I read some instructions on the net for wiring some momentary switches for accessing the driver info center on 03+ trucks and was going to do it on mine. The switches were to be tapped into the cluster harness and then grounded to the dash. A friend of mine says this is bad, grounding a switch with constant power will burn up the switches and the harness. Apparently a few have hooked theirs up without problems, but I trust this friend bc he worked in a car audio shop for a couple of years and actually burned a few switches himself by grounding them. Any thoughts?

 

Most switches are grounded and fed a constant power. The way to burn it up is to make a bad ground or leave the switch on while the car is off. The switch itself usually has 3 things you need to hook up, a power wire, hot wire, and ground wire. I'm kinda confused on what you are actually wanting to do with the switch? I have run multiple switches in my truck by using the fuse panel located on the driver side of the truck, but those were just to run accessories. Give me alittle more info on what specifically you are trying to do.

 

Got these instructions from another site:

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OK guys, here it is........


DIY DIC - Do It Yourself Driver Information Center for 2003+ NBS Trucks

How to get your DIC working on GM Truck with no steering wheel controls. This is a cost effective way to achieve this, rather than spend $400 to $450 on a steering wheel # 15188425 and abs coil # 26101829. This may, or may not work for your stock gauge cluster. I had already upgraded my cluster to a Denali unit and it worked. If this mod. Does not work for you, then you will need to find a friendly GM dealer who will have to flash your cluster to enable the options. You may be charged for this.

Anyone undertaking this modification does so at their own risk, these instructions are only a guideline and no responsibility is accepted for omissions or errors.
It is assumed anyone undertaking this modification has an understanding of basic electronics and electrical assembly.

Parts.

1 x Plastic plate, I cut this from an electronics project box, preferably Black.
1 x 2 part epoxy adhesive, I used VersaChem plastic welding system from Advance Auto Parts.
3 x momentary switches (black) Radio Shack #275-644
1 x momentary switches (black) Radio Shack #275-646
1 x Roll of ½” PVC insulation tape.
4 x 3M line tap connects #03777NA
1 x Ring or Forked crimp connector 18 to 20 AWG
5 x 2 feet (approx.) lengths of stranded wire 18 to 20 AWG (5 colors required) ie. Black, Red, Yellow, Blue, Green.
1 x 4” of solid wire or fuse wire 20 AWG


Tools.

Soldering Iron & Solder.
Pliers.
Wire Cutters / Stripper.
Trim removal tool (or screw-driver used with great care)
7mm Socket and extension.
Dremel with cut-off wheel and sanding drum attachments.
Sand paper
Drill and Drills (up to ½”)

Time: 1 ½ to 2 hours.

1. Remove dash bezel (held in with Clips) grip firmly and pull towards you, I find it easier to start at the left of the gauge cluster. (you will need to lower the steering wheel and place the gear selector in 1st gear).
2. Remove 4 screws on cluster (7mm socket required)
3. Remove Harness from back of cluster (be careful when pulling out) and place the cluster in a safe place.

4. On the cluster plug identify the following connections / wires

B7 FUEL ECONOMY - Yellow
B6 RESET – Dark Green / White
B5 TRIP – Dark Blue
B4 OPTIONS – Orange

These are the wires you will be connecting in to. Be careful, there are 3 x Dark Green / White wires. These 4 wires are all together, make sure you get the one in the first row with the Yellow and Dark Blue wires on each side.

5. Use the ‘tapping’ half of the 3M line tap connects and fix the on each of the identified wires about 3” away from the cluster connector where the wires are
not taped up.

6. Remove headlight switch, bed light switch, vent and recessed cover (blanking unit for 4WD controls on 2WD vehicles) as an assembly (held in with clips)

7. Remove blanking unit from assembly, use a small screwdriver to release retainers at top and one side of unit.

9. Modify recessed cover by removing approx. 1” from rear of cover parallel to the front/opening to the cover. Do not remove too much from the depth, the lugs on the top and one side that retain the unit in the assembly in 6 above must not be removed.

10. Using the sand paper on a flat surface, ensure the cut is leveled and is parallel to the front opening.

11. Cut plastic plate roughly oversize of cut opening in recessed cover. Roughen surface where the bond to the recessed cover will be bonded. I roughened
the whole surface to give a dull / brushed surface.

12. Mix 2 part epoxy and apply to cut surface of recessed cover, place flat plastic plate on table, roughened surface up, and place cut and glued surface of
recessed cover and weight with a suitable object until adhesive is cured.

13. Sand excess plastic plate to the profile of recessed cover.

13. The new back plate is about 4” long, 4 x ½” holes will now have to be drilled to accept the switches. I spaced my holes at ½”, 1 ½”, 2 ½”, 3 ½”.

14. Put switches into drilled holes, align the connections on the switches in 2 parallel rows and tighten nuts fully. I placed the red switch at the top of the recesses cover to use as the Reset switch.

15. Solder solid 20 AWG wire across one side of all 4 switches, this will be the common ground side of the switches.

16. Solder one of each length of each colored wire to each of the switches. I used Red for the Options button, Yellow for the Fuel Economy button, Blue for the Trip button and Green for the Reset.

17. Solder the Black wire to the center of the common ground wire, between the 2nd and 3rd buttons.

18. On the end of the black wire crimp the Ring or Forked connector, on the remaining colored wires, crimp the other half of the 3M line tap connects.

19. Dress wires together and use PVC tape to start a harness starting at the rear of the switches. After 2” separate the Black wire and continue to tape the other wires until 2” from the 3M line tap connector.

20. Feed wires through the original mounting position of the recessed cover and clip the cover back into place.

21. Remove fuse panel on left of dash and on front of door jamb you will see 2 bolts/nuts, feed black wire to left and down and fix crimp to vehicle body with one of bolts/nut. Refit fuse cover.

22. Feed wires towards front and around dash to cluster plug position and connect each wire to 3M line tap connects fitted in item 5. Refit headlight switch, bed light switch, vent and modified recessed cover assembly.

23. Mate the 2 halves of the 3M line tap connectors.

B7 FUEL ECONOMY – Yellow to Yellow wire
B6 RESET – Dark Green / White to Green wire
B5 TRIP – Dark Blue to Blue wire
B4 OPTIONS – Orange to Red wire

24. Reassemble cluster and dash.

25. Test – The ignition MUST be on for the DIC to function.