very recently my truck's instrument cluster has been taking around 30 seconds to turn on after the truck has been started, and occasionally it will turn off and back on when driving and show all the lights. My MSOTF 4x4 has also stopped working, and the light no longer shows up on the dash. Vaccum looks good, and all the fuses and relays are good. Do you guys think this would be caused by a bad GEM? thanks.

 

A "bad GEM", as you called it, will not cause an issue with the cluster.

You'll also need to be more explicit about what "instrument cluster has been taking around 30 seconds to turn on after the truck has been started," means. Same for "MSOTF 4x4 has also stopped working,". How do you KNOW that "all the fuses and relays are good"?

 

I agree. As long as it's still shifting into 4x4, wipers, etc. all work then I don't think the GEM would be the culprit. But I do think it might be is in those years
the solder on the back side of the cluster has been known to go bad. There have been a few posts on that issue with the fix being to re-solder.
Again as was said do all the preliminary checks first. If you have to, that'll put some down time on the truck.

 

heres a video showing what i meant by "the instrument cluster takes time to turn on" you can hear the truck start then see how long it takes the gauges to move, which this time was pretty quick. it used to not do this.

I also replaced all the related fuses and relays for 4x4, and tested for power and all seemed good there. but the light does not show for 4x4 on the dash and when i shift into 4x4 my front wheels definitely dont have power coming to them. I also repaired the bad solders on the odometer which these trucks have issues with...are there any other places to re-solder?

 

As for your dash acting like that, being I have a '97 that's all analog I wouldn't have a clue past all that. But remember that the 4x4 system has vacuum assist to engage/disengage it. Check the lines & the vacuum solenoids for functionality. If you find a problem with the vacuum check all hoses & the reservoir behind the battery inside the fender well. The reservoir has a tendency of cracking that can be sealed. Check to see if shift fork in the front diff is moving. By your 4x4 light not illuminating is telling me the shift fork may not be engaging.

 

You have a partially failed instrument cluster. Could be a cold solder joint, flaky capacitor, intermittent connector, ets.

What works at power-on: PATS proveout, module communications network..
What doesn't work initially: Bulb proveout, gauges, odometer.

As for the MSOTF system, simply poking at the fuses and relay probably isn't a deep enough dive into the system. There is a prescribed set of tests (in the factory service manual) that will guide one to logically and effectively diagnosing the system so it can be repaired.

 

Do you know which area on the back of the instrument cluster motherboard i should look at? or is it a matter of replacing the whole thing?
Does anyone have a link to a service manual?
and also, thanks for the advice guys!

 

I have an extra instrument cluster I bought (from salvage yard) thinking I needed to replace due to my mileage indicator not working. I tried soldering my old one 2 times and I couldn't get it to work. The third time I fixed it, so I still have the spare I'm pretty sure. I'll check and see if your interested?

If you get another cluster, you will have to get it reprogrammed for your truck.

it's for a 2001 by the way and I'd let it go for $50 shipped if your interested?

 

ill have to look at mine first...how would i get it reprogrammed?

Can anyone post the steps to diagnose it from the service manual? I cant find them anywhere.

 

I dunno the next step of reprogramming. I never went that far. I assume the dealer has to reprogram (keys and correct mileage) to use in your truck.

Others may be able to help bv with that.