Why Did The Sierra Battery Die? The Cluster Was The Culprit!!

I get to fix the Sierra with the faulty cluster
GMC Sierra Chevrolet Silverado
#keepwrenching #wesselmotorworks #wrenchingwithkenny ‪@WrenchingWithKenny‬

[@williepotts2185]

I installed a cluster from a Cadillac Escalade 04 model in my 04 GMC Sierra 2500hd. Looks great and a cheaper fix. Thanks again for your time Kenny. Very informative.

[@spelunkerd]

I like the way you hold back the bad cluster until the new remanufactured unit proves itself good. Presumably they let you send the core later, and then offer you something for the core after they get it.

[@WrenchingWithKenny]

Yes , you pay the core , then they reimburse you for it when it's returned

[@thomask4836]

This is so interesting! ! ! ! ! Kenny, the last time I pulled a speedometer and had it rebuilt and calibrated was in the 1970's because it had a worn bushing and drove the customer (and I) nuts! We used to have a shop that specialized in speedos and gauges on the other side of town. If the guy wasn't busy, he could pop in the renewal parts, test it, and send you on your way in no time! Best Wishes for a HEALTHY, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Take Care, Maria and Tom

[@BadReligionQL]

Had the same issue with my 05 Sierra. Sent it out to circuit board medics for a rebuild, had some fun for a bit driving around without a cluster. They did a great job with a quick turn around on my cluster.

[@davidlindon99]

I had a cluster issue with my 2005 Yukon. The odometer display was very dim and hard to see. I had it pulled out in under 10 minutes because I was afraid I was going to break the trim, but it popped off with no problem. There were a few screws/bolts to take out. I sent it to a place that replaced all my cluster bubs to LED and replaced all my gauges as well. I also decided since it was out to et the display changed to white and with the blue LED bulbs it really pops. Like Kenny said it is very easy to take out and dont forget to drop the column shifter allbthebway down to give you more room to get it out

[@DavidGuns]

GM Clusters are known to go bad. I have pulled tons of them and sent them out, my guy that fixes them told me most of them are due to the solder GM used does not hold up over time. I always suggest to my customers to replace the stepper motors and if they want a different color Cluster light that since it's getting repaired they can have these other things done. Before you changed the ground I was saying his meter is set on AC and then you found a better ground and switched to DC. I have blown tons of the 10 amp fuse lol I buy them 10 at a time now

[@dennisheun9974]

Whee did you get the replacement cluster? Recommnedations?

[@northwestrepair]

0.4 Amps with or without cluster. What else ?

[@scuba422123]

ahhh 15 ma is a keeper!! kenny was the odo programed with the correct miles? anyways nice find and repair! and merry christmas too!!

[@paulburroughs1313]

I have never seen a am meter used like that before. Your current reading could be off by as much as 100% because the meter is providing a parallel path for the current to get back to the battery.

[@anthonycollins9984]

Anthony B. Collins How can an instrument cluster be the cause of a battery drain?

[@jerrystephenson1172]

Silver solder in the board connections corrodes & the corrosion gets on the c. board & it becomes conductive.

[@MythicalBuilds]

i have an 03 silverado 1500HD that i've been chasing some sort of electrical issue for quite some time now. on my original cluster i would get an unknown driver light, truck would start just fine but every once in a while it would just shut down as if you turn it off, the service brake system, service 4x4, and abs light will kick on and chime like crazy. at the same time all the gauges would stop working except for the tac and the speedo. went thru and checked all grounds, cleaned them, and even replaced a few, even replaced the cluster, STILL having issues, any ideas. figured i'd ask because you seem very knowledgable and may have even run into this issue before. any help would be appreciated!

[@Kkkyle6661]

Check the wires under the fuse box bet one is broken!

[@MythicalBuilds]

@@Kkkyle6661 i checked them. a few were slightly corroded but nothing seemed broken or frayed and even tested each one individually for power or continuity with the fuses out

[@Kkkyle6661]

@@MythicalBuilds got to be a ground wire!

[@MythicalBuilds]

@@Kkkyle6661 that's what i was thinking but even re routed some and added new ones and not having any luck. starting to think that maybe a module is going down such as ABS or door module that is causing the whole system to go down because they all share the same splice pack. even got no data coming into the OBD port, got power but no data signal. worried it might be a BCM

[@user-gg1gj4lm7u]

I bought my 2003 GMC new and in 2005 I had the service 4x4 and ABS lights come on. Still under warranty at the time. They did a software update and that fixed it.

[@Adirondacks4me]

Nice to buy a new cluster but for a 2003 Silverado it's not worth the money, so my idea is to put a switch on the cluster drain fuse by using an unused switch in the cab. In my case the switch to the cargo light that is useless anyway with a cap on the bed. Some jumpering and I fix the issue for free. So with the switch off your cluster is dead, so you know to hit the switch to apply power. Just my way of not having a dead battery every morning. Just have to remember to flip the switch before exiting the vehicle or you guessed it, dead battery. This is a fix for logically determined people not ones with their heads in the clouds who use their cell phones 24/7 and put makeup on in the car....

[@neneazteka4698]

@Adirondacks4me I'm having the same problem with my 2002 Sierra, but I don't want to buy another cluster so how would I go about doing all that to my truck?? I am not that car sabby but I like your idea. It will serve as a kill switch also, if I'm not mistaken, since I don't have an alarm on it.

[@WiggSplitter75]

those clusters usually on need a little soldering done, the solder joints crack just freshen them up with fresh solder.. good to go 😊

[@vamoneygroup]

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