bad guage motors/clusters

Have any of you replaced the step motors or guage clusters in your 2003-2006 vehicles??

Have any of you replaced the step motors or Gage clusters in your 2003-2006 vehicles??

Lot of people have had a lot of problems.

Some may be under recall.
Some can be repaired.
And some models Dorman makes a rebuilt cluster.
Why are you asking?
Have you got problem with yours?
What year make and model?

2005 Suburban..the speedo has gone bonkers...reads 120+ when driving. I found a set of all 6 motors on Ebay for $35++, but I'm considering sending the whole unit for a rebuild for about $70 or so. I wanted details from anyone who has done their own. I hear there's a problem getting the needles off and on in the right place. Also, one source said the motors need to be desoldered (no big deal, but a lot more work) and others say nothing about it.

2005 Suburban..the speedo has gone bonkers...reads 120+ when driving. I found a set of all 6 motors on Ebay for $35++, but I'm considering sending the whole unit for a rebuild for about $70 or so. I wanted details from anyone who has done their own. I hear there's a problem getting the needles off and on in the right place. Also, one source said the motors need to be desoldered (no big deal, but a lot more work) and others say nothing about it.

Your problem sounds like the old defective GM speedo motor driver problem.
You might check your dealer for any recalls on it.

70$ for a rebuild is a good deal if you can do without it for time to send off and get rebuilt and get it back.
If not there is a lot of exchange rebuilts on the market.

Or if you are good on soldering computer repair type stuff you could try the DIY it.
Save money and time if everything goes good.
Nobody has chiped in withthere problems and experiance but I am sure there is a lot of GM owners out there with there speedometers hitting 120 or 0 MPH.
Just had a customer with a Trailblazer doing it.
But they are still driving it as is.
Let us know how it goes.
Good Luck

well, it might, actually, be beneficial. you can impress some girl with how fast your truck goes...:naughty:

from my observation in 4 GM trucks forums, instrument clusters are notorious problem.
mine had coo-koo problem with fuel gauge.
like MT said - it all goes down to ur VIN number and call to a dealer. GM, in its wisdom, not only incentivized low cost(cheap) parts but, also, got oral obsession with making as many various batches of everything, as possible. so, some have recalls, some don't...
cluster is not that hard to get out.. just a word of warning. for the same above mentioned reason, should you ever decide to replace cluster, it MUST be exact clone of what you have, or it will not work.

Pulled the cluster, paid $50 for a local guy to replace the step motor and set the speedo and guages, reinstalled. Looks great.

Pulled the cluster, paid $50 for a local guy to replace the step motor and set the speedo and guages, reinstalled. Looks great.

That sounds like a good repair.
Thanks for posting back how it went.
That might help someone else with that problem.
Good luck