2013 Malibu Intermittent Gauge Cluster Failure 

I should ad an addendum to this video. If you replace with a used cluster, you will lose your odometer functions. including oil life remaining. post 2012 clusters are VIN specific and, according to the speakership, cannot be programed. to have the dealership replace the cluster with a new one from the factory was 900 bucks. I recommend having your cluster repaired. I have no affiliation or personal experience with the company linked in the description, but they come highly recommended. Their service is around 200 bucks, so im told. FWIW, if I had to do it over again, this is what I would do. Thanks for the comment!

@@dzlfreek thanks! I will use your recommendation and have it repaired when I am able. We had to replace the starter so we thought it was something to do with what was happening with the dash. None of the shops ever mentioned this as an issue. Thank God for RU-vid and your channel

smart move. I should've done that too

How much did they charge to fix it

Me too

part number

my pleasure

keep the old cluster. Apparently you can change the chip (or get someone who knows how to) that stores the mileage. Unfortunately these clusters are VIN specific and cant be reprogramed. I eventually had to have the dealer replace mine with a new unit so I could register my car in Texas. That set us back 600 bucks!

that's an oxymoron

I have not

I ended up getting one that fit my application from a auto recycler on eBay.

I got it from an eBay seller. there's a bunch out there for hybrids and they're cheap.Don't get one of those unless yours is a hybrid. Cross reference the part# on the back of the cluster with the one you may be considering. The cluster is VIN programed to the car so a cluster addressed to a different VIN # will partially lose the digital parts of the dash like the odometer and trip odometer. According to the dealership the cluster cant be "re-flashed" at the dealership. We ended up buying a new cluster from the dealership only because I needed the milage for a vehicle inspection to register the car in a new state. you could send your cluster out to be repaired for around 200 bucks.

I did not make a video about the passenger seat zip tie fix. Under the passenger seat there's a harness connector that plugs into a module. I think its the airbag computer. regardless, wrap a zip tie around the connector, and raise the seat up 1/3 off the lowest setting. That should keep the passengers but from making contact with the connector.

costs nothing to try! Although it sound like something computer related and everything in these newer cars are controlled by computers.

ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-fgV4HC8xR8M.html

either send it to a repair shop or replace it.

Trying to diagnose my 2013 Malibu

@@marissag1567 thats exactly what it would do

@@dzlfreek perfect. I’m guessing that’s what’s wrong with mine. Some days it’s fine, other days it’s constant resetting it self and going black before turning on again

@@marissag1567 Did you ever get your cluster fixed? Reason I’m asking is I do repair these clusters and I can get your original one done so that way there’s no need to get a replacement cluster reprogrammed.

I don't think I made one. but I will now!

circuitboardmedics.com/instrument-cluster-repair/

I would recommend the repair service, and here is why. After replacing this unit with another (making sure the part number matched matched my cluster) and waiting a year to take it to the dealer to "program" it to my car, I was informed that the dealer cant do that after 2012. they would only replace it and that cost almost 1k. Texas had me by the short n curlys with their inspection scheme and I couldn't register the car in TX without an odometer reading. I had tossed the old cluster by this time so rebuilding wasn't an option. If you need the odometer reading to register in your state then use the repair service. The ECM is still recording the mileage, its just not visible on the dash.

Darn it I so man I found one a match but nobody can calibrate it for the odometer reading dealership said since we didn’t do the service we’re not doing it they wanna make every penny but I do still have the old 1 I found 2 options send the older 1 off or open both up and see what components are missing & taking a shot at it but also break the replacement so ig send the old 1 off and when it comes back send the replacement back so I won’t be outta 80 bucks but your video was on point but my car still turns off at complete stops any suggestions

And I didn’t think you would reply well I wasn’t patient enough I was eager to fix it lol after watching your video

Yea I’m in indy it’s not like that here I ended up getting the original 1 repaired but I liked the replacement better it matched the radio screen it’s like the original 1 was showing in 720 & the radio graphics is in 1080 and when I start car thr Chevy symbol comes on like radio but the original 1 doesn’t I’m just worried if I go to sale it that will be a stopper ik I could use replacement bcuz it looks better but I don’t want mileage altered scared I would get in trouble

Check the fuse first

Did you ever get your cluster fixed? Reason I’m asking is I do repair these clusters and I can get your original one done so that way there’s no need to get a replacement cluster reprogrammed.

www.vehiclehistory.com/questions/how-do-i-perform-a-chevy-malibu-security-reset-93588

I ended up buying a good used cluster from Ebay, but you may have better luck having the cluster rebuilt. here's one circuitboardmedics.com/instrument-cluster-repair/

@@dzlfreek thank you very much, was it difficult to program your cluster?

@@erickandresescamillacarden4141 haven't done it yet! The only thing thats not working is the odometer, but im sure the computer is racking up the miles still. Everything else works as it should.

thats what mine did when I replaced the cluster with one that wasn't VIN coded to the car. I don't know what would cause it other than that.

@@dzlfreek so just go to the dealer and have them code it?

@@alexquezada510 thats what I would do.

@@dzlfreek I’ll do that thanks for your help!

@@dzlfreek they don’t want to fix it because I don’t have the original cluster and I can’t get it because I bought the car like that. I guess I’m stuck with it that way

Yes. These clusters are VIN specific so if you replace with a second hand cluster you will not get any display from the digital part of the cluster. No odometer, no trip odometer, no oil life remaining or reset. I discovered, after this video was made, that they’re not programmable either. So if you want, or need, the odometer features then send the cluster out to be refurbished or have the stealership replace with a factory unit. The later cost about 900 bucks. Refurbishing about 200. However the actual mileage is stored in the ECM

should be on the back of the gauge cluster

part number is different depending one when and where it was assembled. the Number is on a sticker on the back of the cluster along with a bar tag

Well you wrote this very well.

you can have it programed at a dealer.

@@dzlfreek i talked to the dealer and they said an old cannot be programmed, only new

@@JonnyAbs-0 oh well

I agree that having a working odometer is preferred. It may be hard to prove that a new set of tires failed after just 5000 miles, for example, if your odometer isn't even working. But, I'm not sure about not having a working odometer being illegal in most states just to be on the road. The federal and state laws that I'm aware of do intend, however, to make it illegal to tamper with an odometer, if selling, in order to misrepresent the condition and value of the vehicle (Here is a good list of the 50 states and what is in their inspections, mostly for safety - www.partsgeek.com/mmparts/car_inspection_requirements_by_state_a_compendium.html) If you want to be covered on that point, I'd recommend to just document the instrument cluster repair, and that the replacement odometer is not working or inaccurate, and if you ever sell it, be sure to disclose it to the buyer in writing and have them sign a copy for each of you to keep. Also, make sure to write "NOT ACTUAL" under the mileage disclosure. I would expect that you'd be fine, but, I may be wrong. If you are fixing your own instrument cluster, like me, you are more likely to drive it until it dies anyways. But odometers break all the time and life goes on. By the way, Thanks for sharing the repair help, dzlfreek.

Soldering required I assume?

@@ufoseverywhere yes offcurse