QuestionQUESTION: Hi there, i have a 2004 chrysler intrepid and the gauges( odometer, tachometer, etc) stopped working randomly, also the interior lights and park lights quit at the same time, was just wondering if you had any thoughts on what could cause this to happen?? thank you very much!
ANSWER: Hi Andrew,
The interior lights and some functions of the computers that need to be maintained even when not driving are powered by fuse 19 (15 amp) located in the fuse box behind the left-hand end of the dash's cover. The parking lamps are powered by fuse 7 (20 amp) in the same location but they seem to be independent of one another. On the gauges, check fuses 1 and 14 (10 amp) in the same box. Let me know how things stand after that and we can go further.
Roland
PS Please 'rate' my answer, and where you see the question about 'volunteer of the month please consider giving me a 'yes'. Thank you.
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Hi there, so I checked those fuses and only fuse seven for the parking lamps was blown I replaced that and the gauges started working, I shut the car off and got back in later and that same fuse had blown again, the check engine light was on and I retrieved a code (p1687)" no cluster bus message" . So I changed the fuse again and it just blew again so I'm confused lol.
AnswerHi Andrew,
Unfortunately that fuse powers several dozens of bulbs, and one of which may be faulty by being shorted around the internal filament directly to ground, which will blow the fuse. If you happen to know of any bulb which has not been lit, even though fuse was good at the time, I would remove/inspect/replace that bulb. The only practical alternative to removing all the bulbs and inspecting them would be to remove the fuse box (where the #7 fuse is located), and then measure the resistance to ground on 5 separate wires (located on three separate plugs which are on the back side of the fuse box) using a digital ohmmeter. One of those wires will show a short to ground and then you can focus your attention on only the bulbs on that circuit. Do you have a digital volt-ohm meter? If so and you want to follow that approach let me know and I can tell you how to remove the fuse box. But think about whether there is a damaged light fixture or light that doesn't work before the fuse began to blow.
Roland
PS: Please 'rate' my answer, and where you see the question about 'volunteer of the month' please consider a 'yes' answer if you believe that this response merits that. Thank you.
