Chrysler Repair: 1998 Dodge Neon: Instrument gauges dont work, amp fuse, volt ohmmeter

Question
My instrument panel is dead! I first noticed problems with the speedometer (it said 0 while I was moving) then yesterday I had to drive somewhere and no readings were showing! It said I had no gas when I had just put more in the tank the day before, speedometer was not moving again and the rpm wasn't registering! Would you know how this can be fixed and about how much it might cost? I appreciate any help you can offer.

Answer
Hi Laura,
There are a couple of fuses that must be OK to get the voltage to the cluster to run the gauges: under the hood there is a power distribution box (next to the battery) where you will find a 10 amp fuse in position 13, and under dash on the driver's side there is a fuse box and a 10 amp fuse in position 11. Remove and examine each fuse for patent blown condition or a subtle crack in the conductive wire; even try replacing the fuses with new ones or ones borrowed from other places that are not crucial to running the car, so as to verify that the fuses are good. If that checks out and the gauges still dont't work then you need to remove the cluster and check that you have voltage coming to the cluster from the fuses on the plug at the rear of the cluster on pin 6 (all the time) and pin 5 (when the ignition switch is in the run position). You would need a 12 volt test light or a volt-ohmmeter to check that. Finally check that the pin 8 is grounded by using the ohmmeter to check for 0 ohms from that point to a shiney spot of metal on the body structure nearby. If those check, then I would examine the circuit board where the plug socket is attached and look for any cracked solder joints or broken trace leads at the socket and repair if necessary. Somewhere along that process you will find the cause of loss of your gauges.
If you have to remove the cluster: disconnect the - post clamp from the battery. Remove the top cover of the instrument panel and the bezel around the cluster. Remove the 4 screws that hold the cluster in place, then pull the cluster out toward the rear of the car. Then reconnect the battery to do the voltage checks I described and the observations. (There are several steps to removing the top cover and bezel so write me back for those steps, or give me a postal address and I'll send you a xerox copy of the manual that shows how. Use the thank/rate tab to get back to me via the comment box there.)
Roland