Why do my truck's guages do this?

[rapidoxidationman]

When the truck is cold (not been started for a few hours) the instrument cluster will not light up as soon as the key is released after starting.

I youtubed it; you can see what happens here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ssrCBaxpjas

When it is warm they seem to start working when I expect them to - right after releasing the key.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EkVl0E81RLo

If anybody has some great ideas I'm all ears. It has been a problem since about a year ago.

While we're at it, this may be unrelated but: when it is wet and cold out the mirror's compass and thermometer act like the power is being cut out every few seconds...

[More Power]

Always check the condition of the batteries and battery cables as a first step in troubleshooting an electrical problem. Then, I'd pull & reseat all of the fuses related these systems. There may be a corrosion problem with a fuse. And, the ignition switch may have a flakey switch contact. There are several individual switches within the ignition switch.

Connecting a test light or multimeter to the affected circuit during those times when you can reproduce the symptom(s) may help you locate the cause.

Jim

[rapidoxidationman]

Date: November 19, 2003
TECHNICAL
Subject:
Instrument Panel Cluster (IPC) Gauges Inoperative (Reprogram IPC) Models:
2003 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT
2003 Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado, Suburban, Tahoe
2003 GMC Sierra, Yukon, Yukon XL Condition
Some customers may comment that upon vehicle start-up, all instrument panel cluster gauges are inoperative.
Cause
During a cold start or low battery condition, a low voltage condition may cause gauges to freeze during crank cycle.
Correction
Important: DO NOT REPLACE the following clusters unless a reprogram does not correct this condition. ^ 15182138 ^ 15182139 ^ 15182140 ^ 15182141 ^ 15182142 ^ 15182143 ^ 15182144 ^ 15182145 ^ 15182146 ^ 15182147 ^ 15182148 ^ 15182149 ^ 15182150 ^ 15182151 ^ 15182152 ^ 15182153 ^ 15182154 ^ 15182155 ^ 15182156 ^ 15182157 ^ 15177467 ^ 15177468 A new service calibration has been released to correct this condition. Reprogram the IPC using the new service calibration, which was available from Techline starting November 3, 2003 on the TIS2000 version 11.5 or later. This calibration is an electronic calibration and is not available from GMSPO.



Anybody know the "consumer" way to reprogram the IPC? Can it be done with the proper scan tool or does it take the dealer's computer? The Chevy service department dude I spoke with this afternoon told me he's never seen the reprogram work but would be happy to sell me a new cluster for $350...