Chrysler Repair: 93 5th Ave - gauge cluster removal, gauge cluster, fuse block

Question
Hello again Roland. I have a 93 5th Ave with non-digital gauges. I believe that I have a bad connection or ground fault on the board as the gauges will occasionally freak out and peg, I'll lose lights, etc. A tap on the dash pad usually brings them back. I've had the dash apart before to replace the headlight switch and tried to remove the gauge cluster then, but it only pulled out about an inch then something was holding it back. I didn't have time to mess with it more at that time, so didn't go further. Now I have a little time to work on it and would like to know the correct procedure to remove the gauge cluster. Can you help? Thanks. John

Answer
Hi John,
Can you tell me whether this is a C-body (the older) or the LH body (the new one in '93)? The '5th Ave.' is always a little tricky to identify. I assume that it is a front wheel drive.
Roland
PS Use the 'thank/rate' tab below to get back to me without having to wait for me to be 'available' to take a question.
Roland

Hi Roland. This is the last "C" body for the 5th Ave before going to the LHS platform. Thanks again! John


Hi John,
I am limited to the '92 manual but it should apply to your '93:
remove the battery - clamp to assure no air bag system fault code are stored
remove cluster bezel- move gear selector to low, remove 5 screws attaching upper bezel to instrument cluster, lift bezel over steering wheel, remove 4 screws holding lower bezel to insturment panel, lift lower bezel from instrument panel
remove lower steering column cover
place gear shift in neutral or park
these next steps have to do with the PRNDL display;
remove guide tube from behind fuse block and disconnect cable eyelet from column shifting arm
Release lock bar on column insert, squeeze legs together and remove from column
secure insert and cable guide out of way
remove rear window defogger bezel and radio bezel
remove upper steering column cover
remove the four screws attaching cluster housing to the base panel
pull the cluster rearward, reach behind the cluster and disconnect two wiring harnesses
remove the cluster

There are some figures that might be helpful. I can xerox copy and postal mail those to you if you want. Use the thank/rate to give me an address.

I suspect that your intermittent problem might be a cold solder joint between one of the socket pins and the circuit board of the cluster.

Good luck on the project. And thanks for the nomination.
Roland