Intermittent gauge cluster malfunction

REDNECKREBEL83

MEMBER
1998 GMC SONOMA
4.3L
6 CYL
4WD
AUTOMATIC
89,472 MILES

Everything will be just fine driving down the road and sporadically the gas, speed, rpm, and temperature gauges will go out rather dropping to 0 or going all the way to max just depends on where they are when it happens, but everything like the cruise control radio etc, works fine. It does it randomly and usually after it's gone on for a while the security, seat belt, battery and check gauges lights come on and won't shut off until I have the chance to shut the truck off for a couple minutes. I've replaced the cluster and checked fuses etc. Changing the cluster straightened it up for about a month or so then it started all over I've had several mechanics offer to "give me a price break" and fix it for around $500.00 to $800.00, but I'm on a very tight income can anyone offer any possible help?

5 Replies

BMDOUBLE

MECHANIC
1,139 POSTS

This sounds like a classic pin fit issue that I see daily for different things. The first thing that I would do is to get to the cluster connector and have a good look at the female pins for corrosion and or loose fit to the male pins. Most of the times you can take a small straight pick and bend the female pin so that it fits on the male pin tighter. This will cost zero dollars and is always what I try first. If you have a male pin the same size as the cluster, you can do a drag test to see just how loose the fit is (picture). Nevertheless this is the best place to start, and it makes sense that after you replaced the cluster the issue went away for a short while.

Image (Click to make bigger)