97 Jimmy, No Instrument Panel Gauges

I have a 97 Jimmy with an instrument panel gauge issue. I have no functional gauges in the instrument panel. I have some ideas about what could be the problem but would like to know if there are other possibilities. My ideas include a fuse issue (already checked the gauges fuse and no other electronics are behaving strangely), the main relay (a suggestion from the guy at the parts store) and a faulty instrument panel cluster (hopefully this is not the issue). I need to get this fixed as I have no speedometer, odometer or fuel gauge at the moment. I am relying on luck to not run out of gas or get speeding tickets on my way to work. Please let me know what and, if possible, how to check what might be wrong. Thanks for the help.

I have a 97 Jimmy with an instrument panel gauge issue. I have no functional gauges in the instrument panel. I have some ideas about what could be the problem but would like to know if there are other possibilities. My ideas include a fuse issue (already checked the gauges fuse and no other electronics are behaving strangely), the main relay (a suggestion from the guy at the parts store) and a faulty instrument panel cluster (hopefully this is not the issue). I need to get this fixed as I have no speedometer, odometer or fuel gauge at the moment. I am relying on luck to not run out of gas or get speeding tickets on my way to work. Please let me know what and, if possible, how to check what might be wrong. Thanks for the help.

Do you have a volt meter to check the voltage across the gauge/cluster fuse(s). Check with key off and on.

The cluster itself has a 2 sided connector that plugs into a receptacle. You might have a bad power connector to the cluster.

97 Is a bad year for ignition switches. Try doing a search in this forum for a step by step procedure to check it.

I have some more information. I took out the instrument panel in order to check the two sided connection you mentioned and found no issue with the connection. However I don't know how to check the connector itself. Any advice?

I've read that ignition switches in 97's commonly have issues. But wouldn't this cause other problems beyond the instrument panel? What else could a faulty ignition switch affect?

At the top of this wed site, use Google ''Digital dash'' for homework.
872 Hits plus Google ads.

It could be as simple as a fuse, or just a cold solder joint!

Thanks for the search tip. Some of those posts look rather helpful but I'm hoping I can narrow my starting point a bit more. I've had a great many suggestions of what could be the problem including anything from a blown fuse (already checked) to a fried computer. It is the latter I hope to eliminate as this would be a very costly repair. Is it possible for the circuitry of only this portion of the computer to be defective? The remaining computer driven functions of the truck are unaffected. Any input is appreciated.

Consider a used digital dash from a salvage yard.

Read the thread in here titled 98 blazer s10 water temp.. check those wires on yours and see if you have power going to your dash, if you dont then look at the ignition switch.

'97's were notoriously bad for ignition switches. If I was going to spend money on anything, it would be a new switch. Ignition switches will cause a number of DIFFERENT problems, and they will vary. Do a search on this forum and get ready for a long night of reading.

Do you have an update to this problem. I am having similar issues with my 1999 blazer.
My Symptoms:
All fuses have been checked ... ALL FUSES.
During daytime, headlight switch does not work, Daytime running headlights do not work.
Intrument guages and speedometer, odometer does not work
Radio does not work ... possibly more.
Interior light does not work.
If I cover the light sensor on the dash right side in the right speaker, bingo, now the headlights turn on and everything guages, radio, interior light all work.
I am thinking that a small piece of duct tape over the light sensor may be the solution, but I would really like to understand the root cause.

Do you have an update to this problem. I am having similar issues with my 1999 blazer.
My Symptoms:
All fuses have been checked ... ALL FUSES.
During daytime, headlight switch does not work, Daytime running headlights do not work.
Intrument guages and speedometer, odometer does not work
Radio does not work ... possibly more.
Interior light does not work.
If I cover the light sensor on the dash right side in the right speaker, bingo, now the headlights turn on and everything guages, radio, interior light all work.
I am thinking that a small piece of duct tape over the light sensor may be the solution, but I would really like to understand the root cause.

Wow. That sounds like a bit of a mess. I was able to solve my issue but to tell you the truth I am not entirely sure how I did it. I took out the instrument panel cluster to examine all of the connections and wasn't able to find any problems. I put the cluster back in the dash after reconnecting the wiring and the gauges still didn't work. A few weeks later everything came back on without warning and my gauges have been working ever since. I think I had a wire with worn insulation shorting out somewhere and it shifted position to eliminate the short. Any other theories are welcome.

As for your problems I can't really offer any guidance as to the root cause. It sounds like you have some serious electrical issues and those have never been a skill of mine. I would certainly, as a stop gap at least, try your idea of covering the light sensor with duct tape. This will at least get your truck to the point of being usable. If you haven't done so yet, try creating a new thread describing your troubles. All the moderators and many of the members of this forum are incredibly skilled with all matters electrical and may have run into your issue before.

Thanks for the quick reply,

Yes, I did start my own thread. I may have had similar issues to you as this problem may have been a bit intermittant in the beginning as well ... so could be a shorted connection somewhere. Right now the problem appears permanent.

Again thanks, |Further updates will be posted in my own thread on this problem.