Chrysler Repair: 1996 Sebring Odometer and Tachometer problem., chrysler sebring jx, chrysler sebring

Question
Hi, I have a 1996 Chrysler Sebring JX convertable. I been having a problem with my odometer(digital) and tachometer being turn off and on while I am driving. The odometer will not light up and the RPM gauge does not move it stays at 0. At first it shuts off for about 5 minutes as time went on it stays off for days possibly.

It first stated when I took it and installed my stereo system in it. I thought it was a short about 6 months later (I didn't have time to bring it back in.) I took it back in and they were in there and checked it out for 5 hours and couldn't find anything wrong. They told me to check it out at a dealership.

So I called 2 places and one guy from a dealership said its a common problem and there is some computer chip in the dash board needs to be replaced. Now the only reason I don't seem to trust his answer is because this dealership is right next to the car audio place that I called and I think they are trying to pull something over me. Plus the car audio guy recommended me to call them.

I asked for the price and the guy said it was 450 dollars. While I called a different place and he said he never heard of that as a common problem and the price to fix it is around 250 for the solution from the first dealership. Though he's not sure if that would solve the problem.

I guess the question I'm really trying to ask is: is that really the problem with my car and is it possible that it just went bad coincidently or did the car audio place screwed it up by shorting something in there with their stereo hook up.

Thanks for your time and sorry for the long winded story.

Answer
Hi Phuoc,
While I haven't had any direct experience with the cluster on the Cirrus, nor have I heard of that problem before, but my analysis of the design and circuitry based on the shop manual suggests that the problem is localized to the cluster itself not to the wires that supply it. So that would rule out a problem with the stereo installation.
The data that is needed to drive the tach and to put a number on the odometer arrive digitally at the cluster on a twisted pair of wires called the CCD bus. The facts are that virtually the entire data operation and warning lights for the cluster also come on those pair of wires, so unless all the data stopped those wires have to be o.k. The source of the tach and the odometer data are the body computer, which in turn gets its data for the tach and for odometer from two separate sources (the Powertrain control module and the output shaft speed sensor on the trans, respectively). And furthermore if either of the sources of that data was flakey you would have some trouble with the engine and certainly with the function of the trans. Because your engine and trans are o.k., I suspect that the only explanation is that there is something wrong in the cluster, like the first fellow said. I doubt that it would cost $250 for the component, but then I don't know whether the dealer has the compnent as a part, or rather that the cluster has to be exchanged and "rebuilt", but you could inquire. But because of the costs, I would go to the dealer shop and verify that my analysis is correct, then see if you can do it yourself, or maybe get a replacement dash off of a wreck in another possibility.
Roland