01 SuperCrew gauge cluster going crazy
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Cross-Country
Joined: Aug 2003
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01 SuperCrew gauge cluster going crazy
As I was on my way home yesterday my instrument cluster started acting up. All the idiot lights came on and started blinking and all the needles dropped to the bottom and quivered a bit. Then it would do a sweep with all the gauges like when you start it and be fine. Then after a couple minutes it would do it again, and it got more frequent the longer I drove. The truck ran fine, and it did it again today once while being riven for about 15 min.
Any ideas anyone?
Any ideas anyone?
Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2005
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i have heard of things like that when the battery is dying and very low voltage ispresent. since your truck restarted today, i would guess its not the battery. i would maintain that you have a voltage problem. either bad ground- rusted loose strap, or maybe water in the fuse box or GEM. Has it set in the rain? Window leak above steering column? Water noted on the floor?
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Cross-Country
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Hasn't rained lately so everything is dry. Took it out to the gym tonight and it was fine on the way there but did it a couple times on the way back. Headlights didn't seem to dim at all. I'll check the grounds tomorrow in the light.
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2004
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My truck acted very similar a few weeks ago and I thought it was the battery so I had it tested at Autozone. It checked out to be good but they went ahead and exchanged it anyway and since I put the new one back in it has acted up at all.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jul 2003
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The Battery post is breaking away from the plates inside the battery or the web between the plates has a crack in it. Either way it will leave you stranded, a jump start won't even help you. Pretty much all the batteries are made by Johnson Controls, so it doesn't matter where you get the battery. Compare cranking amps. warranty and price. Also I would try and put battery on a maintainer for the first week to condition it or plan on a trip to condition the battery, as sometimes the initial charge is too shallow.
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Cross-Country
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Well I guess it didn't help fixing the battery terminals. Now twice the cluster has acted up and the truck wouldn't start. It cranks fast but seems like there is no spark. Today the truck sat for like 8 hrs so it wasn't hot. Seems like a PATS issue maybe? Is there anything that would affect the gauge cluster and the anti-theft system? It did start about a half hour of trying so its at home at least.
Anymore ideas?
COuld it still be the battery? Don't want to replace it unnecessarily.
Anymore ideas?
COuld it still be the battery? Don't want to replace it unnecessarily.
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My gauges were swinging all the way to the right, replaced the battery and it went away. Also I noticed the old battery was reading one and a half volts above what the new battery reads. I'm thinking the old battery is loosing its internal resistance.
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Cross-Country
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The theft light and all the lights but the battery one and turn signals were flashing on and off quickly. The needles were all quivering too.
I did try the other key as well. My wife had it at work and she tried to start it a bunch , then I got there with my key and tried a few times then last time I tried the cluster was back to normal and it started right up. The cluster was then fine on the way home.
I did try the other key as well. My wife had it at work and she tried to start it a bunch , then I got there with my key and tried a few times then last time I tried the cluster was back to normal and it started right up. The cluster was then fine on the way home.
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Cross-Country
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Took a video with my phone tonight if it helps
dash going crazy video by vista461 - Photobucket
dash going crazy video by vista461 - Photobucket
so I'm not sure how it could get wet. It doesn't happen all the time, but it's annoying
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