2000 Blazer.

I keep having this issue where after the truck hasn't run a few hours, where the battery light stays on after staring and all the gauged are pinned at zero. The gauge lights work, but not the idiot gauges or the gauged themselves. It took a ten minute drive before everything came to life today.

 

Have your battery tested.

 

Both the battery and the alternator have passed twice, at two separate shops.

 

Does the truck start and run normally?

does any system misbehave during this time?

what is the system voltage at rest and while running?

George

 

Today it started normally.

Everything is dim. Just the cluster gauges are pinned at zero.

Voltage is fine running. I guess I should check it in the morning before I start it.

 

Given the number of weird issues with the cluster that have popped up recently, I have been revisiting my DIY thread on the ignition switch and revising some of my diagnostic steps for ease of use.

Maybe check power through the following fuses for voltage through the ignition switch:

• CRUISE fuse 3 (10A) - tests IGN3 circuit - Should have +12V in RUN only
• GAUGES fuse 4 (10A) - tests IGN1 circuit - Should have +12V in START & RUN only
• CLSTR fuse 11 (10A) - tests IGN0 circuit - Should have +12V in OFF (bulb test), START, & RUN only

These three fuses are located in the instrument panel fuse box which is much easier to access than getting at the ignition switch wiring connector with some back-probe pins.

Hopefully you can test these voltages while it is screwing up and report back with your results. That will help you narrow down your problem. Let us know!