QuestionQUESTION: Hello, i am having problems with my 1998 chrysler town and country. The speedometer, temperature gauge and fuel gauge all do not work. The only thing that works on the instrument panel is the tachometer. I will tell you what i have done to my knowledge to try and find the solution. Obviously first thing i had done was check fuses. All seemed to be good besides the rear window fuse. There was not one in it, but when i had popped a fuse in the wiper would go on automatically and not stop until i took the fuse back out. Anyways not trying to get off subject, i had taken apart the dash to pull out the instrument panel. The main connection plugging into the bag had power from port 2 and 11. i checked both grounds and they are properly grounded. i checked the connection leading to the warning light panel. again same thing the correct power and ground, no problems there either. i have been stuck trying to figure out what to do next. the fuses are good, the power leading to the connections are good, i dont see any loose wires, the grounds are all good. i had a local shop re solder the circuit board of the instrument panel and that did not solve the problem. any help would be appreciated! im starting to think maybe the body control module? if its any help the rear wiper buttons next to the climate control dont work, and neither does the button to adjust the outside mirrors. also the traction control button on the steering column does not work. if you know anything please help!
ANSWER: Hi Josh,
Thanks for the detailed history. I will study the wiring diagrams and get right back to you when I have some ideas.
Roland
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QUESTION: OKay, and if possible do you know how to check to see if the body control module is doing its job? if possible how might i go about testing it
ANSWER: Hi Josh,
All the readings on the cluster are received via the digital twisted wire pair that come from the body control so because you do have tach that communication must be present. So either the cluser itself is at fault or as you suggest it could be internal to the bcm. The only way to diagnose that would be to seek a fault code readout of the bcm via a plug-in code reader to see if there are any codes preceded by a B stored in the memory. You could also check the following fuses which are involved with bcm functions: 1,2,3,6 under the dash and 19,22,28 in the power box in the engine compartment. Do you have ABS, as otherwise the traction control won't work. The power mirrors don't function via the bcm, so check fuse 18 under the hood if these are standard mirrors or fuse 28 if memory mirrors. If the fuses are all good and you don't get fault codes from the bcm, then the problem is likely in the circuit board of the cluster. I don't see any wiring that would take out the three other gauges but not the tachometer.
The rear wiper remaining 'on' is either the control switch in the HVAC control panel or it might be a bcm issue as that is also involved with activating the rear wiper motor.
Let me know if you find a common solution to these.
Please read the PS below and respond to it.
Thanks,
Roland
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QUESTION: I have checked the fuses in the power block those are good. the fuses under the dash number 1,3 and 6 do not work? the fuses are good but my test light does not light up on them. number 2 which is gauges works. what does this mean when the light does not light up but the fuses are not bad? please help! i got the interior lights to work the fuse was missing in the power block that was an easy fix. thank you for your help
AnswerHi Josh,
Fuse 6 will only show voltage when the key is in the 'run' position. Fuses 1 and 3 will show voltage only when the headlamp switch is turned 'on' because that voltage comes from the park lamp relay.
Please consider doing a rating and nomination of me.
Thanks,
Roland
