red03 Posted August 3, 2015 Report Share Posted August 3, 2015 Hello everyone, I am new to this site and the SS world. I bought a used 03 SS with 117K, victory red in color, that is in immaculate condition other than the sad fact that it is having the battery drain issue from the IPC/DIC circuit. I did my research, and a draw test and found this to be the circuit. Will rebuilding the gauge cluster as most have suggested fix the problem or should I just break down and buy a whole new cluster. The speedo is reading weird anyways so I know I am going to get that fixed. I just dont wanna shell out the coin to have everything rebuilt and LED's installed only to have it not solve the problem. I found a few posts on other forums where some people had the cluster repaired and it fixed it and others that did the same and had the same problem. Ill be using the gm gauge guy if I go that route. What are your opinions on the matter, anyone else who has had this problem feel free to chime in. Thanks guys. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jovanny Posted August 3, 2015 Report Share Posted August 3, 2015 Never heard of that happening , maybe one of the guys that fix clusters will chime in Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EXGM Posted August 3, 2015 Report Share Posted August 3, 2015 (edited) I have never heard of an IPC causing a drain. I guess it's possible but a stuck spedo is a COMMON problem. There was a class action lawsuit in fact several years back. I wonder do you have any aftermarket items like a stereo or remote start that is possibly tied into that circuit? There is a reason that that is not going to "sleep".... I'm not sold that your IPC is the culprit. Edited August 3, 2015 by EXGM (see edit history) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
red03 Posted August 3, 2015 Author Report Share Posted August 3, 2015 The fuse is labeled as IPC/DIC in the underhood box. When I test that fuse it is the only one drawing power, even after the truck has sat for 30 minutes and the BCM has gone to "sleep". Everything else is good. Used my voltmeter set to milliamps and it was drawing 2.0. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EXGM Posted August 3, 2015 Report Share Posted August 3, 2015 The fuse is labeled as IPC/DIC in the underhood box. When I test that fuse it is the only one drawing power, even after the truck has sat for 30 minutes and the BCM has gone to "sleep". Everything else is good. Used my voltmeter set to milliamps and it was drawing 2.0. No you did the right test... I am curious what would keep it from going asleep. Sometimes I have seen aftermarket stuff wired into a circuit (with scotch locks... I HATE them) and it back feeds and keeps a module awake.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
red03 Posted August 3, 2015 Author Report Share Posted August 3, 2015 No you did the right test... I am curious what would keep it from going asleep. Sometimes I have seen aftermarket stuff wired into a circuit (with scotch locks... I HATE them) and it back feeds and keeps a module awake.... It does have e-fans swapped in by the first owner, but everything looks well done. I have no idea what brand of kit it is. There are no stickers or marking on it anywhere, and I know they arent a factory swap as they look nothing like the fans on my 07 Classic. The only other thing I found that was wired in was a module for some bed lights under the tonneau cover. I removed all of that, they had spliced a wire in line to the cluster of wires that run up the driver side a pillar. I assume it probably went to the wire for the dome light so they would come on when the door opened? They cut the entire cluster of wires for some damn reason then soldered them all back together. Other than that stuff this truck is all factory. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EXGM Posted August 4, 2015 Report Share Posted August 4, 2015 It does have e-fans swapped in by the first owner, but everything looks well done. I have no idea what brand of kit it is. There are no stickers or marking on it anywhere, and I know they arent a factory swap as they look nothing like the fans on my 07 Classic. The only other thing I found that was wired in was a module for some bed lights under the tonneau cover. I removed all of that, they had spliced a wire in line to the cluster of wires that run up the driver side a pillar. I assume it probably went to the wire for the dome light so they would come on when the door opened? They cut the entire cluster of wires for some damn reason then soldered them all back together. Other than that stuff this truck is all factory. I wonder if they got something crossed up or there is a wire rubbed through or pinched that is shorting to ground.... I would keep looking you'll eventually find the problem...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry1970 Posted April 7, 2020 Report Share Posted April 7, 2020 (edited) Did you ever figure out the IPC drain problem, I have the same issue. Only add ones are dealer installed overhead dvd system, keyless start/theft system Edited April 7, 2020 by Terry1970 (see edit history) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeChel Posted July 15, 2020 Report Share Posted July 15, 2020 So, on my 2004 Silverado1500, if my dashboard lights are not cutting off and draining my battery, I can pull the fuse every time I stop and that will keep my battery from losing power ? The IPC/DIC fuse ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeChel Posted July 15, 2020 Report Share Posted July 15, 2020 I most likely don’t belong here but please let me know what I can do about my dashboard lights Staying on and running my battery down overnight. Thank you so much Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tucson Posted April 5, 2021 Report Share Posted April 5, 2021 That fuse is also for DIC which stands for driver information center which includes GM’s ONSTAR. If you have that on your vehicle whether you’re paying for the service or not, it is on all the time and that may be what is draining your battery. However, now you are faced with the dilemma of losing your dash cluster if you pull that fuse to disable the ONSTAR. I Don’t know how to disable the ONSTAR any other way though I’m sure there must be a way. Good Luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dukbludvl Posted November 8, 2021 Report Share Posted November 8, 2021 Hey - I have this same issue on my 2003 GMC Yukon 2wd 5.3L with 180k miles. My battery was dying over night pretty much every night. I pulled the IPC/DIC fuse and it has sat for more than 2 days and battery is still good. I've read about and watched a YouTube video (South Main Auto) where the mechanic has a 2003 Silverado with this same issue, he traces the parasitic battery drain to the gauge cluster, and he sends the cluster away to United Radio and they refurbish it and the truck is good to go - it fixes the drain problem. They charge $175 for this service (up to $350, depends on what the tech finds wrong). One of the issues cited in the South Main Auto video (he calls and speaks to the tech to worked on his cluster) is that when they built these clusters in Mexico they used no lead solder, and that causes a "silver migration" issue -- basically sounds like it leads to some corrosion on the gauge cluster computer board and that can cause the constant power draw. I'm just wondering if those of you who had this problem had your cluster serviced or replaced the cluster with a new one, and did it fix the problem? Can I reasonably rely on my issue being the gauge cluster, or could it be OnStar that's causing my problem somehow? How can I permanently disable OnStar? I don't have a need for that anyway since cell phones are now a thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray Posted January 18 Report Share Posted January 18 I Have The same issue but my cluster is messed up its stuck on the highest speed. My tac barley works and the others I’m not sure. I’m going to contact United radio that seems to be end of the story… Thanks guys!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray Posted January 18 Report Share Posted January 18 My ipc/dic fuse is the reason as well. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dav g Posted February 14 Report Share Posted February 14 I have a 2003 Silverado with a parasitic drain. I find that it goes away when I pull the IPC/DIC FUSE. Sounds like my cluster has a problem. Although everything is working fine. David 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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