Problem with my 1998 Chevrolet Astro
4.3 V6
GM tech = JK
question = On my 1998 Chevy Astro, when I put the gear selector into drive, the
light that looks like a "red box" that is supposed to be around the letter " D "
doesn't come on. After a couple of minutes when I wait or start driving, it comes
on and stays on around the letter " D ". Sometimes the red gear selection light
may flicker quickly and then stay on. This also happens when Park, Neural or 2
is selected. The "red box" indicator sometimes stays on around the selected
letter, sometimes it flickers and then stays on around the letter, or it may stay off
for a while and appear later. The PRNDL321 lights always work properly except
it's the red box around the selected gear that comes on late or flickers. What can
be causing this and how can it be fixed?






JK:
There are 2 things that can cause this. Either a bad instrument cluster (dash), or
a faulty range selector switch. The range selector switch is more probable. This
switch is on the transmission. The connector is usually very hard to get of off the
switch. The connector is usually almost melted into the switch. A heat gun would
be needed to remove. Then the connector would need to be cleaned before
plugging into the newly installed switch.