On my 03 when cranking motor longer do to cold temps outside has a dead cluster once started.

I read something about this is do to a low battery. It's an 03 just turned two years old. Should my battery's be already be on there way out?

Do others have this problem?

There is a bulletin to reprogram the cluster for ther condition you describe...

I had the exact same problem in my '03. Replaced the Delco's with Optima's.

Once I put fresh batteries in, the gauges all came back to life.

Max is there any code clearing we need to do?

If your dash see's voltage that's too low during cranking or if there's a loose ground or power wire somewhere it won't come to life after the truck start's.

If your batteries are going bad already take it back to the dealer and have him check it, if there bad he should replace them.

GM has been having a lot of problem's with there older batteries, everything from post's leaking acid out to batt going dead prematurely. If you get along good with your dealer or service guy he shouldn't give you any problem's

Even with being out of warranty?

You said your truck was only 2 years old, so it should still be covered unless your over mileage wise.
Besides the batteries should be covered under their own warranty. But dealers dont see it that way sometomes.

If you buy a Delco battery from the parts dept it's covered for a certain amount of time under a warranty to be deffect free, if it is they replace it free, just like Sears and other battery manufacturers do, once it's past that "free replacement time, usually a year or two" it comes under a pro-rated warranty, that goes until the battery is "supposed to last" like 36 month's, 48 month's, 60 month's, where the seller wil give you some credit towards a new battery.

But for some reason the dealer's always try to forget that when it comes to the battery just because it was original equipment and not purchased at their parts dept.

Like I said a lot depends with your relationship with your dealer/service guy.
I got a new battery for the wife's 03 Trailblazer that was leaking 2 years after we bought it, and I got one of mine replaced on the pickup that went bad after 2 years too. No hassle at all from service guy.

I have close to 50K. I'll try the dealer but I pretty sure they won't cover them.

Give it a shot.

And remember all new battery warranty's are covered by time not mileage.

So you can try and argue that point with them some.


Good Luck

I just bought a used 03. I had the same problems when starting the truck up. One of the batteries would not take a charge with my battery charger so I replaced them both. No problems since.

-Rich Marchand

The only reason I didn't take mine to the dealer, is that I didn't want replacement Delco's.

I did find out there is a TSB (listed in AllDataDIY) regarding the ignition switch, that may need adjustment. It stated, the switch may not turn all the power off and may discharge the batteries. Wrong adjustment the other way, may not start the truck.

Anyone have this problem?

The stock batteries suck, but so do the napa "nascar" dual post batteries. I have been thru 3 of the napa batteries on the passenger side. All begin to leak acid after 15k. The stock batteries lasted about 70k or 2 years. Maybe the optima's are worth the money. I know in the winter time I need all the CCA's I can get.

I'm trying to fallow this thing with the cluster, Mine has been out for sometime it always reads 120MPH even when I'm stopped. I did run out and check both the batteries they both are good, I have an 03 bought in Jan of 03 it is way past its warranty due to the miles 92K i did order a new one, but will this continue do to something else?

Psycho,

Your problrm sounds more like a bad cluster than a voltage problem, others on the forum have reported bad clusters too with speedo and also some with fuel guages problem's.
Try doing a search function on "bad speedo" or "stuck speedo" or something like that, I think most ended up replacing the cluster.

Good Luck

Thanks
I called Steve Cole today and he seem to think the same thing

Pyscostroker,

The following thread contains a TSB from GM discussing the high failure of the gauge stepper motor. It is note #26 from Max Payne. This may apply to your situation.

http://dieselplace.com/forum/showthread.php?t=20049&page=3&pp=10&highlight=instrument+cluster