Instrument cluster stopped working?

Tiny
DEJAVU
  • MEMBER
  • 1999 CHRYSLER LHS
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 66,066 MILES
Chysler dealer has car - entire instrument cluster stopped working (intermittent basis). Repair ran diagnostics and said was BCM, needed to replace. Agreed and paid 800+ for part/labor. Drove car home, same exact problem. Dealer has car again. Repair says it's the TCM and we have to pay for new TCM but no other labor. We pointed out why since BCM was not "bad" and not the problem, apparently. Repair says that the two are "connected" so have to pay for both. This has nearly put my 80 year old mother in the ER. Repair is awaiting permission to put in new TCM. What would you do at this point? Thank you so much.
Thursday, October 29th, 2009 AT 8:22 AM

21 Replies

Tiny
DOCFIXIT
  • MECHANIC
  • 18,828 POSTS
I would have them reinstall BCM refund money and take to an ASE certified shop. BCM and TCM are connected by on Buss wireand do not effect each other. And never seen BCM take out entire dash. What do they say if TCM does not fix?
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Thursday, October 29th, 2009 AT 2:53 PM
Tiny
DAVID 1``
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
  • 1997 CHRYSLER LHS
1997 Chrysler LHS 6 cyl Front Wheel Drive 140000 miles

car does not want to shift aiso gas gauge speedometer tac and radio all quit working at the same time
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Thursday, August 27th, 2020 AT 11:36 AM (Merged)
Tiny
CARADIODOC
  • MECHANIC
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Hi david 1. Welcome to the forum. These symptoms sound typical of burned contacts in the ignition switch. If the connector wiring and two of the terminals have been overheated, they should be cut out of the connector body and replaced individually.

Caradiodoc
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Thursday, August 27th, 2020 AT 11:36 AM (Merged)
Tiny
SCHMYGUY
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1997 CHRYSLER LHS
  • 169,000 MILES
Gauges in dash will not work. It is my fuel, rpm, mph, and coolant gauges. Need help please.
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Thursday, August 27th, 2020 AT 11:37 AM (Merged)
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 109,747 POSTS
Check to make sure the wiring to the rear of the inst panel is tight. If it is and there is power, chances are the cluster is bad or there is a bad ground or body control module.
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Thursday, August 27th, 2020 AT 11:37 AM (Merged)
Tiny
CORDERBO
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
  • 1996 CHRYSLER LHS
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 64,000 MILES
My wife drove her car yesterday with no problems. Today she started it up and drove off but was back shortly with an air-conditioner that was inop along with a gas gauge, speedometer, Tach and oil pressure gauge that are dead. The radio works, I have checked the fuse panel and they are all good and checked the fuses under the hood just for heck. They all pass visual & ohmeter checks. Everything in the car works except for these instrument panel gauges and the air conditioner. Is there a master relay that feeds these items? Sure need some help. Thanks, Bob
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Thursday, August 27th, 2020 AT 11:37 AM (Merged)
Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
  • 41,814 POSTS
Hi Bob,

Thank you for the donation and sorry for the delay in replying.

After checking through the wiring circuts, could not find any mastrer switch for resetting and the only item common among the two are the fuses A and J in power distribution center.

That could mean a fault with the ignition switch or bad ground connections.

For AC, is it only the blower motor is not working or the panel does not allow you to operate?

Does AC blower motor operates at maximum speed?
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Thursday, August 27th, 2020 AT 11:37 AM (Merged)
Tiny
CORDERBO
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
I'm sorry but it took so long for any response that I had to give up on you guys. I dug back into it myself and decided to visually check every fuse I could find. As I stated in my question, everything worked in the car with the exception of the Instrument gauges, Message Center and the Air Conditioner (and that means no blower either). There is a clue in that sentence that should tell you a lot. I pulled the Message Center fuse and found that it in fact was blown and when I replaced it, everything started working again. Unfortunately the A/C not working diverted my attention away from the problem which was the Message Center and how or why they have the A/C tied into it is a mystery to me still. Sorry guys but just a 5 amp fuse and yes, I would like a refund at this time as stated in your home page.

Thanks,
Bob
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Thursday, August 27th, 2020 AT 11:37 AM (Merged)
Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
  • 41,814 POSTS
Glad that you have solved the problem and sorry we were not of help.

Will get the admins to process the refund for you.

Thank you for using 2carpros.
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Thursday, August 27th, 2020 AT 11:37 AM (Merged)
Tiny
THIS IS MIKE
  • MECHANIC
  • 686 POSTS
Hi Bob,
We are sorry we could not help you this time. We do our best to answer everyone as fast as possible. We have refunded your donation and hope we can help you next time.
Thanks,
Mike
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Thursday, August 27th, 2020 AT 11:37 AM (Merged)
Tiny
YAS2487
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1995 CHRYSLER LHS
  • 98,748 MILES
All gauges are out with air conditioner but car runs fine what to fix?
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Thursday, August 27th, 2020 AT 11:37 AM (Merged)
Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
  • 48,601 POSTS
If the gauges go out when you turn on a/c then check for a bad ground for dash otherwise have dash checked for being bad.
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Thursday, August 27th, 2020 AT 11:37 AM (Merged)
Tiny
YAS2487
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
Thanks, I will check that.
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Thursday, August 27th, 2020 AT 11:37 AM (Merged)
Tiny
REBECCAMORROW
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1995 CHRYSLER LHS
  • 181,200 MILES
My tack and speedometer only work part time and then only for a short time. Sometimes my tack will stay stuck on where ever it was when it quit working but the speedometer always goes back to 0 Of course this makes my cruise control not work also. On some cars there is you can adjust all this but I did not see one on this car but I could be looking for it in the wrong place. Also I was wondering if you can tighten the acc. Belt if your serpentine belt was already tight because they share the same tension pully. There in no wear that I could see on either belt. I just got the car so I am really not used to wear everything is on I yet. I thank you for the attention you are giving to my problem Rebecca S Morrow..................................... ....................... ..................... ..................................
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Thursday, August 27th, 2020 AT 11:37 AM (Merged)
Tiny
TY ANDERSON
  • MECHANIC
  • 719 POSTS
The tachometer and speedometer are all controlled electronically. There is no adjustment available. The output shaft sensor measures vehicle speed and engine crank sensor measures engine RPM. Are there any service engine soon or check engine lights on?
Is there a reason to tightening your accessory belt?
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Thursday, August 27th, 2020 AT 11:37 AM (Merged)
Tiny
MARACOLLENDER
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1994 CHRYSLER LHS
  • 4 CYL
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 135,000 MILES
Can you give me the steps to changing my indicator bulbs in my 94 Chrysler LHS. I need to know how to take off the dash and where the instrument cluster is.
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Thursday, August 27th, 2020 AT 11:38 AM (Merged)
Tiny
CARADIODOC
  • MECHANIC
  • 33,873 POSTS
The furthest back I can go is a '96 model, but the instructions should be the same:

To service any instrument cluster component, the instrument cluster must be removed from the instrument panel. Use the following procedure:

1. Remove instrument panel left end cap End Caps
2. Remove instrument panel headlamp bezel.
3. Remove headlamp switch screws and move switch to allow clearance for the instrument cluster removal.
4. Remove instrument panel upper center bezel Center Bezel
5. Tilt steering column down into the lowest position.
6. Remove instrument panel cluster bezel. New Yorker/LHS only, disconnect the message center wire connector. The message center lamps may be serviced at this time Cluster Bezel and Cluster Bezel - New Yorker/LHS
7. Remove instrument cluster screws and disengage upper latch
CAUTION: Pull steering wheel down to gain access for instrument cluster removal.
8. Remove instrument cluster from panel. The instrument panel wiring harness connectors are mounted directly to the rear panel. A force of approximately 9 kilograms (20 lbs.) Will be required to disengage the cluster from the connectors.
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Thursday, August 27th, 2020 AT 11:38 AM (Merged)
Tiny
RJEFFREY88
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
  • 1994 CHRYSLER LHS
Electrical problem
1994 Chrysler LHS 6 cyl Front Wheel Drive Automatic 115k miles

I have been driving my 94 LHS for about 5 years now, 3 1/2 of which have experienced my problem. I bought the car for a deal because the A/C was not working. Didn't care. But not sure if it is contributing to my problem.

I noticed at one point after having my car over a year that the gauges on the dash would start to fall randomly. They would all drop for a couple seconds as I was driving. Then would come back on periodically. Sometimes this would go off and on very quickly, other times it would not function for several minutes or not work at all.

Eventually the problem grew. Now, not only would my gauges cease to function, but my heater would randomly start to blast if the problem persisted. So the gauges would cease to function and if they had been sitting for about a minute like that, the heat would start to blast on and off.

After quite a bit of tinkering, I found that removing the fuse for my Message Center keeps the gauges working. The heat still blasts out of the defroster however. In the summer time I then have to remove the fuse for the blower to make sure the heat is not blasting. However, there is a little heat that trickles out. So even in summer it turns a 85 degree day into about 90.

I have worked through this problem using the above method for the past several years but it is very annoying. Even if its 10 below zero, I have to roll the windows down because the car gets so hot!

I've tried replacing fuses, battery, but to no avail. I'm not sure what direction to go from here. If it's worth having a mechanic look at, or if it's something simple I can fix myself. I obviously don't want to pay a massive amount of money to fix this if I can tough it out until my next new car comes along.

Thanks!
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Thursday, August 27th, 2020 AT 11:38 AM (Merged)
Tiny
RACEFAN966
  • MECHANIC
  • 5,029 POSTS
Have you checked the body control module? If you would like to test it you will need a digital multi meter and maybe a scanner. Get back to me and we go from there.
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Thursday, August 27th, 2020 AT 11:38 AM (Merged)
Tiny
RJEFFREY88
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
I have not checked that and don't really know where to find it. Wouldn't that be near my fuse panel somewhere?

I do have a multimeter ready to test it out as long as I know where to use it.

Thanks!
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Thursday, August 27th, 2020 AT 11:38 AM (Merged)

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