Swapped clusters in my truck (05 silverado 5.3) to one of unknown year with trans temp gauge. Everything seems to work fine, except now dummy battery light constantly lit up when running. Anyone know why, and is there a remedy to this? I have unplugged and checked, no bent pins or anything and install old cluster and light goes out.

 

Cluster must be programmed to match your VIN (basically, the truck's RPO codes must be set in the cluster). Any Tech II can do this.

 

That's the first I have heard they needed programmed other than to correct mileage.

 

pretty sure it has to do with alternator or the wiring, cluster you installed is from a 03 or 04

 

99-02 only had to have mileage programmed. They were not communicating with the BCM for vehicle data, sensor feeds are input directly. 03-07 Classic communicate with the BCM which relays data to the cluster from each equipped option. Each option has it's own digital address, meaning if the cluster programming does not match this address map then one or more features will go stupid.

In very rare cases you can find 03-07 clusters from exactly identically equipped vehicles, in which case you don't have to get them reprogrammed.

 

Thanks for the info guys !!

 

Another question, can I mix parts between my old and this new one to get a working trans temp Guage in my old cluster? I was planning on rebuilding my old cluster with all new stepper motors. Is the circuit board for a non trans tem Guage and one with the same ?

 

I think all you have to do for trans temp is add the stepper motor. I haven't done this though, so it may not work.