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Instrument cluster not working

Tiny
JEFF1432
  • MEMBER
  • 1997 DODGE CARAVAN
  • 3.3L
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 1,600,000 MILES
The instrument cluster inoperable, No PRNDL, Fuel, odometer, temperature. Retrieve P0106. Check Power and Ground at the cluster okay. Red/white 12V key On. I have questions how to check CC BUS (-) and (+). What should be the reading if the engine running? Please can you guide me what to check next. Thank you!
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Thursday, September 24th, 2020 AT 3:02 PM

23 Replies

Tiny
KASEKENNY
  • MECHANIC
  • 18,907 POSTS
This is the CCD bus or Chrysler Collision Detection Data Bus. The voltage when the bus is idle (no communications being sent should be 2.49 on the + and 2.51 on the -. When there is data being sent they will change but should always add up to 5 volts. If you want more info, visit this website:

https://mopar1973man.com/cummins/articles.html/24-valve-2nd-generation_50/51_engine/electrical/ccd-chrysler-collision-detection-data-bus-r329/

This is very detailed and thorough about how this CCD bus works.

Let us know if you have questions but if you have power and ground and all the gauges are not working then the cluster is the issue.

Let me know what you find and we can go from there. Thanks
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Thursday, September 24th, 2020 AT 4:59 PM
Tiny
JEFF1432
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
Hello KESEKENNY1,

Thank you! I did check CCD BUS (-) 2.48- 2.50 volts and CCD BUS (+) 2.49- 2.50 volts with engine running. Is this a good reading to you? I have question on pin #13 on the instrument cluster connector? The EWD that I’m using doesn’t show what circuit.
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Saturday, September 26th, 2020 AT 3:54 PM
Tiny
KASEKENNY
  • MECHANIC
  • 18,907 POSTS
That is perfect voltage. Good job. I attached what we have for pin 13 of the cluster. Should be a black wire which is appears to be a ground wire.
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Sunday, September 27th, 2020 AT 9:46 AM
Tiny
JEFF1432
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
Hello KaseKenny1,

Thank you for the info. Check pin 13 measure good ground. So next step is that I went and pick up a instrument cluster from the wrecking yard. Similar instrument cluster. Plug connector and check operation, the gauges still not working. Does the used gauge need to be reset? I notice that fuel ant temperature gauge moves a little when ignition cylinder turn to "on" position. Any Idea what to check next?
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Sunday, September 27th, 2020 AT 3:48 PM
Tiny
CARADIODOC
  • MECHANIC
  • 33,879 POSTS
Hi guys. These are notorious for bad solder connections of the connector terminals. The last one I had was a 1999 model with a crank/no-start condition. Would start and run after the owner pounded on the dash a few times.
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Sunday, September 27th, 2020 AT 8:16 PM
Tiny
JEFF1432
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
Hello CARADIODOC,

Thank you for the info. I opened the cluster inspect solder circuit board it seems okay, no sign of crack on the solder connections. The engine crank and starts. Do you think I should try to re- solder the connection? Thank you again.
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Monday, September 28th, 2020 AT 8:11 PM
Tiny
CARADIODOC
  • MECHANIC
  • 33,879 POSTS
I just posted that valuable comment so it wouldn't be overlooked. If you know what a bad solder joint looks like, check all the terminals in the connector. If you don't know what they look like, look for a tv repair shop that's still in business in your area. Anyone there can inspect them for you and show you any that are questionable. At my cousin's shop, he would touch up those connections for free if he wasn't busy with his head stuck in a customer's tv. You can also look for a community college with an electronics program. Any of the instructors can check the solder connections for you.

Be aware this is a two-sided circuit board, but typically if a solder connection is broken, it will show up on both sides. It seems the pins in the corners of the plug develop the broken connections most often.
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Monday, September 28th, 2020 AT 8:41 PM
Tiny
AWHITSON529
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
  • 1997 DODGE CARAVAN
1997 Dodge Caravan 6 cyl Automatic

I recently noticed that the check engine light went on along with the abs light, then the odometer turned off and the speedometer, fuel gage and thermostat gage stopped working. This happened once before and it fixed itself- that was a couple weeks ago. Is this something normal when there is a problem with the antilock brake system or is this something else enitrely?
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Thursday, November 12th, 2020 AT 11:54 AM (Merged)
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 109,772 POSTS
It sounds like a couple things could be bad. It could be the cluster itself, or a loose connection to the back of the cluster. Does the vehicle continue to run properly? Also, since the check engine light is on, I recommend having the computer scanned to see if there are any trouble codes. Most parts stores will scan it for free.

Do that and let me know what you find.

Joe
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Thursday, November 12th, 2020 AT 11:54 AM (Merged)
Tiny
THOMAS3874688
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1997 DODGE CARAVAN
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 185,000 MILES
Panel indicators stop working and then sometimes work

car still runs
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Thursday, November 12th, 2020 AT 11:54 AM (Merged)
Tiny
CARADIODOC
  • MECHANIC
  • 33,879 POSTS
Hi thomas3874688@hotmail. Com. Welcome to the forum. The most common cause is loose connector pins on the back of the instrument cluster. Most people replace the entire cluster but the pins can be soldered to the copper circuits to eliminate the problem.

Caradiodoc
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Thursday, November 12th, 2020 AT 11:54 AM (Merged)
Tiny
JIMSJOB
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1997 DODGE CARAVAN
Electrical problem
1997 Dodge Caravan 6 cyl Front Wheel Drive Automatic 288k miles

My dash guages quit working
no speedo tack, mileage, cruise
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Thursday, November 12th, 2020 AT 11:54 AM (Merged)
Tiny
PAJ1130
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
Most likely is your intrument cluster is bad. Best way to easily test and verify is to firmly smack the top center area of the instrument cluster ( may need to vary the location or smack more than once). Chances are if the gauges come back, it is the cluster. It still could be the cluster even if the gauges don't come back. Mine stopped responding to the smack down treatment after a couple of years and I finally had to throw in the towel and replace the cluster. It really is not a difficult task, only took about 30 minutes in the driveway to do. Good luck!
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Thursday, November 12th, 2020 AT 11:54 AM (Merged)
Tiny
JOHN ROGERS
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
  • 1997 DODGE CARAVAN
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 197,000 MILES
All dash gauges will work or not work. It could last for days or one of the ways to the store!
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Thursday, November 12th, 2020 AT 11:55 AM (Merged)
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 109,772 POSTS
Check the wiring to the rear of the cluster to make sure it is tight and clean. Also, check body grounds to make sure they are not rusted and they are tight and clean. If no problems are found, have the body control module tested. If good, have the cluster itself checked.

Let me know what you find.
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Thursday, November 12th, 2020 AT 11:55 AM (Merged)
Tiny
GARYCH
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1997 DODGE CARAVAN
  • 4 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 215,000 MILES
I have a 1997 Dodge mini-van with 215,000 miles. The instrument gauges stop working completely. This includes the temperature, fuel, tachometer, speedometer, and odometer. Sometimes it's a combination of the above, or all at the same time. Sometimes it's only a few seconds at a time, but lately they stay off for hours (or days). What's going on?
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Thursday, November 12th, 2020 AT 11:55 AM (Merged)
Tiny
CARADIODOC
  • MECHANIC
  • 33,879 POSTS
That's typical of what happens when the insane engineers take a simple, reliable system and add a bunch of unnecessary computers. The main suspects are the Body Computer and the instrument cluster. If you have Chrysler's DRB3 scanner, you can access the gauge cluster and run the gauges up and down. If that works, suspect the Body Computer. If that doesn't work, suspect the cluster itself.

Before you replace the cluster, remove it and check the connector pins for loose connections on the printed circuit board. Soldering them will solve a lot of intermittent problems.
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Thursday, November 12th, 2020 AT 11:55 AM (Merged)
Tiny
LADYIRONSIDE
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
  • 1997 DODGE CARAVAN
Electrical problem
1997 Dodge Caravan 6 cyl Two Wheel Drive Automatic 156K miles

We changed the right front signal light bulb now the gauges as stated don't work, checked all the fuses they are fine, the ABS LIGHT AND ALARN SET LIGHTS are on can this process be connected?
Thanks
Carole
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Thursday, November 12th, 2020 AT 11:55 AM (Merged)
Tiny
SERVICE WRITER
  • MECHANIC
  • 9,123 POSTS
Try rapping on the dash above the cluster. There are two solder points that go bad on the cluster circuit board. They can be repaired usually.
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Thursday, November 12th, 2020 AT 11:55 AM (Merged)
Tiny
LADYIRONSIDE
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
Thanks for the reply I went out in the morning put the key in and everything worked so I think it must be a short somewhere.
Thanks again
Carole
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Thursday, November 12th, 2020 AT 11:55 AM (Merged)

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