Chev Avalanche Gauges

[AWarrior]

I have a 2008 Chevy Avalanche, and the gauges do not work occasionally. Sometimes the needles all peg to the bottom of the gauge for a day or so, then they return to working properly. Seems like a ground issue. I have cleaned the ground on both ends, and the problem will still occur.

Anyone have any ideas??

[BoxMN]

Maybe the infamous Chev Instrument Cluster fiasco... I know it was bad through at least 2005, but not sure on the slightly newer stuff. If that is what it is, $250 repair but you need to remove it yourself and bring it to a place that repairs them. Mine was under warranty thank goodness, as I think about a $500 or so to have it totally done by a shop.

Good luck, others know more than me.

[Capt. H (Ret.)]

Chevrolet clusters have been junk for at least 10 years and I don't know why they can't seem to correct the issue. I've owned GM vehicles all of my life except for two Volkswagons and one Rambler (I don't expect you to know what a Rambler is) and I am thinking of changing to Ford for my next purchase.

I had a 2005 Tahoe that I bought with 15,000 miles on it and when the cluster went bad I found out that the GM recall was only good through 2004 vehicles. I called Chevrolet and they agreed to replace the cluster but only after I told them the number of GM vehicles I've owned. I should also mention that I have purchase a new 2009 Impala ( remember 2009 when GM went under??? and I was the first in my neighborhood to own a new car that might not be covered by any warranty) and a new 2011 Silverado since then just to document my loyalty to GM. Either they get their act together or I am moving on and the news on recent recalls hasn't been good for them. They got caught with their pants down and are now trying to make things right.

Am I [PoorWordUsage]??? Not so much because I really haven't any issues with vehicles I've purchased.

[Jeremy airjer W]

How about a bad ignition switch? I have run into several on the Tahoes that the cluster will go completely dead driving down the road and then come to. This has almost always been a bad ignition switch.

From my experience when a cluster starts to go bad one or two of the gauges will start to get wonky. especially the speedo not reading correctly or stuck at a particualr MPH.

I can look up some wiring diagrams if you want to check the switch before you pull the trigger on the cluster.

[delcecchi]

Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.

[BoxMN]

From my experience when a cluster starts to go bad one or two of the gauges will start to get wonky. especially the speedo not reading correctly or stuck at a particualr MPH.

This is exactly what happened when my cluster went bad, so maybe not that after all.