I seem to recall reading something pertaining to this, but can't
find it. I know there was some class action suit filed for those
that paid to have theirs repaired while under warranty, but I'm
not among that group.

Basically, the oil pressure gauge reads high. It never goes to
zero, and the range it deflects is the same as if it were settling
to zero when off. The fuel gauge started doing the same thing
today after filling the tank. The needle pegs full clockwise and
"zeroes" at about 3/4 tank.

Occasionally, the tach has read about 1000 rpm too high on a long
trip, but this has only happened once or twice, but I sense a
pattern here.

Is this a problem with the stepper motors on each gauge? If so,
is it something reasonably easy to repair for someone with a
modicum of mechanical aptitude?

If it's something else, would I do just as well to buy a new
cluster and be done with it?

I don't see individual stepper motors listed on rockauto.com, but
that's as far as I've investigated so far.

Thanks (English for "gracias")

On Fri, 28 Nov 2008 20:31:37 -0500, scrape
<scrapeNOTHANKS@earthlink.net> wrote:

>I seem to recall reading something pertaining to this, but can't
>find it. I know there was some class action suit filed for those
>that paid to have theirs repaired while under warranty, but I'm
>not among that group.
>
>Basically, the oil pressure gauge reads high. It never goes to
>zero, and the range it deflects is the same as if it were settling
>to zero when off. The fuel gauge started doing the same thing
>today after filling the tank. The needle pegs full clockwise and
>"zeroes" at about 3/4 tank.
>
>Occasionally, the tach has read about 1000 rpm too high on a long
>trip, but this has only happened once or twice, but I sense a
>pattern here.
>
>Is this a problem with the stepper motors on each gauge? If so,
>is it something reasonably easy to repair for someone with a
>modicum of mechanical aptitude?
>

I doubt there are "stepper" motors. It should just be plain old
analog gauges. However, they are most likely driven by a computer
chip and not connected directly to the sensors. The gauges themselves
should be cheap but I doubt that is the problem. On my GT the entire
instrument panel is driven by a computer and if there is a problem
they generally swap out the whole inst panel.

>If it's something else, would I do just as well to buy a new
>cluster and be done with it?

You need to verify that you can just swap clusters. On my GT the
clusters are fairly specific to a particular car and option set and I
think it may require the FORD computer to program a new cluster.

>
>I don't see individual stepper motors listed on rockauto.com, but
>that's as far as I've investigated so far.
>
>Thanks (English for "gracias")
>

"scrape" <scrapeNOTHANKS@earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:vi61j4hk1sdn5lrq4d579469fnfkcv541a@4ax.com...
>I seem to recall reading something pertaining to this, but can't
> find it. I know there was some class action suit filed for those
> that paid to have theirs repaired while under warranty, but I'm
> not among that group.

The stepper motors on '03-04 full size trucks and SUV's have problems.
There's a 7 year / 70,000 mile extended warranty on all. Most dealers will
replace past this point on mileage. The other poster is wrong, they are
stepper motors on all the gauges and this is the problem. Bad motors on tens
of thousands of '03-04 models.

scrape wrote:
> I seem to recall reading something pertaining to this, but can't
> find it. I know there was some class action suit filed for those
> that paid to have theirs repaired while under warranty, but I'm
> not among that group.
>
> Basically, the oil pressure gauge reads high. It never goes to
> zero, and the range it deflects is the same as if it were settling
> to zero when off. The fuel gauge started doing the same thing
> today after filling the tank. The needle pegs full clockwise and
> "zeroes" at about 3/4 tank.
>
> Occasionally, the tach has read about 1000 rpm too high on a long
> trip, but this has only happened once or twice, but I sense a
> pattern here.
>
> Is this a problem with the stepper motors on each gauge? If so,
> is it something reasonably easy to repair for someone with a
> modicum of mechanical aptitude?

Yep, Bad stepper motors. They have been replacing them if they fall
under 7 years/70,000 miles. Plus they have also been covering others
outside that amount as well.

GM PARTS BULLETINS & INFORMATION - TO CADILLAC, CHEVROLET AND GMC DEALERS
Subject:Bulletin GMP07-174 - Special Coverage Adjustment #07187-
Instrument Panel Cluster Gauge Needle FunctionMessage #:VSU20071575
• DESCRIPTION:
SPECIAL COVERAGE Adjustment #07187- SEPTEMBER 28, 2007

DUE TO PART AVAILABILITY, THIS SPECIAL COVERAGE IS BEING ADMINISTERED IN
PHASES. YOU WILL BE NOTIFIED AS EACH ADDITIONAL PHASE IS RELEASED.

CUSTOMERS ARE BEING INSTRUCTED TO CONTACT THE DEALERSHIP TO ARRANGE AN
APPOINTMENT IF THEY BELIEVE THEIR VEHICLE HAS THIS CONDITION. THE
CUSTOMER IS BEING ASKED TO PROVIDE THE VIN SO THE IPC CAN BE ORDERED IN
ADVANCE OF THE SCHEDULED APPOINTMENT. THIS WILL ELIMINATE THE NEED TO
KEEP THE VEHICLE OVERNIGHT.
o Some customers of 2003-2004 model year Cadillac Escalade, Escalade
ESV, and Escalade EXT; Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado, Suburban, and
Tahoe; and GMC Sierra, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles have reported that
the instrument panel (IP) cluster gauges stick, flutter, or become
inoperative. This may cause inaccurate readings, including the
speedometer and fuel gauge.
o This special coverage covers the condition described above for a
period of 7 years or 70,000 miles (110,000 km), whichever occurs first,
from the date the vehicle was originally placed in service, regardless
of ownership.
o Refer to Special Coverage Adjustment #07187 for further information

EFFECTIVE DATE:
Initial owner mailing is scheduled to begin: Phase 1 9-28-07


GENERAL INFORMATION:
Instrument panel clusters (IPC) required to complete this special
coverage are to be obtained from the Electronic Service Centers. Refer
to GM Service Policies and Procedures Manual, section 1.5.9, for
specific procedures. To eliminate keeping the customer's vehicle
overnight, customers are being told to contact the dealership to arrange
a service appointment and to supply their VIN. Dealers are to pre-order
the IPC identifying the part from the Electronic Parts Catalog using the
VIN filter so it will be at the dealership on the day of the scheduled
appointment.
o 1. The customer will contact the dealership to arrange an appointment
and provide their VIN.
2. Contact a GM Authorized Electronic Service Center to order an
exchange and arrange for delivery of the pre-exchange product.
3. All units will be shipped FedEx Ground.
4. After removal of the defective unit, return the defective core to the
Electronic Service Center using the supplied pre-paid Automatic Return
shipping (ARS) label.
5. Failure to return the product within 30 days to the Electronic
Service Center will result in a charge to the Dealer's Open Parts Account.

>
> If it's something else, would I do just as well to buy a new
> cluster and be done with it?

Check with a dealer and they may cover it. if not the cluster isn't
cheap BUT the steeper motors themselves are not all that bad in price.
http://snipurl.com/6xcjz has the process if you're interested.
There is an updated part that is the one you want. EBay has them listed.

>
> I don't see individual stepper motors listed on rockauto.com, but
> that's as far as I've investigated so far.

Nope. GM has been covering them and the supplies are sort of limited due
to how many have gone bad.

>
> Thanks (English for "gracias")
>
>

--
Steve W.
Near Cooperstown, New York

On Fri, 28 Nov 2008 22:12:47 -0700, "Augustus"
<no_one@nowhere.net> wrote:

>
>"scrape" <scrapeNOTHANKS@earthlink.net> wrote in message
>news:vi61j4hk1sdn5lrq4d579469fnfkcv541a@4ax.com.. .
>>I seem to recall reading something pertaining to this, but can't
>> find it. I know there was some class action suit filed for those
>> that paid to have theirs repaired while under warranty, but I'm
>> not among that group.
>
>The stepper motors on '03-04 full size trucks and SUV's have problems.
>There's a 7 year / 70,000 mile extended warranty on all. Most dealers will
>replace past this point on mileage. The other poster is wrong, they are
>stepper motors on all the gauges and this is the problem. Bad motors on tens
>of thousands of '03-04 models.

I've seen the motors on eBay for a reasonable price. I'm at 5.5
years, but 130K miles. I'll check with my favorite local dealer,
but I expect I can hear the laughing already.

Thanks.

On Sat, 29 Nov 2008 01:05:32 -0500, "Steve W."
<csr684NOT@yahoo.com> wrote:

>scrape wrote:
>> I seem to recall reading something pertaining to this, but can't
>> find it. I know there was some class action suit filed for those
>> that paid to have theirs repaired while under warranty, but I'm
>> not among that group.
>>
>> Basically, the oil pressure gauge reads high. It never goes to
>> zero, and the range it deflects is the same as if it were settling
>> to zero when off. The fuel gauge started doing the same thing
>> today after filling the tank. The needle pegs full clockwise and
>> "zeroes" at about 3/4 tank.
>>
>> Occasionally, the tach has read about 1000 rpm too high on a long
>> trip, but this has only happened once or twice, but I sense a
>> pattern here.
>>
>> Is this a problem with the stepper motors on each gauge? If so,
>> is it something reasonably easy to repair for someone with a
>> modicum of mechanical aptitude?
>
>Yep, Bad stepper motors. They have been replacing them if they fall
>under 7 years/70,000 miles. Plus they have also been covering others
>outside that amount as well.

Thanks. I'll print the TSB and go to the dealer with it.

>
>GM PARTS BULLETINS & INFORMATION - TO CADILLAC, CHEVROLET AND GMC DEALERS
>Subject:Bulletin GMP07-174 - Special Coverage Adjustment #07187-
>Instrument Panel Cluster Gauge Needle FunctionMessage #:VSU20071575
>• DESCRIPTION:
>SPECIAL COVERAGE Adjustment #07187- SEPTEMBER 28, 2007
>

>>
>> If it's something else, would I do just as well to buy a new
>> cluster and be done with it?
>
>Check with a dealer and they may cover it. if not the cluster isn't
>cheap BUT the steeper motors themselves are not all that bad in price.
>http://snipurl.com/6xcjz has the process if you're interested.
>There is an updated part that is the one you want. EBay has them listed.

Yeah, I've found them and was considering doing it myself if
feasible. Also have a couple LEDs out, but I can live with that
if need be.

>> I don't see individual stepper motors listed on rockauto.com, but
>> that's as far as I've investigated so far.
>
>Nope. GM has been covering them and the supplies are sort of limited due
>to how many have gone bad.


Got it. Thanks.

On Fri, 28 Nov 2008 22:12:47 -0700, "Augustus" <no_one@nowhere.net>
wrote:

>
>"scrape" <scrapeNOTHANKS@earthlink.net> wrote in message
>news:vi61j4hk1sdn5lrq4d579469fnfkcv541a@4ax.com.. .
>>I seem to recall reading something pertaining to this, but can't
>> find it. I know there was some class action suit filed for those
>> that paid to have theirs repaired while under warranty, but I'm
>> not among that group.
>
>The stepper motors on '03-04 full size trucks and SUV's have problems.
>There's a 7 year / 70,000 mile extended warranty on all. Most dealers will
>replace past this point on mileage. The other poster is wrong, they are
>stepper motors on all the gauges and this is the problem. Bad motors on tens
>of thousands of '03-04 models.
>

I learned something new!!

On Sat, 29 Nov 2008 21:57:38 -0700, Ashton Crusher
<demi@moore.net> wrote:

>On Fri, 28 Nov 2008 22:12:47 -0700, "Augustus" <no_one@nowhere.net>
>wrote:
>
>>
>>"scrape" <scrapeNOTHANKS@earthlink.net> wrote in message
>>news:vi61j4hk1sdn5lrq4d579469fnfkcv541a@4ax.com. ..
>>>I seem to recall reading something pertaining to this, but can't
>>> find it. I know there was some class action suit filed for those
>>> that paid to have theirs repaired while under warranty, but I'm
>>> not among that group.
>>
>>The stepper motors on '03-04 full size trucks and SUV's have problems.
>>There's a 7 year / 70,000 mile extended warranty on all. Most dealers will
>>replace past this point on mileage. The other poster is wrong, they are
>>stepper motors on all the gauges and this is the problem. Bad motors on tens
>>of thousands of '03-04 models.
>>
>
> I learned something new!!

On the Internet???? Please!

Check this out on eBay: Item number: 220317955874

On Sun, 30 Nov 2008 09:34:30 -0500, scrape
<scrapeNOTHANKS@earthlink.net> wrote:

>On Sat, 29 Nov 2008 21:57:38 -0700, Ashton Crusher
><demi@moore.net> wrote:
>
>>On Fri, 28 Nov 2008 22:12:47 -0700, "Augustus" <no_one@nowhere.net>
>>wrote:
>>
>>>
>>>"scrape" <scrapeNOTHANKS@earthlink.net> wrote in message
>>>news:vi61j4hk1sdn5lrq4d579469fnfkcv541a@4ax.com ...
>>>>I seem to recall reading something pertaining to this, but can't
>>>> find it. I know there was some class action suit filed for those
>>>> that paid to have theirs repaired while under warranty, but I'm
>>>> not among that group.
>>>
>>>The stepper motors on '03-04 full size trucks and SUV's have problems.
>>>There's a 7 year / 70,000 mile extended warranty on all. Most dealers will
>>>replace past this point on mileage. The other poster is wrong, they are
>>>stepper motors on all the gauges and this is the problem. Bad motors on tens
>>>of thousands of '03-04 models.
>>>
>>
>> I learned something new!!
>
>On the Internet???? Please!

Let the history books reflect it happened on Nov 29 at 21:57:38 .


>
>Check this out on eBay: Item number: 220317955874

I wonder if GM is back charging the original supplier of the bum
gauges?