Black2003SS Posted February 9, 2009 Report Share Posted February 9, 2009 Ok guys, I'm finally fed up with the POS junk of a dash gauge cluster that GM designed. I dont want to get custom with it, I just want it to work. My speedo sticks and I have two lights out behind two gauges. I was quoted by a GM dealership to have it replaced at $600. Thats outrageous. I also received the letter that said if I was under 70,000 miles that I might qualify to have it fixed for no charge. But I have over 70,000 miles, just over, but over. Now, I know I can remove and install the unit myself as it isnt rocket science. The issue is programming the new cluster with the correct VIN and mileage etc. I found this one on ebay and it seems like a pretty good deal if it is legit. 1yr warranty, done on an exhange basis with included programming. Should I trust it? Says he has 10 available. What do you think? Is there any hidden cost or issue I am missing? I dont know a whole lot about interior stuff. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAP...5&viewitem= Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gixxerrider Posted February 9, 2009 Report Share Posted February 9, 2009 You are required to send them your old cluster Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black2003SS Posted February 9, 2009 Author Report Share Posted February 9, 2009 Yeah, I read and understood that part. I was just wondering if there was anything else to it, like tuning or programming. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shakesvho Posted February 9, 2009 Report Share Posted February 9, 2009 no, they just need to set your miles and hours, you put it back in and thats it I had the dealership do mine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gixxerrider Posted February 9, 2009 Report Share Posted February 9, 2009 My hours reset them self. its crazy I will be watching it and they go back to zero Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Krambo Posted February 9, 2009 Report Share Posted February 9, 2009 You don't "need" reprogramming it is just a swap however your mileage and other crap will not carry over. Mileage is not stored in the PCM rather the cluster. To be legal, you may need to take the truck to the dealer and they will certify the mileage on the truck before you install the new cluster (if you do not send your old one back to be recal'd). They typically give you a sticker or a certificate to state the pre-swap mileage. Of course, they can just reprogram it for ya but then you are dealing with the high cost you are looking to avoid. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
detjoe Posted February 9, 2009 Report Share Posted February 9, 2009 they might grace your milage being over 70K...but reading your post you tried that and they still wanted to charge you???? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black2003SS Posted February 9, 2009 Author Report Share Posted February 9, 2009 Yeah, The dealership said there was nothing they could do. The whole "GM is getting tougher this kind of stuff ya know, to save money." line. I'm going to try one more dealership and see what they can do. But I'm not holding my breath. So my understanding is, I bought the truck with 15k miles on it in 4/06. Now, I have about 76k on it give or take. Whoes going to know besides me, how many actual miles are on the truck? Obviously, I dont want to lie and be dishonest to anyone, especially if I ever sold the truck to a member here down the road. But if I ordered the unit from ebay, told the guy to program it with 76k miles, no one is ever going to know the difference right? There wont be any way for anyone to dispute it right? How would any new buyer even know I changed the cluster out unless I told them? Whats stopping me from telling the guy to program 50 or 60k miles on it? Which I will not do by the way. I hope to sell the truck one day and hopefully to a member on here so...you know, the whole honesty thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
detjoe Posted February 9, 2009 Report Share Posted February 9, 2009 you should be fine...I have seen worse with leased cars that are over milage, but no one EVER knew. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fireman31 Posted February 9, 2009 Report Share Posted February 9, 2009 My hours reset them self. its crazy I will be watching it and they go back to zero Flipped to mine this morning, says that my truck has 33 hours on it. For the interim, if you have an Aeroforce guage, you can use that for your speedometer until you get the cluster figured out........ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigCountry Posted February 9, 2009 Report Share Posted February 9, 2009 can you solder? just change out the stepper motor and bulbs yourself, cheap fix and no programming involved. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black2003SS Posted February 9, 2009 Author Report Share Posted February 9, 2009 I've built a couple electronic control modules in my day with solder etc. Where can I buy what I need? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigCountry Posted February 10, 2009 Report Share Posted February 10, 2009 eBay for sure, it's where I bought mine and if you look around, there are a couple of how to threads on various sites that will walk you through taking the cluster out and apart. Not difficult at all, I'm no soldering pro for sure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harleyss13 Posted February 10, 2009 Report Share Posted February 10, 2009 no, they just need to set your miles and hours, you put it back in and thats it I had the dealership do mine hey shakes you had yours done.. i tryed and they said it was 02 to 04 or something like that wft Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superslowss Posted February 10, 2009 Report Share Posted February 10, 2009 Mine went out awhile ago at 89k miles. took it to the local deal and they quoted me just over 400. They said I could pay for the work and then see if GM would reimburse me. I said screw it and did it. They did the repair and everything was great. Got a hold of GM and asked them to reimburse me. I had to send a few papers and fill stuff out. But they called me a week ago and said the check was in the mail for 404.72. So it is possible to get them to cover it after the fact. Just keep on them. P.S. Tell them you want some of that bail out money you gave them Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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