2003 5.9L
Have had this Issue for a while, intermittently.
But now very regular, every couple of seconds (see video)
Like key is turned off then back on. Affecting only the instruments and it's lights, cabin lights, Can hear the 25mph door locks clunk, Head lights wont go off, but will switch back to low beam if they are on high when it happens.
Engine keeps running no issue there.
Replaced TIPM and IGN switch.
Please help!
Thanks!

Here's a video of the issue.

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/iduhd...x0mwwssr5&dl=0

 

Wish I could help you more, but it seems like a connection issue somewhere or a computer board going bad. Could be the entire instrument cluster. Could be some computer/module/connection after the TIPM that controls the Dash?

 

Check the ground under the dash. Polish things up and make sure it is secure.
I have no idea if this will fix your issue, but it is a solid starting point....
I have two extra wires on mine.
Braided copper drain for the two way radio and the single black wire in the loom for the PacBrake

Edit: This is under the steering column. You'll need to remove the panel to access (two screws)
Edit: (again) It also might not hurt to run a temporary separate ground wire back to the battery from this ground point. It is possible the entire dash frame is not grounding properly to the cab.

 

Thanks guys for the feed back. Think I'm gunna send in my instrument cluster to have it "reworked". Anyone have any experience doing this?

 

Had a friend with a 2003 and his TIPM was bad. He would look outside and see brake lights on and go out to see what was going on only to see his doors were unlocked. The way I understand it the TIPM has vent holes and it allows moisture in and over time it corrodes causing lots of problems. Since you changed yours I wonder if some of your connections to it are corroded and need to be cleaned? I also would look into the under dash grounds as mentioned.............

I use Deoxit to clean contacts and such in my hobby of old radios and it works great!

47

 

Well, I'm about 150 bucks lighter and still have the problem. If anyone else know what it could be?

 

Did they find any issue with reworking your instrument cluster? If it was fine then the issue is a connection to it or further upstream which is also indicated by the other symptoms reported. Could be a connection to the TIPM which you previously replaced.

 

UPDATE
This round of possible remedies included disconnecting and contact cleaner-ing the plugs and sockets on the PCU and the instrument cluster... No luck there either. I was going to pull the TIPM (again) to contact cleaner those plugs but as I sat there watching the cluster (see video post 1) I thought, what if the system is just rebooting repeatedly? That would mean software bug or partial file corruption NOT wires or a dirty / broken contact, right?

I originally left out the fact that I have a Smarty...

So I reflash-ed the truck but not with the same step, just a different one and... I'm not going to say it fixed it because that would jinx it given my current level of luck with this issue. But I can say that it hasn't repeatedly "rebooted" again since!

Hope this can help someone with the same issue.