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Hummer/Yukon/GM Truck Speedo Issues
Just thought that I would pass this along, if you happen to have Gauge issues in later model GM Trucks.
Bought my Hummer H2 new about 10 years ago, <30k miles and no real issues save that my speedometer, better said, instrument cluster began to show anomolies a few months back. First, the fuel gauge...stuck, read zero, read full and then would return to normal within a few days. Same with engine tachometer, later h20 temp, finally even the speedometer. As the disease progressed, the respective gauges began to stick permantly in a position resembling "tilt" on a pin ball machine. This disease is running rampant on GM vehicles, so much that there are several companies that will either sell you all of the required parts or repair your instrument cluster for a fraction of what the dealer charges.
Because Hummer is no longer made, NOS instrument clusters are spendy….real spendy. Used ones, also expensive, I am told need to be sent to a dealer to load the VIN and other data, although I think this is a crock because the gauge is nothing more than a repeater off of one of the vehicle computers. Suffice to say dealers wanted in excess of 2000.00 to replace the unit parts and labor….I did it for 40.00 which included a low wattage soldering iron for printed circuits and a solder sucker…no pun intended.
Seems that the repeater instrument cluster and the various gauges are powered by what GM refers to as STEP MOTORS, a small circular motor about the sized of 4 fifty cent pieces stacked together. GM purchased these from a company is Europe and they freely announce that the have a service life of between 8 and 10 years…..just a bit longer than the warranty on the vehicle.
Depending on your configuration, each instrument cluster will have between 4 and 7 of these step motors. After removal of the instrument cluster (kind of a PITA) the cluster is opened (snap together plastic), the gauges are indexed and the motors are easily changed with a 35W soldering iron and a solder sucker. There is a bit more to it than what I have mentioned but realistically, its a half day job to change 7 on a Hummer for a novice like myself. I gave it a week after the repair and all indications remain normal…Problem Solved.
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7 Replies
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I have you on speed dial, John. Mine is 10 years old. Expect the call any day now.
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And how is the Muntz TV hunt doing ?
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Al,
I have a garage full of them! Console models in Blond, 19 inch table top models and they all have lotsa tubes! Sorry, only B and W are available but I will include an Indian Test Pattern and a VCR copy of either John Cameron Swayze reporting the news in 1954 or Douglas Edwards…your choice. These are NOS units, proudly made in the USA!
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I’am in the club of buyers who paid $16000 dollars for a VCR the size of a small suitcase so I could watch movies I had already seen.
But I could stop the show get more popcorn, use the head, pick up the phone which had wiring going into a wall. It
really got cool when I found 50 foot phone extension cords at Target.
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Besides the step motors going south on the GM speedo and gauge clusters – get ready the front wheel bearings on the 4x4s are short lived plus the oil pressure sending units die early. Love those GM products!
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The front hubs are pretty cheap on the internet, and to replace the pair of hubs takes a couple of hours with simple hand tools.
The problem is GM has a crappy design.
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You can buy the GM clusters for around $190 exchange at Advance Auto Parts. That is my commercial account price. Easy to swap out. Just give them the mileage off the old one, and they will order in for you.
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