Gm Cluster

Hello!

I took my car in and had the cluster inspected by a mechanic. They said they didn't see any cracked solder. I had them solder the two rows of joints closest to the plug for good measure since a YouTube video showed the exact same problem and that was his solution. They humored me, soldered the two rows of joints and re calibrated the cluster. Two weeks later the problem is back. Is there something else I can check or does it need to be refurbished? I was quoted $200.00+ just for that. I've seen after market clusters online for about $30.00 to $50.00 but I don't know how long they last.

Just an update, having no electronics experience or people I know who can help with soldering, I took the cluster to a GM cluster refurbisher. They said the soldering job the previous guys had done was very poor and the solder was still cracked. So they just redid the whole thing $240.00. It pinched, but the problem is over.

Hello!

It's been two years and the problem is back after the full refurbishment. This time, all the lights go on and gauges go flat as previously described, but after driving a while the lights turn off, gauges return to normal, but the security light stays on. Is there any longer-term solutions or do I have to refurbish it every two years? Do you have any advice?

Update: the problem came to a climax, at first the ABS and brake light flickered on and off sporadically. Then I couldn't start my car, and when I did manage to, the dash lights would flicker on and off, radio turned on and off. Sometimes when I got it started, I couldn't shift into gear. When I turned it off, I couldn't take the key out of the ignition. Turns out, the previous owner had messed with the steering column wiring harness. The clip on the plug to the ignition switch was broken off so the plug was just loose. Zip tied it. Then the previous owner spliced the radio power into a random wire, partially severing it. The dealer repaired 12 different connections and connected the radio to the fuse box. So far, the problem has vanished.

New update: Problem resurfaced but slightly altered. ABS, brake light, and security light have been flickering on and off for weeks. I replaced the entire steering column wiring harness and pigtails associated with the ignition switch. No change. I change the ignition key cylinder. No change, however, when I got the cylinder re-keyed and I reinstalled it, the flat-gauge, all-lights problem manifested briefly before returning to the spastic abs/brake light vacillations. Could the antitheft security device be a factor?

Below I'm posting my full gremlin hunting saga as a recap:

†For years car has been plagued with intermittent and unpredictable electrical shorts manifesting when all the gauge lights light up and the oil, battery, gas, and temperature gauges all go flat.
†Recently this problem escalated with cluster and radio turning on and off, key getting stuck in ignition, inability to start car or shift out of park when car did get started.
†Also, but may not be related, rear wiper engages when brake is pressed sometimes.
†Previous owner tampered with wiring to install subwoofers. Not sure if fuse box under rear seat can contribute if it’s been messed with? Old subwoofer wires still connected there.

Attempted Solutions
†Had gauge cluster and sending motors refurbished twice. No change to problem.
†Had various mechanics check electrical systems, clean grounds, fix splices. No change to problem.
†New battery and bolts when terminals stripped. No change to problem.
†Replaced entire steering column wiring harness and pigtails. No change.
†Replaced Key ignition cylinder. Key hasn’t gotten stuck, but original problem still exists.
†Gauge-light-up-and-flat-gauge problem stopped briefly after having car worked on, but ABS, brake, and security light would come on and off unpredictably and very frequently accompanied by the odometer and gear shift indicator flickering when car vibrates from road. Battery gauge vacillates.
†Had alternator and battery tested by AutoZone. All tested good. Battery is only a year old.
†Replaced left wheel speed sensor and cleaned right wheel speed sensor. No change to ABS or brake-light flashing intermittently.
†Topped off brake fluid- no change to brake light problem. Fluid was flushed not too long ago.
†Cleaned ABS ground. No change to problem.
†Had ignition key cylinder changed by locksmith. When reinstalled, the gauge-light-up-and-flat-gauge problem manifested again after it had been absent for a few weeks and vanished before I could record it. Typical.
†Then day after locksmith, no ABS, brake, or security light even after a long drive. Only faint flicker of odometer/gear indicator light.

New theory
†Maybe antitheft device on ignition is faulty?
†Some short between fuse box and ignition?
†Vibrations from road affect odometer and gear shift indicator display suggesting a loose connection?