QuestionQUESTION: I have a 97 Chrysler T&C, the instrument cluster display is having problem. Both the speedometer and the tech meter are displaying 0 no matter how fast I drive. The temperature gauge always goes to 1/2 even in the morning. The fuel tank gauge goes to 1/2 no matter if I fill the gas to full or drive it to almost empty. The Odometer display is black, no number at all. The PRNDSL transmission indicator is black.
I checked many post and found some said it may be the BCM or the instrument cluster circuit board solder problem, so I took the instrument circuit board out and re-solder all the points and put it back in, but this did not fix any of the problem.
The van starts and runs fine. I currently using the fuel/distance display at the top center roof display unit which has a DTE function (Distance to End) which tells me how many miles I could drive until the end of fuel in the tank. So, when I see only has 50 miles left then I go fill up the gas. I'm also using a GPS for the speed I'm going.
Could you please let me know what cause these problem? Is the BCM? How do I do further diagnostic to pinpoint the exact cause. Thank you very much!
ANSWER: It appears that there is a total shut off of the cluster. I would look at the black/light green ground wire on pin 7 of the plug to verify that it is indeed grounded (the wire goes to a ground point on the center instrument panel support, at the midline, under the dash). The power for the cluster is on pin 2 (direct from the battery coming via fuse 28 in the underhood box) and on pin 11 of the cluster plug (coming from the ignition switch when on 'run').
That the overhead works is a good sign the bcm is alright.
Let me know if you find some power supply/ground issue.
Roland
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QUESTION: I checked the ground is find and power for the cluster is ok too. I still have all the lights in the instrument cluster working find. The temperature gauge and the fuel gauge will return to 0 (low) when the ignition is off. When I turned the start key, it will go to 1/2 way. I notice at night that the odometer and the PRNDSL display will display 5 horizontal red lines (very fine and dim) when I start the engine. The means there is power supply going in there.
All other warning lights comes on and off normally before and after starting the engine. Turn signal lights work fine.
Also, if I lock my van using the remote or the power door lock, the alarm will go on randomly after a while. Could this be a partial BCM failure or something else?
Thank you!
ANSWER: Let us do a cluster self-diagnostic test.
Press and hold the trip and trip reset buttons,
While holding turn the key to the run position and keep holding:
Then either the work CHEC will appear in the odometer in which case start pressing the US/MET button serially and watch what appears in the odometer window as you keep doing that OR
the the word CODE will appear in the odometer window at which point release the buttons and watch for a code number to appear.
In either case, let me know what happens.
I don't think the alarm going 'on' is related to this. Probably one of the doors is too loosely latched so it see a false attempt to open the door. Try moving the striker in board a bit on the driver door which is usually the one that gets too loosely latched.
Roland
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QUESTION: I did the cluster self-diagnostic test as instructed.
Press and hold the trip and trip reset buttons,
While holding turn the key to the run position and keep holding. I kept holding the twon buttons for more than 1 minute after I turn the key to on, but nothing is displayed in the odometer.
I repeated the procedure 3 times and nothing is displayed.
AnswerHI Alex,
If nothing shows up in the odometer window then check that the odometer module is soldered to the board properly. If still nothing shows in the odometer window then replace the odometer. If still nothing then replace the circuit board for the cluster.
That is what the manual advises. It might be better to just look for another cluster at a wrecking yard.
Roland
