Dash Lights and Gauges

Tiny
JOHN PROVINS
  • MEMBER
  • 1998 DODGE CARAVAN
Lights & Gauges on dash go out and so do the lights and then they come back on within about 4 min.
Wednesday, September 24th, 2008 AT 11:40 PM

9 Replies

Tiny
BMRFIXIT
  • MECHANIC
  • 19,053 POSTS
It sounds like the BCM checked for codes and cluster too
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Thursday, September 25th, 2008 AT 8:09 PM
Tiny
YOUCANFIXIT
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
Just replaced ignition switch with lock cylinder on my 1998 dodge caravan no more problem with dashboard lights
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+2
Wednesday, February 20th, 2019 AT 1:08 AM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 47,643 POSTS
Excellent addition to this thread! Please feel free to help out whenever you are on the site :)
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Wednesday, February 20th, 2019 AT 10:06 AM
Tiny
RUSSMAN57
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1998 DODGE CARAVAN
1998 Dodge Caravan

I have a 98 Dodge Grand Caravan and the parking lights and dash lights come on by themsleves and that causes the battery to go dead. How can I fix this?
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Wednesday, February 20th, 2019 AT 10:18 AM (Merged)
Tiny
MHPAUTOS
  • MECHANIC
  • 31,937 POSTS
I would be having the light switch check for a fault first, start here.

Mark (mhpautos)
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Wednesday, February 20th, 2019 AT 10:18 AM (Merged)
Tiny
SUPERNOVICE
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1998 DODGE CARAVAN
  • 4 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 124,000 MILES
My Dodge minivan has had a tollerable intermittent electrical problem for a few months now. After having driven the car for some time, parking and turning off the engine and then powering on after 15-30 minutes, the engine would start. But the dashboard lights would be out and the other instruments such as gas-guage and speedometer would not function. Powering off/on the car again may or may not return to full operation. Sometimes, banging on the dashboard would fix the problem. During a recent long 150 mile drive, the van shutoff while braking in - bumper to bumper traffice. When I attempted to turn the ignition - nothing! No power, no hazzard lights, no turn-over. After trying all of the former remedies and failing, I called AAA who put the van on a flatbed. As soon as the the van was in an upright position to move up the ramp, the tow-driver turned the ignition and the van started right up!
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Wednesday, February 20th, 2019 AT 10:18 AM (Merged)
Tiny
BMRFIXIT
  • MECHANIC
  • 19,053 POSTS
No start suspect and need to be check is the ignition switch
as for the dash lights
cluster panel id at fault
need to be removed and replaced or repaired
the weld at the pins and the board brake and they need to be repaired
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Wednesday, February 20th, 2019 AT 10:18 AM (Merged)
Tiny
HEONYOUNGHLEE
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1998 DODGE CARAVAN
Electrical problem
1998 Dodge Caravan 6 cyl Front Wheel Drive Automatic

I own a 98 Dodge Caravan Sport edition and something weird happened the other day. The car was working fine when I got home from work, but when I turned it on again to go out at night, the dashboard wasn't working at all. Also, the little gizmo I have (which comes stock) that shows which direction i'm going, avg mpg, etc wasn't working either. Then as I was driving for a little while, maybe about 2-3 miles, my headlights turned off and the lights in the car turned on for a split second, then everything was back to normal (dashboard and the gizmo were all working). I thought it was just a one time thing, but about a week after the incident, same thing happened, so I was wondering if anyone can tell me what could possibly be worng with the car, or take a wild guess? Thanks for the help
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+1
Wednesday, February 20th, 2019 AT 10:18 AM (Merged)
Tiny
BMRFIXIT
  • MECHANIC
  • 19,053 POSTS
Very common
instrument cluster board has a weak weld at the pin connection
have to be removed and weld it secure on again
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Wednesday, February 20th, 2019 AT 10:18 AM (Merged)

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