2006 Silverado 2500HD 4x4, 354 6.0L V8

This only occurs when it is cold out; around freezing and below, and the issue "self fixes".

Get in the truck, key in the switch and turn to accessory. Gauges sweep, dome light on, radio playing...completely normal. The moment the key is turned to start, all electrical power to the cab is removed. Gauges go dead, dome light off, radio off...
Check the battery and its 12v. Check the fuse panel in the engine compartment, 12v. Check a random engine ground, 12v.
Walk away and come back later and its like the issue never occurred. Gauge lights active, dome light on, radio playing...
Try to start again and the same issue occurs again.
There is no set timeframe or number of tries, but usually if I try long enough the truck will finally start and this issue will go away. However it is always present and coming back to start the truck in the cold will result in this happening again and again.
Ignition lock cylinder in the column has been replaced and this issue remains.
I do not know if this is a computer issue, a self resetting fuse, some random grounded wire....no clue but it is extremely frustrating and I cannot trust my truck in the cold weather; and on days like today when there is 8" of snow in the ground and I NEED my truck.
Any educated suggestions appreciated.

 

Hopefully this helps you.

My 2002 allegedly had a similar issue. I got it from my uncle who retired it as a work truck. He said he never used the AC because when he would turn it on, the instrument cluster would stop working. Letting it sit overnight seemed to remedy the symptom and his gauges would start working again.

Now when I got the truck, I did a nearly full restoration on the interior, which included stripping it down. I also replaced the entire AC system and specifically, I went to EVERY ground connection I could find, disconnected and hit it with a wire wheel on my drill, and clamped it back down. This includes the grounds under the dashboard. Also, the connections at the power center (or underhood fuse box where battery connections are made). I'd say go and hit every bolted electrical connection you can find with a good wire wheeling, if nothing else than to rule out a grounding issue, but I'd suspect that first, honestly, based on the symptoms.

 

Monitor the battery voltage using a Digital Multi-Meter while you are actually starting the truck. What does the DMM read when things go dead?

You could have a bad cell in the battery.

 

Replaced the ignition switch and that seemed to fix the issue. Started in the freezing cold 5/6 times I tried. In the past it would have started 0/6 times in the freezing.

 

It's good that everything was resolved without any serious "dancing with a tambourine". I hope that now it will start in the cold without surprises. Thank you for replying with the result - maybe it will help someone else.