I have a 2005 Chevy Silverado, and just recently the Speedometer started acting up on a rare ocassion (twice now), where it shows me going significantly slower than I am after driving for an hour or so. I took it to the stealership and they told me a new instrument cluster is just under $600 installed. I watched a few videos tonight on how to change the cluster and found a few places that will either rebuilt your current cluster or sell you another.I'm curious if anyone else here has had similar issues and replaced the unit yourself?

Had the same thing on my 2005 Chevy Silverado but I had the dealer replace it to the tune of $500.00:E then I sold the truck:R

Same thing on my truck also, a 2004 Silverado. All gauges would die at once, usually on a cold day. Was a recall on this with a 7yr or 70,000 mi limit and of course mine was 2 mo past. Ended up pulling it out myself and sending it in to an on-line repair place for $125. Got it back and could tell they replaced all the gauges. Couple weeks later the same problem. Pulled it back out myself and resoldered all the joints on the main connector plug pins. A year or so later now and it seems fine.

Is this not covered by a recall? I thought I had heard about one on these trucks. I replaced the cluster on my sons Saturn. Not the same vehicle but close enough. I purchased a used cluster on line for $75 and replaced it in 15 minutes. It was incredibly easy. We bought the car used and the previous owner shaved $500 off the price due to the cluster issues, so it worked out for me!

We had one replaced on our 2003 Avalanche. It was under warranty still when replaced. The dash lights went out, the speedometer was all over the place also.Check with a dealer...2003 to 2005 had to be replaced. As Paul said there was a 7 year/ 70,000 clause. There was a lawsuit over this.

Same on mine and I had the dealer replace the instrument cluster...the original recall was not an official recall but instead was classified as a special vehicle announcement which us not the same as a recall

Chevy Instrument Cluster Issues | Good Sam Community

21 Replies

wnjj
Explorer II
Apr 10, 2014
The LeRoys wrote:
So for those of you who fixed it yourself, where were the bad solder joints? Were they on the pins next to where the connection is? Or other places?

My instrument cluster is having 2 issues.
1) Speedometer occasionally reads wrong after driving a while. I was driving on the highway the other day doing about 60 according to speedo while towing. After a little while I was passing everyone, something seemed wrong, so i checked phone GPS, and I was doing like 75+.

2) last summer the needle on my volt meter flipped upside down and has been that way since.

Sounds like the stepper motors themselves have failed in your case. I think they mechanically fail and don't always move the distance they're supposed to when pulsed.

The bad solder joints I fixed on my Dad's were the power pins on the main connector but his whole cluster was intermittently shutting off.
davidbt
Explorer
Apr 10, 2014
I bought a 04 chevy 2500 D/M with 73K +/-. With in two weeks the fuel gage started acting up. Fortunately, I had a 3K, or 3mnth warranty, and the dealer had to replace the instrument cluster. Of course, after buying truck, I read a review blog, and this was a common problem.
jbres
Explorer
Apr 10, 2014
My friend sent his into here recently and said it was quick to come back and very reasonable
http://www.gmgaugerepair.com/
dodge_guy
Explorer II
Apr 09, 2014
The problems are either some bad solder connections or the stepper motors (90% of the time). they are easy to R&R and there are places that will repair them affordably.
Terryallan
Explorer II
Apr 09, 2014
Ok and this may not help as mine is a Ford. But my cluster went out, and NOTHING worked except the trany, brakes, and gas. Ordered a new cluster, and drove on home with the TT in tow. Guess what, as NOTHING worked. There were no bells of chimes when I turned it off, and left the lights on. Needless to say. I killed the battery, Pretty well dead.
So I hooked the jumper cables to the car, and truck, and jumped it off. Guess what good happened. Yep, The cluster came back to life, and every thing worked again. It may not work for you. But I'd try it.
Unhook the battery. Let it sit for a couple hours. Seems there are capacitors that need to discharge before the cluster will reboot. Hook it back up, and see what happens
notruffinit
Explorer
Apr 09, 2014
I had a 2002 GMC and if I remember, there was a technical bulletin or a class action suit out on this known problem and dealerships were taking care of the costs. Have the dealers do a check for it before you pay.
The_LeRoys
Explorer
Apr 08, 2014
So for those of you who fixed it yourself, where were the bad solder joints? Were they on the pins next to where the connection is? Or other places?

My instrument cluster is having 2 issues.
1) Speedometer occasionally reads wrong after driving a while. I was driving on the highway the other day doing about 60 according to speedo while towing. After a little while I was passing everyone, something seemed wrong, so i checked phone GPS, and I was doing like 75+.

2) last summer the needle on my volt meter flipped upside down and has been that way since.
racer4
Explorer
Apr 08, 2014
Other forum members posted their experience here:
clicky

I made some notes a while back of repair sources:
clicky 1

clicky 2

clicky 3

clicky 4

I don't remember where I found the above links, either here or dieselplace.
camperforlife
Explorer
Apr 08, 2014
My 04 GMC had the same problem but I was lucky enough that it died early under warranty.
ib516
Explorer II
Apr 08, 2014
You can buy the stepper motors and DIY if you're handy. My buddy fixed his 04 Duramax a couple years ago.