2000 Tahoe Gauge cluster lights in/op, not the usual problem help please

[1Mark2000]

2K New gen Tahoe. Gauge backlights went out, along with backlights for HVAC and rear HVAC overhead console above mirror. 10A illumination fuse ok, headlight switch replaced with new one. Lights actually work when energized out of the vehicle.

Problem has now been traced to dead short in a yellowish 22-24 ga wire that is in a bundle near the column. I have no idea what is leads to or what it's supposed to feed. If I at least knew that I could fix the short.

Temporarily have put a ring of low output LED's around the gauges.

I can find many people in the same boat on the blogs and YouTube. Replaced all the usual parts, still no cluster lamps. Maybe somebody here has figured this out.

TIA

 

[SnowDrifter]

Tag me here tomorrow so I remember to check for wiring diagrams

Am I correct in assuming short to ground?

Verified the wire isn't supposed to be a ground?


You should be able to follow the thing and visually inspect. Short to ground would he pretty obvious as it would need to wear through the loom, insulation, then finally make contact with the bare copper.


Could you humor me and run through fuses again? Id be between surprised and concerned if the thing shorted out and didn't blow a fuse. Check for continuity with a volt meter. Once in a blue moon a fuse blows in a bizarre ass way that is nearly invisible. Looks fine but it's toast. Just want to minimize the amount of tiak chasing


Other thoughts: I don't remember if this stuff is positive or ground switched. But you might be able to get a contact less circuit tracer tool like what's used in networking to aid in cable tracing.

 

[1Mark2000]

Tag me here tomorrow so I remember to check for wiring diagrams

Am I correct in assuming short to ground?

Verified the wire isn't supposed to be a ground?


You should be able to follow the thing and visually inspect. Short to ground would he pretty obvious as it would need to wear through the loom, insulation, then finally make contact with the bare copper.


Could you humor me and run through fuses again? Id be between surprised and concerned if the thing shorted out and didn't blow a fuse. Check for continuity with a volt meter. Once in a blue moon a fuse blows in a bizarre ass way that is nearly invisible. Looks fine but it's toast. Just want to minimize the amount of tiak chasing


Other thoughts: I don't remember if this stuff is positive or ground switched. But you might be able to get a contact less circuit tracer tool like what's used in networking to aid in cable tracing.

We did continuity test the fuses, they arent blown. Yes, short to ground. The guy that helped me had a fairly elaborate circuit tester with mutliple readouts and when we powered the circuit manually it did in turn blow the 10A Illum fuse and then and underhood 30A. As I mentioned, the lamps will actually light when the cluster is out of the truck. Thank you for your answer and I apologize about my slow reply. we did rig up a string of low output LED's that I poked behind the gauge bezel that has been working for now. Would much prefer to get the original circuit working of course so then would be able to see the HVAC and rear HVAC controls also.

 

[Donnie88]

Did you ever get it fixed? I’m having the same exact issue!