you want me to do to get it out or whatever you need. You can have the entire cluster or I could try to snap them off or something.