Speedo, tacho and gear indicator failure

grahamecooper · 08-26-2009, 04:17 AM

Help please for a 1998 K1500 4x4 Sierra this side of the pond.

Suddenly the speedo went to zero, then to 45 (I was doing 30), then the tacho went haywire and then the gear indicator light went out. Parked up. On restart, no tacho, no speedo until after a couple of miles I was doing 60 and sitting on my drive it is still doing 45 with the engine switched off.
We thought the printed circuit board might have a poor connection so we looked for a replacement, but all we could get is poor second hand.

So we cleaned up the board and put it back and it was OK on a 90mile journey until I switched off. Thereafter nothing until 60 miles later when suddenly the speedo came to life but told lies as to the speed. Acceleration from stationery is also markedly poor now.

Can anyone suggest what the problem is? Rumour has it the 1998 had an 'inherent problem' in this department but no-one can tell me what.

What is the assembly called (or part number) so I can see if I can get a new or good s/hand one?

Will appreciate any advice given

batty1214 · 08-26-2009, 07:08 AM

that would be a gauge cluster, and Im not sure, but on the new ones, you have to have a gm dealer do it so they can download all the miles/km on the truck, then program the new one so it show that many miles........ I just got 4 trucks back from the local dealer which had the same problem

Faxcion · 08-27-2009, 02:46 AM

I know they had a recall on gmc trucks and yukons about bad clusters but im not sure what year they were. Mine is doing the same thing dude and i've got an 03, i priced a new cluster at a grave yard and it was only gunna be like 120 bucks so im sure one for a 98 isnt gunna be more than that if not cheaper

grahamecooper · 08-27-2009, 07:49 AM

Many thanks for your responses. The problem is being exacerbated by the fact that we have had two already from graveyards in the US and both, on checking, were found to be no good, so we are no further forward. It would be nice if there were someone sitting out there on a new boxed unit that would not cost the earth, (900US$ has been mentioned as a dealer price) or a graveyard that had checked the unit as OK before shipping.

Who is good to ask?

08-26-2009, 04:17 AM	#1
grahamecooper Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Bedfordshire, England Posts: 2	Speedo, tacho and gear indicator failure Help please for a 1998 K1500 4x4 Sierra this side of the pond. Suddenly the speedo went to zero, then to 45 (I was doing 30), then the tacho went haywire and then the gear indicator light went out. Parked up. On restart, no tacho, no speedo until after a couple of miles I was doing 60 and sitting on my drive it is still doing 45 with the engine switched off. We thought the printed circuit board might have a poor connection so we looked for a replacement, but all we could get is poor second hand. So we cleaned up the board and put it back and it was OK on a 90mile journey until I switched off. Thereafter nothing until 60 miles later when suddenly the speedo came to life but told lies as to the speed. Acceleration from stationery is also markedly poor now. Can anyone suggest what the problem is? Rumour has it the 1998 had an 'inherent problem' in this department but no-one can tell me what. What is the assembly called (or part number) so I can see if I can get a new or good s/hand one? Will appreciate any advice given

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08-26-2009, 07:08 AM	#2
batty1214 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Vernal Utah Posts: 1,135	that would be a gauge cluster, and Im not sure, but on the new ones, you have to have a gm dealer do it so they can download all the miles/km on the truck, then program the new one so it show that many miles........ I just got 4 trucks back from the local dealer which had the same problem

08-27-2009, 02:46 AM	#3
Faxcion Full Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Calico Rock Ar. Posts: 32	I know they had a recall on gmc trucks and yukons about bad clusters but im not sure what year they were. Mine is doing the same thing dude and i've got an 03, i priced a new cluster at a grave yard and it was only gunna be like 120 bucks so im sure one for a 98 isnt gunna be more than that if not cheaper

08-27-2009, 07:49 AM	#4
grahamecooper Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Bedfordshire, England Posts: 2	Many thanks for your responses. The problem is being exacerbated by the fact that we have had two already from graveyards in the US and both, on checking, were found to be no good, so we are no further forward. It would be nice if there were someone sitting out there on a new boxed unit that would not cost the earth, (900US$ has been mentioned as a dealer price) or a graveyard that had checked the unit as OK before shipping. Who is good to ask?