The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network







Register or Log In To remove these advertisements.

Go Back   The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network > 47 - Current classic GM Trucks > The 1988 - 1998 GMT400 Chevy & GMC Pickups Message Board

Web 67-72chevytrucks.com


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 03-21-2011, 07:16 AM   #1
Legolas894
Chemist under the hood...
 
Legolas894's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Fort Erie,ON, Canada
Posts: 617
Dash Removal on a '98

I've got a short in the wiring harness to the lighting control module in my 98. The short causes the courtesy lights to come off and on while driving and activates the door locks too. It's kind of like a haunted truck when you're driving at night. Anyway, my hands are all scratched up trying to reach it from beneath. I can just get my finger tips on it but can't really work on it like this. I tried taking all the front parts off but still can't get to it.

Is removing the whole dash to get to the wiring harness a big job? I wondered about the air bags and stuff.

Thanks
__________________


Current fleet:
2013 GMC Sierra, 5.3L, 4x4
1988 GMC Sierra, 305, Auto
1984 Jeep Grand Wagoneer, 360 V8
1997 VW Cabrio, 2.0L
2017 Toyota Rav4, 2.5L

Stuff I wish I still had:
2013 Toyota Matrix [RIP]
1967 GMC 910 Fleetside, 283 V8 [1st Love-SOLD]
1987 Jeep Cherokee Laredo 4X4, 4.0 I-6 [SOLD}
1994 Chevrolet Caprice Classic, 5.7LV8 [SOLD]
1995 Chevrolet Astro AWD, 4.3L V6 (RIP)
1998 Chevrolet Suburban 4x4, 5.7L V8 [SOLD]
Legolas894 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-21-2011, 10:01 PM   #2
67olds
Registered User
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: South-Eastern Wisconsin
Posts: 147
Re: Dash Removal on a '98

Taking out a dash in anything is a big job. Ive done it in a lot of cars and its a big job even when i'm not saving anything. My preferred method is to smash out the windshield and proceed to do the same to the dash with a sledge.... but whatever works!
67olds is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-22-2011, 08:10 AM   #3
1badgmc
Registered User
 
1badgmc's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Wichita Falls, Texas
Posts: 3,153
Re: Dash Removal on a '98

I helped a friend pull a dash out of a '98 Suburban a couple months ago. He was just after the dash. The truck was a parts truck. Once we got the dash loose, we just started hacking through the wiring harness to get it out.

I can't remember exactly where the bolts were, but there are only a few bolts actually holding the dash in. Once you get them loose and loosen the steering column so you can drop it down, you can then rotate the entire dash forward to give you a little better access to the wiring harness on the back side.
1badgmc is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-22-2011, 09:24 AM   #4
corbinc
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Aurora, CO
Posts: 55
Re: Dash Removal on a '98

I just put in a new dash on the 91. It really wasn't that bad. There are several screws around the perimeter of the dash, two large screws in the kick panels, and the part of the dash where the instrument cluster goes there are grommets. The only other pain in the arse is the wire management trays which must be cracked open to remove the wires so the dash will pull back.
__________________
'91 Chevy K1500 Z71, 5.7l
corbinc is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-22-2011, 10:48 AM   #5
1badgmc
Registered User
 
1badgmc's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Wichita Falls, Texas
Posts: 3,153
Re: Dash Removal on a '98

Quote:
Originally Posted by corbinc View Post
I just put in a new dash on the 91. It really wasn't that bad. There are several screws around the perimeter of the dash, two large screws in the kick panels, and the part of the dash where the instrument cluster goes there are grommets. The only other pain in the arse is the wire management trays which must be cracked open to remove the wires so the dash will pull back.
There's a bit of a difference between a '91 and a '98. Trust me. There's a TON more wiring in the '98.
1badgmc is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-22-2011, 11:59 AM   #6
JWall
Frequent Flyer
 
JWall's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Tulsa, OK
Posts: 2,258
Re: Dash Removal on a '98

Have you replaced the door pin switches?
__________________
- Justin
76 SWB C-10 - 98 SWB C1500 (x2)
1 Owner 1976 SWB
JWall is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-22-2011, 02:19 PM   #7
jrr344
Registered User
 
jrr344's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: dixon springs,tn
Posts: 35
Re: Dash Removal on a '98

DONT PULL THE DASH look in the drivers side kick panel there should be some wires rubbing on the where it goes through the fender check it before you pull the dash.
jrr344 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-22-2011, 07:43 PM   #8
Legolas894
Chemist under the hood...
 
Legolas894's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Fort Erie,ON, Canada
Posts: 617
Re: Dash Removal on a '98

Quote:
Originally Posted by JWall View Post
Have you replaced the door pin switches?
No but I have checked them out. When I move the wiring harness, the power locks activate and the lights come on. This indicates a short to ground. The harness crosses a metal support that's fairly sharp and I can see the harness hitting it. Just a PITA to get at.
__________________


Current fleet:
2013 GMC Sierra, 5.3L, 4x4
1988 GMC Sierra, 305, Auto
1984 Jeep Grand Wagoneer, 360 V8
1997 VW Cabrio, 2.0L
2017 Toyota Rav4, 2.5L

Stuff I wish I still had:
2013 Toyota Matrix [RIP]
1967 GMC 910 Fleetside, 283 V8 [1st Love-SOLD]
1987 Jeep Cherokee Laredo 4X4, 4.0 I-6 [SOLD}
1994 Chevrolet Caprice Classic, 5.7LV8 [SOLD]
1995 Chevrolet Astro AWD, 4.3L V6 (RIP)
1998 Chevrolet Suburban 4x4, 5.7L V8 [SOLD]
Legolas894 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-22-2011, 07:45 PM   #9
Legolas894
Chemist under the hood...
 
Legolas894's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Fort Erie,ON, Canada
Posts: 617
Re: Dash Removal on a '98

Quote:
Originally Posted by 1badgmc View Post
I helped a friend pull a dash out of a '98 Suburban a couple months ago. He was just after the dash. The truck was a parts truck. Once we got the dash loose, we just started hacking through the wiring harness to get it out.

I can't remember exactly where the bolts were, but there are only a few bolts actually holding the dash in. Once you get them loose and loosen the steering column so you can drop it down, you can then rotate the entire dash forward to give you a little better access to the wiring harness on the back side.
I feel like hacking it right now! I'll look to see how many bolts have to come out.

Thanks
__________________


Current fleet:
2013 GMC Sierra, 5.3L, 4x4
1988 GMC Sierra, 305, Auto
1984 Jeep Grand Wagoneer, 360 V8
1997 VW Cabrio, 2.0L
2017 Toyota Rav4, 2.5L

Stuff I wish I still had:
2013 Toyota Matrix [RIP]
1967 GMC 910 Fleetside, 283 V8 [1st Love-SOLD]
1987 Jeep Cherokee Laredo 4X4, 4.0 I-6 [SOLD}
1994 Chevrolet Caprice Classic, 5.7LV8 [SOLD]
1995 Chevrolet Astro AWD, 4.3L V6 (RIP)
1998 Chevrolet Suburban 4x4, 5.7L V8 [SOLD]
Legolas894 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-22-2011, 10:27 PM   #10
BigBlocksRule
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Lubbock, TX
Posts: 2,047
Re: Dash Removal on a '98

Don't forget the screws at the defrost outlet, they'll sure screw up a dash if you try to pull it with 'em in place.
IIRC, there's a couple screws/bolts around the steering column brace and a couple under the glove compartment. There's a downward facing "hook" on each end than hangs over a pin on each side of the cab. Once it feels loose and moves fairly easily, you have to pull/push it up to clear those pins, it'll kinda rotate around 'em. The "convenience center" where the wires go thru the dash on the driver's side will come loose after you remove the torx screw from the other side of the firewall, it's in the center of the white wiring thingy. If you get to a point and aren't sure, email me at 81vette4speed@suddenlink.net, I have a loose dash I can look at to see if there's anything else you need to look for. I'd hate for you to cause more problems than you solve - been there, done that, lost my shirt.
Good luck!
BigBlocksRule is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-22-2011, 10:45 PM   #11
Legolas894
Chemist under the hood...
 
Legolas894's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Fort Erie,ON, Canada
Posts: 617
Re: Dash Removal on a '98

Quote:
Originally Posted by BigBlocksRule View Post
Don't forget the screws at the defrost outlet, they'll sure screw up a dash if you try to pull it with 'em in place.
IIRC, there's a couple screws/bolts around the steering column brace and a couple under the glove compartment. There's a downward facing "hook" on each end than hangs over a pin on each side of the cab. Once it feels loose and moves fairly easily, you have to pull/push it up to clear those pins, it'll kinda rotate around 'em. The "convenience center" where the wires go thru the dash on the driver's side will come loose after you remove the torx screw from the other side of the firewall, it's in the center of the white wiring thingy. If you get to a point and aren't sure, email me at 81vette4speed@suddenlink.net, I have a loose dash I can look at to see if there's anything else you need to look for. I'd hate for you to cause more problems than you solve - been there, done that, lost my shirt.
Good luck!
I appreciate that a lot. I hate that I can see the problem but can't get to it. I'm hoping it warms up a bit. We're expecting snow tonight and I have to work in the driveway. If it's nice this weekend, I'll start again. When I took the gauge unit out, I saw the ABS light was pulled out. The bulb in the headlamp switch is out and there's a couple out in the radio too. It's one dark truck at night with the fuse pulled.

Take care.
__________________


Current fleet:
2013 GMC Sierra, 5.3L, 4x4
1988 GMC Sierra, 305, Auto
1984 Jeep Grand Wagoneer, 360 V8
1997 VW Cabrio, 2.0L
2017 Toyota Rav4, 2.5L

Stuff I wish I still had:
2013 Toyota Matrix [RIP]
1967 GMC 910 Fleetside, 283 V8 [1st Love-SOLD]
1987 Jeep Cherokee Laredo 4X4, 4.0 I-6 [SOLD}
1994 Chevrolet Caprice Classic, 5.7LV8 [SOLD]
1995 Chevrolet Astro AWD, 4.3L V6 (RIP)
1998 Chevrolet Suburban 4x4, 5.7L V8 [SOLD]
Legolas894 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-23-2011, 02:13 PM   #12
jrr344
Registered User
 
jrr344's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: dixon springs,tn
Posts: 35
Re: Dash Removal on a '98

I had the same exact problem on my 98 suburban and started to pull the dash because when I wiggled the wire my door locks would lock and unlock and the interior lights would stay on, when I pull the driver side kick panel to remove the dash the wires had rubbed and grounded on where it goes through the drivers fender on the inside.
jrr344 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-23-2011, 08:02 PM   #13
Legolas894
Chemist under the hood...
 
Legolas894's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Fort Erie,ON, Canada
Posts: 617
Re: Dash Removal on a '98

Quote:
Originally Posted by jrr344 View Post
I had the same exact problem on my 98 suburban and started to pull the dash because when I wiggled the wire my door locks would lock and unlock and the interior lights would stay on, when I pull the driver side kick panel to remove the dash the wires had rubbed and grounded on where it goes through the drivers fender on the inside.
Hey-I'll take the kickpanel off anyway just to make sure. It's still a lot easier than pulling the whole dash out. Snowing like crazy today so I'll have to do it when it warms up a little. So much for spring!
__________________


Current fleet:
2013 GMC Sierra, 5.3L, 4x4
1988 GMC Sierra, 305, Auto
1984 Jeep Grand Wagoneer, 360 V8
1997 VW Cabrio, 2.0L
2017 Toyota Rav4, 2.5L

Stuff I wish I still had:
2013 Toyota Matrix [RIP]
1967 GMC 910 Fleetside, 283 V8 [1st Love-SOLD]
1987 Jeep Cherokee Laredo 4X4, 4.0 I-6 [SOLD}
1994 Chevrolet Caprice Classic, 5.7LV8 [SOLD]
1995 Chevrolet Astro AWD, 4.3L V6 (RIP)
1998 Chevrolet Suburban 4x4, 5.7L V8 [SOLD]
Legolas894 is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Tags
harness, lights, wiring

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 02:56 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Copyright 1997-2022 67-72chevytrucks.com