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Instrument cluster not working right?

Tiny
255COPELAND
  • MEMBER
  • 2008 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY
  • 67,000 MILES
Have had numerous electrical problems. Brakes also 3 sets rotors 4 sets pads. Have had to dealers for all recalls, out of warranty now. Third instrument cluster second wiper control assy. Always starts with wipers on by themselves Then instruments go crazy. Three batteries. Last time. Disconnected battery to reset usually works for a while. This last time all instruments and radio etc locks windows nothing worked. Did start and drive. Always will do that. 1500 and two weeks. Wipers again. Couple of idiot lights. Abs and something else. They are replacing cluster again and wiper control. This is driving me crazy. I've taken excellent care but this thing is terrible. One thing I've noticed is problem always starts after I wash and wax. This time after heavy rain. Also last time Satelite TV stopped working. They told me I need a new 1800 radio. Radio and Vav and DVD still work. Sirius says I'm getting signal. Any ideas? Thanks
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Thursday, September 5th, 2013 AT 9:09 PM

20 Replies

Tiny
CADIEMAN
  • MECHANIC
  • 3,544 POSTS
Sounds like bad brake calipers or bad rubber brake lines to the calipers. You will need to check. And clean all grounds inside and out. I'm thinking outside more because of the water issue.
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Friday, September 6th, 2013 AT 1:23 AM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 109,747 POSTS
Hi,

When this happens, have you ever had the computer scanned for diagnostic trouble codes? Often times an electrical issue will show up. As far as scanning, here is a quick video showing how it is done:

https://youtu.be/YV3TRZwer8k

I realize most people don't own a scanner, but often times a parts store will do it free of charge.

The next area I would consider checking for water issues would be the totally integrated power module (TIPM). These vehicle are known to have issues with the multiple connectors at the TIPM. The TIPM is located under the hood on the left side of the engine compartment. I attached a pic of it. I would check to make sure all connections are tight preventing water infiltration.

Check these things and let me know what you find or if you have other questions.

Take care,
Joe
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Friday, April 17th, 2020 AT 5:16 PM
Tiny
SOPHIESTHINGS
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2003 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 130,000 MILES
The dashboard gauges are all at zero and their lights don't work, including blinkers. The windshield wipers, headlights, high beam lights, radio, air conditioning/heater all work fine, including the visor screen that gives me information about temperature and mileage. Could it just be a fuse?
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Saturday, September 26th, 2020 AT 2:28 PM (Merged)
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 47,602 POSTS
Yes, definitely, sounds like a system fuse has blown, please follow this link for instructions,

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-check-a-car-fuse

Let us know what you find :-)

Best, Ken
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Saturday, September 26th, 2020 AT 2:28 PM (Merged)
Tiny
ALXNALX
  • MEMBER
  • 6 POSTS
  • 2001 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 12,100 MILES
When I put my turn signal on my gauges go crazy and my instrument cluster lights up like a Christmas tree. When I turn the turn signal off they go back to normal. I've already attempted placing a new instrument cluster with the same results. What esle can be causing this?
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Saturday, September 26th, 2020 AT 2:28 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 109,747 POSTS
Have you had the body control module checked? Here is a video that will show you how. Also it sounds like a bad ground.

https://youtu.be/InIlnsjOVFA

Please run down this guide and report back.
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Saturday, September 26th, 2020 AT 2:28 PM (Merged)
Tiny
ALXNALX
  • MEMBER
  • 6 POSTS
No I have not. I've sinced replaced the multifunction switch for the turn signals and now the gauges seem to work until I tru to activate the turn signal and the gauges go blank and they return to normal when I take off the turn signal. We did notice that the drivers side tail light has a used not factory wiring harness spliced to the original wires from the car which was done at a body shop because of a rear crash. When we studied the wires there is one that was not connected to any other wire. There are 6 wires coming from inside the vechile but only 5 were connected to another wire and according to my Haynes manual there is a 6th wire on the driver side because it shoots over to the passanger tail light. I am assuming this is causing a short but I am in need of a wiring diagram with the color codes for each wire. The used plug's wire they spliced does are not the same colors as the wires coming from inside the vehicle, which are normally white with a color stripe.
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Saturday, September 26th, 2020 AT 2:28 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 109,747 POSTS
Here is a guide to help you with the testing and the cluster wiring diagrams below.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-check-wiring

Check out the diagrams (Below). Please let us know what you find. We are interested to see what it is.
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Saturday, September 26th, 2020 AT 2:28 PM (Merged)
Tiny
ALXNALX
  • MEMBER
  • 6 POSTS
Whenever I place the turn signal to the right, left and even the emergency flashers the gauges go blank. It seems the blank instrument cluster happens everytime the blinkers are placed. On both the tail lights the brakes, lights and reverse lights work just fine.
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Saturday, September 26th, 2020 AT 2:28 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 109,747 POSTS
The only thing I can think of is a problem with the Body Control Module (BCM). I would check that.
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Saturday, September 26th, 2020 AT 2:28 PM (Merged)
Tiny
ALXNALX
  • MEMBER
  • 6 POSTS
So you don't think that the loose wire in the tail light has nothing to do with it? The problems started hapenning after the crash in the rear and the replacement of the light. They spliced together an old pigtail and left one wire out. Since I replaced the multifunction switch for the turnd signals and the wipers everything works fine with the gauges they only stop working when I put the turn signals. It has been 2 days now and the gauges are fine because we have not put the turn signals on.

How do I check if the BCM is faulty?
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Saturday, September 26th, 2020 AT 2:28 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 109,747 POSTS
The wire that isn't connected. Does it have any power to it?
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Saturday, September 26th, 2020 AT 2:28 PM (Merged)
Tiny
ALXNALX
  • MEMBER
  • 6 POSTS
Yes it does but I found a bad ground (G201) on the right side of dash all fixed!
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Saturday, September 26th, 2020 AT 2:28 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 109,747 POSTS
Glad you could get it fixed, that kind of problem can be tough. Please use 2CarPros anytime we are here to help.
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Saturday, September 26th, 2020 AT 2:28 PM (Merged)
Tiny
MAINE1209
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1996 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY
Engine Performance problem
1996 Chrysler Town and Country 6 cyl Front Wheel Drive Automatic

My gauges dropped flat. Speedometer went to 140 and other gauges went to zero. Next day, they went back to working. After that different lights would come on and go off. Then lights in dash would blink on and off. Then it did that for like 2 days. The next day, while coming down the road, the van cut off in the middle of the road. Now, it will turn over but not crank. What could this be?
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Saturday, September 26th, 2020 AT 2:29 PM (Merged)
Tiny
BMRFIXIT
  • MECHANIC
  • 19,053 POSTS
For the gauges not working the cluster is bad
For it not starting check for spark check for fuel, fuel pressure and fuel pump
Check for codes
Check fuses and relays, crank sensor
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Saturday, September 26th, 2020 AT 2:29 PM (Merged)
Tiny
SGUPTILL
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1996 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY
  • 3.2L
  • V8
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 129,000 MILES
Alarm is set message appears. G200 ground is good. Van starts and runs fine. All exterior and interior lights, radio, heat etc. Work fine. Four hours at the shop and they have no clue. Van is running and is in great shape! Any ideas?
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Saturday, September 26th, 2020 AT 2:29 PM (Merged)
Tiny
CARADIODOC
  • MECHANIC
  • 33,873 POSTS
The best suspect is broken solder connections on the pins for the plug on the back of the instrument cluster. I do know the starter will not crank the engine if one of the pins in the corner of that plug has a broken connection.
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Saturday, September 26th, 2020 AT 2:29 PM (Merged)
Tiny
TONY6
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY
I have a 96 town&country van, my gas gauge, tach. And speedometer quit working, checked fuses, seemed ok, what else should I check?
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Saturday, September 26th, 2020 AT 2:29 PM (Merged)
Tiny
CAPTAIN HANK
  • MEMBER
  • 32 POSTS
Check your battery clamps. If they are corroded or covered with acid you might be getting a bad connection. I serviced a van just like your with the same problem. This van had a small wire attached to the positive cable which I suspect energized the dash gauges. Once I cleaned the battery clamps the problem went away.
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Saturday, September 26th, 2020 AT 2:29 PM (Merged)

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