911 help.....
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 831
Likes: 0
From: Port Elgin, On
911 help.....
Hey guys, as I was driving in this morning and about 2 mins after starting the truck my dash went dead. All of my guages went to 0, fuel, oil pressure, tranny temp, oil temp, tach, speedo and even the odometer is blank. The ABS light came on as did the battery light, the dash lights worked and the truck worked fine? Occasionally it would all go back to normal for about 2-3 seconds about half way through my drive, but by the time I arrived it hadn't come on in 10 mins. Has this happened to anyone else? Can anyone give me a (hopefully) simple answer to this?
Thanks so much for any input!
Thanks so much for any input!
Beer Fridge Finder
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 14,988
Likes: 1,151
From: Savannah, GA
Just a dumb question, but did you try the old 'smack the top of the dash fix'? Because if it is a loose connector, you might jiggle it into working, then you know all you have to do is pull the cluster and make sure that huge plug is in there tight.
Cargo Master
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,902
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From: Pasadena, Maryland
Ahhhh...The old "technical tap"...
4000 rounds a min
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 2,223
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From: Albemarle NC
That sounds like the alternator crapped out on you. That is what has happened to me when mine went out.
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Have a nice Beer!!!
Joined: Nov 2006
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From: WA Resident
There are two connectors on the back side that have possibly come loose. Pull your dash apart then the four 8mm screws need to come out. Push the connectors back together to the cluster. Should all work again.
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Thread Starter
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 831
Likes: 0
From: Port Elgin, On
Hey guys sorry I took so long for an update, and thank you for all the replies!
Ok, on my way home it pretty much did the exact same thing, only I noticed that it would shut down only when I accelerated past 1000 RPM's, and would only come back on when my braking speed got below 20ish mph. Really weird.
Does that sound like it could be the plug still?
If so, how do I take apart the dash?
"Kwikkordead Water dripping on the GEM?"
I doubt it would be water, even though I don't know what the GEM is, because its been well below 0 here for weeks.
I was hoping that it would be a fuse, but think that is unlikely due to the on/off effect.
The alternator is my worst case scenario, although timing wise it would fit.....I just replaced the starter and all the brakes.....
Ok, on my way home it pretty much did the exact same thing, only I noticed that it would shut down only when I accelerated past 1000 RPM's, and would only come back on when my braking speed got below 20ish mph. Really weird.
Does that sound like it could be the plug still?
If so, how do I take apart the dash?
"Kwikkordead Water dripping on the GEM?"
I doubt it would be water, even though I don't know what the GEM is, because its been well below 0 here for weeks.
I was hoping that it would be a fuse, but think that is unlikely due to the on/off effect.
The alternator is my worst case scenario, although timing wise it would fit.....I just replaced the starter and all the brakes.....
Posting Guru
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,244
Likes: 1
From: North Cackalacky
No GEM on an 03.
You can test your alternator under load by turned on the headlights to highbeam, turn blower fan on high and see what the output voltage is from the alternator. Compare those readings to what it is at idle and you will know if its doing its job.
Low voltage will do wicked things with an electrical system.
You can test your alternator under load by turned on the headlights to highbeam, turn blower fan on high and see what the output voltage is from the alternator. Compare those readings to what it is at idle and you will know if its doing its job.
Low voltage will do wicked things with an electrical system.
Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,426
Likes: 0
From: Manchester, NJ
This may be a stupid reply, but i had the same exact problem happening to me for the longest time and i tried everything. So one day it was doing it consistently so a buddy and i looked underneath the hood and he noticed that the plug on the top of the alternator was just sitting in the connector not actually plugged in. So we plugged it back in fully and it never happened again. Not saying this is the answer, jsut something to check out.