Replaced Instrument Cluster Lights -> ABS/CDL Issue (1 Viewer)

[Quattr09]

Hi all,

I did a search, but none of the similar issues seem to have stemmed from the same circumstances.

I popped the instrument cluster out to replace the bulbs, and when I turned the ignition on to test them all, the ABS light is now always-on. Additionally, prior to replacement, pressing the CDL button caused the associated lights to show up, but now they don’t. The clicking sound that occurred upon pressing the CDL button, is still present, though.

Any ideas?

 

[nukegoat]

Hi all,

I did a search, but none of the similar issues seem to have stemmed from the same circumstances.

I popped the instrument cluster out to replace the bulbs, and when I turned the ignition on to test them all, the ABS light is now always-on. Additionally, prior to replacement, pressing the CDL button caused the associated lights to show up, but now they don’t. The clicking sound that occurred upon pressing the CDL button, is still present, though.

Any ideas?

Sounds like you bungled something in your attempts to fix it

 

[baldilocks]

Are you saying that the ABS light came on when you shifted into 4x4 before you replaced the bulb but now it remains lit all the time? Have you ever seen the ABS indicator illuminated before?

Perhaps the bulbs that won’t illuminate when they are supposed to are bad bulbs from the manufacturer. Have you verified their integrity?

 

[BerettaMato]

Do you do a Part time kit or manual locking hubs?

 

[Travis 76]

I tested the bulbs when I went through my cluster with a 9v battery. All my bulbs came from a junk yard, so I wanted to make sure they worked. I also messed up some of the main back light bulbs and had to buy new ones. I got leds for those.

 

[Quattr09]

Are you saying that the ABS light came on when you shifted into 4x4 before you replaced the bulb but now it remains lit all the time? Have you ever seen the ABS indicator illuminated before?

Perhaps the bulbs that won’t illuminate when they are supposed to are bad bulbs from the manufacturer. Have you verified their integrity?

Exactly. Prior to replacement, the ABS and/or CDL lights would come on when I pressed the CDL button, or shifted into low. Now it’s constantly on, regardless.

I haven’t verified their integrity. After replacing them all, I checked to see that the gauges were all illuminated, which they were, and I was so happy that I just put everything back together. Unlike before, the “PWR” and “2nd” lights now illuminate as well, but one of the turnsignal bulbs was apparently bad - and I don’t know what’s going on with the ABS light + lack of CDL light. Never took into consideration that new bulbs would do anything other than work as intended.

 

[Malleus]

What year is your truck? The ABS system is easy to check. The CDL will (likely) require a multimeter to check. I'd look at this as a blessing not a curse. Now you know you have a problem; before you knew nothing and were blissfully ignorant.

Pull out the FSM and post here with comments and questions.

 

[baldilocks]

What year is your truck? The ABS system is easy to check. The CDL will (likely) require a multimeter to check. I'd look at this as a blessing not a curse. Now you know you have a problem; before you knew nothing and were blissfully ignorant.

Pull out the FSM and post here with comments and questions.

The bulbs that are acting up now were fine before replacement, they were simply replaced “while he was in there”.

@Quattro9, go through the entire process again with greater attention to details like the condition of all wiring and connectors and ground wires connections you may have missed.

This may sound silly but, is it possible that you had the cdl button or the shifter in LOW at different times unknowingly? This configuration would explain the ABS being lit up constantly.

 

[Quattr09]

When I have time this week, I’ll pick up another pack of both 74 and 194 bulbs, and be sure to test them all. I’m not at all an expert in determining the condition of electrical components, but will see if there’s anything noticeably off.

I considered that, but after shifting through every configuration to verify, the ABS light stayed illuminated with no change.

Thank you for the suggestions!

 

[AcuWiz]

I was having speedo issues and had an extra cluster laying around so I swapped em just to see if the needle would move on the other one. I had a bunch of lights and weird cluster stuff going on. Put the original back and no issues. Just my experience hope it helps.

Cory

 

[Jgrauman]

On the new led bulbs, they are polarity sensitive. Make sure they are in the correct way. You should be able to use 9v batter and test leads on the board. Install all bulbs and check them in place. From what I remember there are multiple terminals marked + on the board. Just touch positive lead there and then at each bulb you can touch the negative side and light up each bulb.

 

[Travis 76]

That's right, I plugged the cluster in and turned on the lights to check before I put it all together.

 

[Cass007]

I changed my bulbs in my LX and had this same issue ... was told to read the FSM.

Then was finally helped by a member that posted the correct page in the FSM. Turned out I was just put one of the lights back in the wrong socket since there were a few unused sockets because my truck had no lockers. Verify all the bulbs are in the correct sockets.

 

[Cass007]

My Fail

• Cass007
• Jul 21, 2017

 

[Quattr09]

Well I am happy to say that after going back and checking all of the bulbs, I changed out the duds, and found that I had placed a 74 in the incorrect position.

All lights illuminate and function as intended now!

 

[Quattr09]

Whoops! I hadn’t seen your post before replying, Cass007, but that was exactly the error I made. Thank you!