Road trip woes: Help with Weird Electrical Gauge Cluster Gremlins
 

I have a 2003 7.3L Excursion. New batteries and alternator within the last year from Napa. I’m in a long road trip from Grand Rapids, MI to Upper Peninsula Pictured Rocks, 360 miles away from home.

Issue is every time I accelerate I loose the gauge cluster. Battery light comes on. Once driving normal again after a minute the gauges come back on. I’ve made it to my destination. While in park, I can replicate the issue just by giving it throttle. I also loose the radio when it goes out. See attached video. I checked for codes and the only one that shows up is P1000 Monitor Testing Incomplete.

How do I fix this? Is it safe to drive like this to a repair shop or should I have it towed?

Sounds like a loose accessory belt, slips on RPM accel.
How's your tensioner?
Alternator pulley tight, no side to side bearing movement?

Belt feels tight, alternator has no play in it. I’m not sure how to test the tensioner without taking the belt off.

KOEO I get 12.1 V
KOER I get 13.1 V

I’m starting to wonder if I’ve got an issue with my gauge cluster. I’ve had it out before to re-solder the contact points that caused the windows and radios to be intermittent.

Recently on a big road trip, I had a similar issue where all the gauges dropped to 0. At the time, my voltage was dropping like a rock, then suddenly would spring back to normal. When it got really low (on the guage anyway), that is when the guage thing would happen. To me it was obvious it was a alt/voltage reg issue (and I got the credit card out accordingly). Also to note, as soon as a new drop cycle started, the ABS light would come in first.

Now I couldn't correlate the onset of voltage drop to hitting the pedal, but I do know hitting the peddle didn't keep it from happening either.

This is my issue 100% Watching my volt gauge as soon as the gauge cluster drops out I hear a click and my volt meter shows 15.9V. I have a voltage regulator issue. Now to find a auto parts place in Munising, Michigan.

At least you're in God's country. I haven't up there for...well...I won't admit to how long it's been but it's been a long time.

Fixed! Alternator was the culprit
 

After replacing the alternator in Munising, Michigan, no more dead gauges! It turned out the voltage regulator in the alternator starting failing.