QuestionQUESTION: My Instrument cluster goes in & out in my 1997 plymouth voyager that has a 3.3 engine! I had it diagnosed & they say that it is my printed circuit card, is bad & its shortening out the cluster! Question! Is it better for me replace just the circuit card by a mechanic or can i can replace the cluster myself?
ANSWER: Hi Frank,
I suspect that it would be less expensive to find a used cluster in a wrecking yard and replace it yourself. Another thing you could try is to remove the cluster and use a soldering pencil to reheat the solder joints that connect the cluster plug socket to the printed circuit board. A 'cold' solder joint is the usual cause of this sort of problem so you could likely repair your present problem yourself.
If you need help in how to remove it let me know the type of transmission range indicator you have, mechanical or electrical.
Roland
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QUESTION: Hi again Roland! In order for me to remove the cluster out of the 1997 Plymouth voyager! What are the steps that i need to take! Do i need a video with diagram pictures or a how too guide! Lastly ! How long will it be to take it out? Also Roland I'm not sure about the type of transmission range indicator ! i believe its electrical! not sure! is this important? my oil light also comes ! i checked the oil level & its ok! But it dings & pings after the engine gets hot & sometime not! Is this the problem with the oil sending unit? if i replace it will that stop the dinging?
AnswerHi Frank,
On the oil pressure warning, it is probably the case that the wear on the engine and pump is causing a decreased pressure in the system noticeable no doubt at idle. If you have dinging at rpms above idle then that would suggest that you measure the pressure at idle and at 3,000 rpm to see if it meets specs. But if this is only while idling then the easiest fix is to increase the oil weight one step which will raise the pressure.
Here are the steps to get out the cluster (this is from the '98 manual where all the 4 gauges are round in a single display; if your gauges are in 2 or 3 separate subsections let me know)
Remove the bezel that surrounds the cluster:
remove the steering column cover (screws on the underside)
pull back and up on the main bezel to release it
remove the left end cap
remove screw at left end of cluster bezel and headlamp switch
remove screws holding cluster bezel to instrument panel on either side of the steering column
discoonect clip that hold cluster bezel to instrument panel from right vent louver
separate cluster bezel from instrument panel
disconnect wires from back of bezel.
Then remove the cluster:
remove screws holding cluster to instrument panel
rotate top of cluster outward
remove cluster from panel
disconnect wire connector from cluster
remove cluster.
Then remove cluster printed circuit board
remove the back panel
remove the wire connector at the lower edge of the board from the board
remove the screw holding the wire connector to the shell and the board
remove screws holding the board to the shell
remove the cluster board,
Now heat all the solder joints associated with the main cluster plug pins where they connect to the board.
