QuestionQUESTION: Hi,
I just bought an '89 Chrysler New Yorker as my first car. Already i noticed the speedometer is in Mi/H, and I live in Canada, so i need it in KM/H. I read the Owner's Manual that came with the car, and all there is about the car is that there is a US/MET button. So far, i tried pressing it over a dozen times without change. I'm not very experienced with cars, and don't quite know what else to do, but I'm sure I could get someone with a little more experience to help me try out your solution.
ANSWER: Bonjour Jean-Claude,
From your description of the speedometer/cluster I suspect that you have the electronic type with digital readout, correct? If so, then that unit has a self-diagnostic capability that you can implement to determine whether the problem is that the US/MET button is not making good contact (from 20 years of un-use) or that there is a problem in the electronics of the digital data 'bus' itself.
To start the test you press the trip and trip reset buttons and hold them, then start the car, then release the two buttons. If the word 'chec' appears in the odometer window that is normal, otherwise you have a problem. If 'chec' appears, then press the US/MET button and release it.
Send me a follow-up question telling me what you next see in the odometer window. We will continue with the test from that point...
Roland
PS Please 'rate' my response, and where you see the question about 'volunteer of the month' please consider a 'yes' answer if this response is helpful. Thanks
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: I tried what you suggested. The word 'chec' did not appear.
ANSWER: If only digits were displayed in the odometer, then try the vehicle start sequence again.
If some other erroneous display in odometer, then the cluster is defective.
If there is nothing in the odometer window then check that you have 12v on fuse 8 when the ignition is 'on'; if so then verify that you have 12v on pin 11 of the red plug on the back side of the cluster when the ignition is 'on'.
Did you have both the trip and trip reset buttons pressed when you started the engine, and did you release them simultaneously after the engine started?
Tell me what appeared in the odometer window?
Roland
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: I tried, a half dozen times, pressing the trip button and trip reset button simultaneously[holding them while] Starting the car, and releasing them simultaneously.
Everything started up normally, odometer had the kms in it, speedometer was in fact still in mph. Nothing at all appeared different. No 'chec', no erroneous display.
AnswerAll I can suggest is that the the US/MET and either or both of the trip buttons is not making contact when you actuate them. You could try removing the cluster ans spraying the body of each of those switches with electronic circuit board cleaner spray that comes in a can with a straw applicator to try and improve their function.
You would remove the bezel by putting the gear shift in low. Remove the 11 torx screws that hold it in place, and lift off bezel. Then remove the cluster (if necessary removing the steering column covers, I am not certain about that. Then unplug it.
You might want to leave well enough alone given the age of things if the unit is working otherwise.
