I have an '03 HD Duramax and the gauges are delayed when I crank the truck up!!! This just recently started. I was wondering If anyone else has had this happen??? Also there is a rattling in the fourwheel drive stick and I cant figure out what it is!!! I have taken the cover off and tightened everything up and even added an extra washer to the pin that holds the shifter in place thinking that was it, but it was not. Any help with the two problems would be apprecitated!!!

Gauges are probably a low voltage issue. Check your batteries. My bet is one or both are tired and need to be changed (do both at same time).

4x4 problem could be internal. Have you checked the fluid level lately? Do you have any fluid leaking from the Tcase? If so, search "Pump rub" in the drivetrain section.

My guages will eventually come on its just like they are delayed and the rattling from the 4x4 is coming from the handle. when it rattles I will reach down and grab the handle and put some tension on it and it stops!!!

Check for fuses being blown, a blown fuse in the fuse panel can cause communications issues in the truck. I know I had an ignition 3 power problem after mu swap, and the factory guages wouldn't work when I had them wired in. Fixed the power problem and the guages worked fine afterwards. And check the linkage bushings underneath for the shift rod. If those nylons get worn they will let the linkage bounce around quite a bit.

My guages will eventually come on its just like they are delayed and the rattling from the 4x4 is coming from the handle. when it rattles I will reach down and grab the handle and put some tension on it and it stops!!!

Yes....at startup, you may be pulling the batteries down past 5 volts, and the cluster needs to see at least that voltage to "wake up". Once the batteries come back up, the BCM will send the "wake up" signal again and the cluster will come to life. Just have your batteries load-tested and find out if they're getting tired. Replace them in pairs.

That handle is attached to the shift fork in the Tcase. If theres excessive play in the case itself, the handle would rattle. Could be low fluid or worn parts. I dont mean to alarm you...just thinking what it could be.

Yes....at startup, you may be pulling the batteries down past 5 volts, and the cluster needs to see at least that voltage to "wake up". Once the batteries come back up, the BCM will send the "wake up" signal again and the cluster will come to life. Just have your batteries load-tested and find out if they're getting tired. Replace them in pairs.

That handle is attached to the shift fork in the Tcase. If theres excessive play in the case itself, the handle would rattle. Could be low fluid or worn parts. I dont mean to alarm you...just thinking what it could be.

How Do I check the fluid???

On the back side of your t-case will be 2 plugs, 18mm if I remember right. The top one will be your fill plug. Fill your t-case til fluid starts to come out of the top plug. Then you are full.

Greenvillefd85 its most likely the batteries. My 03 did that about a month ago and it began to get sluggish cranking. Replaced both batteries and all is well. By the way, we're almost neighbors as I'm in Liberty

Greenvillefd85 its most likely the batteries. My 03 did that about a month ago and it began to get sluggish cranking. Replaced both batteries and all is well. By the way, we're almost neighbors as I'm in Liberty

Thx man!!! I appreciate the feed back!!! I hear ya yeah I just moved there back in October. We used to live up in Eastatoee!!!

I used to have an 03 hd and my cluster started doing that and eventually failed completely,gm has a special policy on this and replaced my instrument cluster.

How Do I check the fluid???

On the back side of your t-case will be 2 plugs, 18mm if I remember right. The top one will be your fill plug. Fill your t-case til fluid starts to come out of the top plug. Then you are full.

The fill and drain plugs are made of a soft metal, (aluminum or magnesium), and can be damaged easily if installed too tight or the wrong tool is used.
ONLY use a six-point box wrench or socket to minimize damage to plugs.
When installing plug, apply teflon thread paste to threads and do not over-tighten, or removal will be difficult next time.
No 12-point wrench or Crescenthammer, or plug damage is likely.