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Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra Electrical and Computer Questions

768 messages,  Last post on May 07, 2013 at 9:49 PM

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What is this discussion about? Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Chevrolet Silverado 2500, Chevrolet Silverado 3500, GMC Sierra 1500, GMC Sierra 2500, GMC Sierra 3500, Truck

    
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Messages Page 19 of 78

#172 of 768 2000 silverado gauge and warning light malfunction by shigzy

Feb 19, 2008 (2:45 pm)

Hello,
 
I have a 2000 chevy silverado 1500 4x4 5.3 auto. On cold starts after you put the truck in gear the gauges bounce back and forth, the abs, air bag and battery lights flash on and off and the gas and alternator gauge don't read properly. I thought it was a low battery issue or a bad alternator but both checked out ok. the scanner shows no codes. Sometimes when i'm driving the above will happen and the truck will shut off. It then starts up and runs fine sometimes or sometimes I have to press the gas pedal to start it. The dealer said it could be a ignition switch or the ecm but there guessing. Has anyone heard of this or had it happen. thanks for the help

#173 of 768 Re: 2000 silverado gauge and warning light malfunction [shigzy] by azjas

Feb 19, 2008 (10:58 pm)

Replying to: shigzy (Feb 19, 2008 2:45 pm)
This sounds identical to several reports. The problem is likely the ignition switch and/or wiring (cabling) that is damaged. The ignition switch is about a 200/300 hundred repair job at the dealership. Take a look at past posts - you will note that a couple of folks have found the ignition switch to be the problem and answer about 95% of the time.

#174 of 768 Re: 2000 silverado gauge and warning light malfunction [azjas] by shigzy

Feb 20, 2008 (2:30 pm)

Replying to: azjas (Feb 19, 2008 10:58 pm)
Thanks azjas
 
I did look back through some early posts and found similar things just like you said. However I purchased the switch and wiring harness today at the dealer it only cost $87 with my shop discount. I looked it up on napa prolink and they get 247 list 189 my cost much more than dealer. thanks again for your input I hope this is the solution.
 
Dave

#175 of 768 Re: 2000 silverado gauge and warning light malfunction [shigzy] by rusty32

Feb 24, 2008 (4:14 pm)

Replying to: shigzy (Feb 19, 2008 2:45 pm)
I have the same truck and the same problem. I have talked to several mechanics and they have only guesses. let me know if the ignition switch fixes the problem.
 
thanks for your help

#176 of 768 Re: 2000 silverado gauge and warning light malfunction [rusty32] by shigzy

Feb 25, 2008 (8:19 am)

Replying to: rusty32 (Feb 24, 2008 4:14 pm)
Rusty32
 
I installed the new switch on friday. It solved all the problems with gauges and stalling I couldn't believe it. the chevy dealer where I bought the part said they have never heard of a switch going bad. I think there doing damage control I suspect this is a very common problem after reading posts here and other sites. I install the switch myself, it was easy took about 1-1/2 hours the only problem I ran into was I failed to disconnect the battery first and blew a 50 amp maxi fuse, so don't make that mistake. Most of the time you'll spend is taking the dash panels off and back on the switch itself takes 10 minuets to change. Hope this helps someone else.
 
shigs

#177 of 768 2004 Silverado gauge issues by badewald

Feb 27, 2008 (2:50 pm)

I have an 04 with dash lights burned out. I am just looking for a source to purchase the bulbs and re-solder them in myself. Also, if there is a source for the temp control and radio lights. Any info would be greatly appreciated.
 
Let me know,
Brent

#178 of 768 Silverado Gauges, warning lights, radio, power window malfunction by thomaskray

Feb 28, 2008 (8:07 am)

When I start my 2005 Chevy Silverado everything is fine. A few minutes into the drive, the chime sounds off about 10 times, various lights in the dash come on such as the power lock light, battery, 4wd, ABS, park brake. Sometimes the radio cuts out (loses power), the power windows won't work, power door locks won't work, and the small gages such as fuel, temp, battery, and oil pressure drop to zero.
  
Sometimes everything happens at once, sometimes it's only a combination of the aforementioned. Then, all of a sudden, everything is restored to normal working order. Few minutes later, it starts happening again. Sometimes various lights come on, the radio loses power and it stays that way until I restart the truck. Then the cycle repeats itself all over again. Keep in mind that the truck "runs" fine even while all this is going on. No engine trouble at all. However, I'm scared this will spread to the headlights on a dark night or windshield wipers on a rainy day.
  
I took it to the dealer and they were not able to reproduce the problem as some days everything works fine. The ran a computer diagnostic which returned some errors that meant something was losing communication but they were real vague about. I don't think they have any clue or haven't seen this before. However they said it's really odd these symptoms would occur together since they are all on seperate circuits and all the usual suspects passed their tests such as checking the battery terminals and checking connections in the fuse box.
  
Today something a little different happened. My truck has this feature that when you turn it off, the power windows and radio stay powered on for 10 minutes or until you open the door. Whichever comes first. Today, when I got to the jobsite and turn off the key, the power shut off to the dash within 10-15 seconds. As if the "feature" wasn't working. Makes me think the entire problem coould revolve around the box or chip that controls that 10 minute power feature. Or it could simply be another symptom of a bigger problem such as the main computer going bad.
  
I've looked under the hood several times but with all the wires and terminals on cars these days, who knows where to look? The problem could even be inside the dash where I can't get to. What bugs me the most is that I paid $83.00 to the dealer to run a diagnostic but they never fixed the problem or even had a sugestion. They said bring it back as the problem occurs however I don't want to pay another 83 bucks for them to just scratch their heads.
  
Any suggestions or places to search for a solution would be appreciated. If I don't hear anything, I'm going to replace the ignition switch like [shigzy].

#179 of 768 Re: Silverado Gauges, warning lights, radio, power window malfunction [thomaskray] by ftrspeedy

Mar 01, 2008 (6:55 pm)

Replying to: thomaskray (Feb 28, 2008 8:07 am)
my last truck 2002 1500 4.8L did that, pulled the battery cable off, broke the positive off from the inside of battery, new battery fixed mine, but every one on here seems to say ignition switch.

#180 of 768 Re: Silverado Gauges, warning lights, radio, power window malfunction [thomaskray] by thomaskray

Mar 04, 2008 (10:27 am)

Replying to: thomaskray (Feb 28, 2008 8:07 am)
As a followup to my 2/28/2008 post, wanted to let everyone know my problem turned out to be a corroded ground wire. Simple fix. The wire is somewhere under the hood on the driver side. Didn't ask for specifics as I was just glad to get the problem fixed. It's been acting up for 6 months. Nobody could fix it till now.

#181 of 768 bad idle by scottwelder1

Mar 08, 2008 (7:34 pm)

i have an 03 silverado with a 5.3 it has electronic throttle control and when i am coming to a stop it wants to die sometimes does and it has a very rough idle i already changed plugs wires fuel filter and cleaned my k and n air filter i have checked all vacum lines there is no vacum leak i even checked the vacum brake booster it holds vacum just fine i did a trany filter and filter change and no metal shavings and i have not gotten any trouble codes and when i was doing the tune up i had the battery disconnected after re connecting the battery i had to drive it around for 45 minutes of it constantly dieing at stops before it relearned to adjust for this problem. do you think its the idle air control valve or a fuel problem or electrical

Messages Page 19 of 78

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