Let's fix a 2003 GM cluster.

In this video I go over a 2003 full size GM cluster that was sent in for repair.
This instrument cluster would be found in the Silverado Avalanche GMC Sierra Tahoe Suburban and Escalade,
Replacement trip button part number 486-3861-1-ND or 1301.9315.24

[@vernonland5987]

In a world full of idiots, it's so nice to see there are still people that know their shit.

[@jeffescortlx]

Oh I can be an idiot too. I'm sure my wife can list off a few things.

[@ellesmerewildwood4858]

We have a LOT of stray cats around these parts and for a while there I had to keep lifting my headphones because I wasn't sure if all that cat howling was the video or here. Great repair as always mate.

[@jeffescortlx]

I had to lift my headphones a few times just editing a video lol

[@Bub61fd]

Don’t understand electricity but I love the process to find the problem- thanks

[@mardizano]

Missed your videos

[@JazawaToad]

I love learning the little tips and tricks of the trade from your videos. I doubt I'll be working on GM truck cluster at any point, but it helps me keep in mind for other soldering jobs to just always be careful and go slow.

[@drewbush6535]

Wow no place to add comments. Been awhile seen a video

[@gs1100ed]

Big fan! I really appreciate your skill and experience. Very much enjoy watching you work. Especially when you find older electronics that just need TLC by an expert like you. Wish I could work on the stuff you repair. Thank you for making these videos!

[@JohnyComeLately]

Great to see one of your videos again!

[@drewbush6535]

Been a while. Thanks for videos

[@brentnearhood8874]

Thanks! Jeff

[@grabasandwich]

I wonder how much longer there will be a market for repairing and modding these clusters. Hard to believe they're that old already 😭

[@rf159a]

Someone is hungry!!🤣🤣🤣

[@joesaiditstrue]

Your cat sounds identical to mine. He does that when I'm at work (I've got a cat feeder camera that I can monitor while out of the house), and I can hear him yelling. Also a ginger 😂

[@jeffescortlx]

I have 3 orange cats. But just one of them meows all the time. The other 2 hardly make any noise at all. The joys of being a cat owner I guess 😄

[@jordanthomas2210]

Good Work!

[@bobbywarthan5173]

Great fix

[@alanarmstrong2323]

Hi Buddy happy 4th !

[@teemum.9023]

That is the best toy ever to kids

[@FixedUntilBroken]

Cat! That poor VFD. I never have been a fan of presenting the film on the screen, but I know it's pretty popular right now.

[@ThePracticalMechanic]

Ran into an issue on a 2005 Buick lacrosse the other day. No comm and no wake up after customer jump started. It does show odometer when trip button is pressed so the cluster isn’t completely dead. It seems like it just is t getting the wake up signal on the class 2 network. Powers and grounds good, comm to cluster is good, no visible cracked solder joints or burnt traces. Suspect failed transceiver but not familiar with this cluster. I’ll dig into it more next week.

[@jeffescortlx]

I'm not sure if you know this or not, but if you're bench testing this is one of the GM clusters that require a bus signal to turn on.

[@ThePracticalMechanic]

@@jeffescortlx I was testing in the vehicle since my bench setup doesn’t currently have a way to send a wake up command. This vehicle won’t let you turn the key off if the battery is dead so it was likely jump started numerous times with key on or in accessory position. GM products are normally resilient to surges but I’m suspecting this is was cause the death of this one. Normally when they are like this a simple cap discharge brings them back to life. Not on this one.

[@jeffescortlx]

​@@ThePracticalMechanic I've seen my share of damaged instrument clusters from jump starting. It certainly can and does happen.

[@arthurrodesiler3109]

Have missed your video. Do you fix newer ones like in last 10 years? Or what vehicles years do you go up to. To me you are a master at this as God gave you this gift.

[@jeffescortlx]

Yes I work on the more recent ones, for example Ford, Chevy and Chrysler clusters with LCD screens that fail and need to be replaced. Thanks for watching!

[@creverett9]

I love that you make these videos! I have to ask, how and where did you learn to repair automotive electronics/electronic modules? I have an interest in electronics and would like to fix a few Mazda modules I have. But aside from visually inspecting the board, I'm not sure how to diagnose or find component faults that have no visible signs of damage.

[@jeffescortlx]

I have been interested in electronics my entire life. After graduating general electronics I went directly into a control panel shop where I was a technician for 20 years. About 13 years ago I started getting into cluster repair, by this time I had many years of soldering and component experience. So it was a fairly easy transition for me.

[@creverett9]

@@jeffescortlx oh okay that makes alot of sense! Was general electronics a school or college program? and how did you move into becoming a control panel tech?

[@jeffescortlx]

​@@creverett9 It was just a two year program at a local technical college. It was actually the school that set me up with the control panel shop.

[@creverett9]

@@jeffescortlx oh cool, okay. thanks for the replies

[@autumnjeserich2689]

Lately I have one where the VFD chip died and it keeps killing all replacements. And of course the 05 voltage regulator that does the 12v to 5v dying, if anyone knows what chip that is would really like to know. But I'll take those over previous hack jobs. Stepper motor traces are easy to fix, the worst is when your hunting missing resistors and caps by the mcu without a microscope.

[@jeffescortlx]

Maybe there is a short somewhere after the VFD chip? Maybe the display itself is shorting?

[@AlexRodriguez-pg9xk]

Which LEDs do you prefer for backlighting?

[@jeffescortlx]

If LEDs are requested, I've had the best luck with traditional 5 mm through hole LEDs, flat top. The manufacturer I buy them from has a large minimum order, But for somebody just doing one or low quantity repairs the US Speedo cubes are reliable, I've seen very few failures of those.

[@AlexRodriguez-pg9xk]

@@jeffescortlxdo you mind sharing your supplier ?

[@pennypincher6730]

Learned a bit from your videos. I have repaired a few from your videos. Have you had any experience with the 2017 era Chevy Traverse? My info display blacklists are dim during the day but at night perfectly visible. Any suggestions?

[@jeffescortlx]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/oYiWc4ttpJySnc0si=YjgEa5T_Z7iK5uy2

[@frankpintosr]

Really great video! I have this same cluster from a 2004 Tahoe. The gear selector display is very dim. Do you have any suggestions to repair that? Thank you!

[@jeffescortlx]

The group of resistors to the left of the speedometer stepper motor has fractured solder joints. But chances are if your cluster has not been rebuilt and has enough use to fracture those joints, you probably have other solder joints that are also ready to be reflowed, and more than likely you have bulbs at the end of the life too, and you might even have the original defective stepper motors. It's best to just plan on a full rebuild.

[@seanys]

Do you know anyone in Australia who does these types of repairs? My 2003 Mitsubishi Verada has a couple of dead LEDs on the instrument panel.

[@jeffescortlx]

I'm sorry but I don't know anybody in Australia that does this kind of work.

[@kenfromsilverdale5675]

Great video Jeff! I have a cluster from my 2004 Silverado that needs some work in the near future, so I'm wondering if you're taking in new work. If so, how do I contact you?

[@jeffescortlx]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/ipCViKGAgtiNl7csi=6Lt-8TlyCi7bbCbB

[@timmiet4246]

Do you ever repair 92-96 prelude fuel and temp gauges ?

[@jeffescortlx]

I have not had one come in yet. I usually just see Chevy, Ford and Chrysler.

[@timmiet4246]

@@jeffescortlx is that some thing you can do ?

[@jeffescortlx]

​@@timmiet4246 I'm not sure, I don't know what it needs or even what it looks like.

[@soundman6241]

Hey I have a cluster from a 2002 Chevy suburban that is doing all of the usual things. I cant see your contact info. Please give me a link so I can make arrangements to send it to you.

[@jeffescortlx]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/ipCViKGAgtiNl7csi=6Lt-8TlyCi7bbCbB

[@Failure_Is_An_Option]

Wait... Your name is Ted?

[@jeffescortlx]

Nope.