Intermittently while driving, the dashboard functions turn off?

1998 DODGE CARAVAN
120,000 MILES • 3.8L • 6 CYL • 2WD • AUTOMATIC
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MGPETRYK
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The back lights are still on. Slapping the dashboard with your right hand turns the dash back on. Also, intermittently when attempting to start, the dashboard appears okay, but the starter will not click or attempt to start the engine. Another slap on the dashboard fixes the issue.
Sep 26, 2022 at 8:29 AM
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CARADIODOC
  • ✓ASE Certified Mechanic
  • 34,321 POSTS
  • ASE Certified Mechanic
Both symptoms are caused by broken solder connections on the instrument cluster's connector. I don't have a photo I can post, and I only repaired one cluster for the intermittent no-crank problem, but that was many years ago. As I recall, the board did not have to be removed from the back of the housing to get to the connections, but I might be remembering that wrong.

If you aren't comfortable with soldering or you don't know what bad connections look like, look for a tv repair shop, or look for a community college with an Electronics program. The people at either place will be able to show you the broken connections, and they can resolder them for you.
Sep 26, 2022 at 10:47 AM
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MGPETRYK
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  • 2 POSTS
showing dashboard before and after a slap.
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Sep 26, 2022 at 1:56 PM
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CARADIODOC
  • ✓ASE Certified Mechanic
  • 34,321 POSTS
  • ASE Certified Mechanic
Don't waste your time with an over-involved diagnosis. There are broken solder connections on the instrument cluster's connector. Two rows of pins. Most commonly broken connections occur on those pins on the ends of a row.
Sep 27, 2022 at 3:02 PM
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