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Chevrolet Avalanche Instrument Panel Problems

21 messages,  Last post on Jan 06, 2013 at 10:34 AM

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What is this discussion about? Chevrolet Avalanche, Electrical, Truck

Messages Page 3 of 3

#12 of 21 2004 Chevy Avalanche electrical problems by bigdogonthepo

Jul 11, 2010 (7:14 am)

I like many others have been plagued with electrical problems with my Avalnche. All three of my Chevy trucks have in some cases the same problems and some problems that are unique to that model. The Avalanche has the loss of instrument read outs. The Speedometer sometimes will show you going faster or slower than you really are. We use our GPS to make sure on the highway we are within the speeds.The tackometer drops off line from time to time, and the oil pressure guage does pretty much the same thing. Some times it works and other times it just falls off line. I find that a lot of it happens with the second key that we have for the truck. My wife has key 1 and has less problems when using that key. I have key 2 and it seems to have default problems four times as often. I also notice that the problem times seem to happen when the outside temp is the highest. I do not think it is the instrument cluster it's self. I would tend to believe it is more of a computer problem from the on board computer. I'm even more concerned that General Motors doesn't know as much as I do about some of these problems. Example. I have had problems with the radio in all three trucks. It was going to cost more to replace the Delco/Bose with a rebuilt radio than it was to purchase on line a complete double din radio with GPS/Back up camera/DVD/AM,FM radio. So now the only problem was the wiring diagram. I went on line using my vin number and down loaded a wiring diagram. It didn't match the wiring in my truck. I called dealerships, went to auto parts stores, went back on line and finally ended up on Ask. An on line question site. Even after supplying them with all the information about the wiring and the truck, it took them three days to identify an orange wire in my harness that did not show up on the wiring diagram. You guessed it! It happens to be a wire from the on board computer. This morning I will be removing the battery from the Avalanche and it's tray to get to a ground wire that is supposed to be mounted under the battery tray that another guy told me tends to get corroded from the battery. I'll post the results of that fix if it is the problem. The on board read out on the dash keeps going into another language and will not reset by just holding the button it. The A/C slips from cold to heat on one side and you have to restart the truck to get it back on cold. This problem I believe has more to do with the little relays that are located in the fuse compartment under the hood. I swaped them around one day and days later had the A/C slip into heat on one side again, but this time it was the opposite side of the dash. What a night mere this wiring is! Some of these problems are life threathning and GM had better start paying better attention to those of us that have invested in their products! I for one have been a GM fan, but unless something changes soon will probably not purchase another GM product. Poor out sourcing of parts and assembly in less than quality facilities could be their down fall.

#13 of 21 Wheel hubs for Avalanche 2004 by bigdogonthepo

Jul 11, 2010 (7:55 am)

along with all the electrical problems with my three Chevy trucks comes the latest issue. Our 2004 Chevy Avalanche has 56,000 miles on it. The wife drives this truck and most of the miles put on it over the years have been from road trips on vacation and visiting the kids. After returning from Jacksonville a couple of weeks ago a noise from the wheels kept getting louder and louder. So Off to the auto parts store I went to buy a new set of wheel bearing and races for it. Come to find out you can not just replace the wheel bearings and races any longer. You have to purchase wheel hubs. At close to $300 each this was the replacement to the old wheel bearing so that you could go longer with out having to worry about greasing them and having to change them as often. I then went to my local Chevy dealership to question if they were covered under the extended warranty that I paid so much for when I purchased the truck. Nope. The warranty ran out in April but if you'll just leave it we will take care of it for you. As most of you the trust in dealerships to do only what is required at a good price has gone out the window years ago! I ended up going to Firestone tire shop near my home and asking them about all of this. Everyone agrees that 56,000 mile is a bit premature for this to happen to, but none the less they have to be replaced. At least Firestone was priced quite a bit cheaper than the Chevy dealership and along with it came a warranty that no matter where I might be, no matter what state I might be in, all I would have to do is to go to the local Firestone dealer in that area and get it replaced. Total bill ended up being $738 for both sides, parts and labor. Seems like every time they redesign something to work better it is nothing more than a more expensive part that doesn't last as long.

#14 of 21 Thank you Feymov by bigdogonthepo

Jul 15, 2010 (9:13 am)

I owe you a big thank you for your posting of the class action law suit having to do with the speedometer and instruments in my 2004 Avalanche!!! I went on the link you posted. Read it closely and then printed it out. Got out my registration and we called our dealership where we purchased the truck this morning. Even though this dealership is one of the ones that has not been able to sell new Chevy vehicles over the past year, they are fighting GM and still doing the warranty work. At any rate they had me bring the truck in this morning and it took about an hour for them to remove the cluster to get the serial numbers off it and verify the mileage. Ends up the new instrument cluster is due in tomorrow and will be installed at no cost to me.
While there I talked to the service manager about some of the other problems with all three of my trucks. I was advised to keep all receipts for anything else that I have repaired and as the law suits appear, I'd be able to put in a claim and be reimbursed. Thanks again and anyone else looking in with problems with there trucks, check out the on going suits and call your dealership and inquire about your problems.
Thanks again.

#15 of 21 Re: Avalanche Instrument Panel Problems [billdm8] by dusty007

Jul 26, 2010 (10:04 am)

Replying to: billdm8 (Jan 10, 2010 5:18 pm)
What fixed your problem with the cruise and high beam light coming on and staying on? I am having the same problem. Thank you so much for responding.

#16 of 21 Re: Avalanche Instrument Panel Problems [dusty007] by billdm8

Jul 26, 2010 (5:14 pm)

Replying to: dusty007 (Jul 26, 2010 10:04 am)
Unhooking the battery. Or spending $400 for a new instrument cluster. There's an online site you can send your old cluster to and they'll refurbish yours and send it back. It's supposedly pretty easy to take out.

#17 of 21 Re: Avalanche Instrument Panel Problems [billdm8] by dusty007

Jul 26, 2010 (5:34 pm)

Replying to: billdm8 (Jul 26, 2010 5:14 pm)
Thank you! I did have my ABS replaced several months ago and this is when this problem started....Go figure today for the first time my ABS light came on and stayed on...makes me wonder if there is something connected??? I think you are correct though...new cluster!!!

#18 of 21 hot/cold air conditioning by nursegadjt

Dec 14, 2011 (7:54 pm)

I see all the issues you are having with your avalanche. When I first purchased my 2007 avalanche, I started having the same issues with the hot vs cold blowing out different sides. As I started researching the issue, I noticed that it says to make sure that your air conditioning, radio, etc. be turned off before disconnecting the battery. Apparently, if any of these are left on while the battery is changed or disconnected, the computer cannot properly 'resync' itself. I did find out that they put a new battery in my vehicle. It also stated to not restart the vehicle for 10-30 minutes after you change the battery as well. I decided to disconnect the battery and reconnect. Then I waited the appropriate amount of time and then started it. And low and behold, I have not had an issue since. You may have already figured this out through the forums. But, I thought it might help.
nursegadjt

#19 of 21 Re: Left Rear Door Indicating open [steeler03] by streetrodder1

May 22, 2012 (6:30 pm)

Replying to: steeler03 (Jan 21, 2010 8:53 am)
I have the same problem, did you find a fix ?

#20 of 21 Re: Left Rear Door Indicating open [streetrodder1] by gmcustsvcsarah

May 23, 2012 (10:10 am)

Replying to: streetrodder1 (May 22, 2012 6:30 pm)
Hello streetrodder1,
 
I understand you're looking to hear back from steeler03; we can check to see if there are any open recalls on your vehicle, or check into warranty information if you like. Please send us the last 8 digits of your VIN and we'll do so! Our email is socialmediagm.com
Best,
Sarah
GM Customer Service

#21 of 21 Re: Thank you Feymov [bigdogonthepo] by ava2004

Jan 06, 2013 (10:34 am)

Replying to: bigdogonthepo (Jul 15, 2010 9:13 am)
Which lawsuit is that? Can I get the information?

Messages Page 3 of 3

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