DIY - Dodge Caravan instrument cluster not working - FIX
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- Опубликовано: 13 окт 2024
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How To Repair Chrysler/Dodge Minivan Instrument Cluster Problems. This video was done on my 99 Dodge Caravan. The instrument cluster was not registering anything. With a little research I found out the problem might be the solder joints on the back of the instrument cluster circuit board. I decided to give the repair a try and made this video.
If you need to know how to remove an instrument cluster from a Chrysler or Dodge minivan, this video will show you how to do that. The video also shows how to disassemble the instrument cluster for repair and how to solder the problem joints.
This money saving repair won't take that long and may save you from buying an entire cluster. This video also shows how to check the instrument cluster bulbs as well as replace them.
After removing and inspecting the instrument cluster I think the problem might be the ignition switch. Every time I moved the wiring the key chime would go on and off. This usually indicates a loose connection. If you’re doing this repair, you might want to check the ignition switch while you’re in there.
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If you can temporarily fix the problem by slapping the top of the dash, it is more likely the solder joints. Thanks, Rob, for helping me track this down!
Glad I could help you out. I slapped my for at least a year and it would work for at least a couple weeks after that.
Great video soldered the same joints and I went ahead and re-soldered the rest of them was fresh and my dash works great now thank you
Nice! Mine is still working as it should
When replace the tiny lights or pull out the whole instrument panel ,make sure that before you re install it back, all needles are resting to the bottom left all the way, if not with the instrument panel facing you do a complete turn to the left so the needles will comeback to their original position,then,go ahead and re install it back.if you don't follow this procedure the needles will malfunction and give wrong readings.
Thanks for posting a great video but you skipped over the most important part. What joints are you soldering? Maybe your video was interrupted or something?
Ive got a bunch of small kids :) I'm consistently interrupted. Basically the clip that plugs into the board, there are about a dozen joints on the back side. Those are the ones that crack.
@@KeyFobRob so you are just looking for any that seem to be visually broken and solder them again?
@@jweezfsheez correct. Look for cracks around the base of the solder joint
The joints that are bad. Use a magnifying glass and u will c bad 1s at wire connections
This worked!!!!! Thank you. We were told it could not be fixed.
Great to hear!👍
Thanks for the video. I’ve got a 96 Chrysler LXI mini van that I think has a bad solder joint on the circuit board and I need to fix it. So I need to remove it. I got a replacement cluster out of a wrecking yard and going to install it and hopefully it works. If so I’m saving the old one and I have a instrument shop that fixes them and I just might take the other one and have them rebuild it . But after watching your video I might try myself but I’m not sure. I’m comfortable doing electrical work but I’m not at that point yet. One question did you disconnect the battery-? One thought I have is doing something stupid and setting off the air bags. About the air bags but I would have to check that they might have their own fuse circuit and I think all I have to do is pull the fuse but I have to research that.
I did not. Probably not a bad idea but I didn't
@@KeyFobRob that’s what I was thinking also. All I need to do is something stupid right in front of the steering wheel and set the air bag off🤪🤪🤪 then it would be a real bad day🤪
Thank you !!!!! The Best. Fixed my Van, you skip pulling hard on the dash to get it off, takes two hands, so I understand.
Glad it helped. Take care
I really need to get around to fixing this one of these days in my van.
The two got me through a night of work. That alone was helpful.
I went over to another video that didn't leave out the most important part. Great video up to that point.
You didn't like my solder job at 3:20 ?
@@KeyFobRob You went from mentioning good time to replace bulbs to randomly soldering without any explanation ...certain weaks spots? ....focus on this solder spot and not those etc....
How did you know what needed soldered
There are small cracks in the soldering on the rear of the board.
Thanks for the great information video on guage cluster. I wanna jus add 4 some it may v good to resolder/reflow every joint on back side of PC board @ the connector recepticals. Unless u use a magnifying glass, u won't see which joints are bad so it's ok 2 reflow them all. Pre heat the area on board w a heat gun and the solder will flow perfectly and will make proper solder joints. Use flux solder also. Hope this helps also. I just resoldered cluster PC board on my work caravan and instruments all work great now so I thank u 4 the informational video
What a cluster!
Actually, it's exactly what I needed to know. No surprise to me as I used to take dashes out of K-cars and put them back on a daily basis. (dealer installed A/C) but it's nice to know all the details on this particular model.
I guess I know what I'm doing tomorrow. Thanks for the detailed information.
Best of luck!
WORKED PREFECTLY.. THANKS
What did you solder? Everything was easy to follow until you just jumped to the soldering? Did you replace something? Did a soldering weld break?
3:10 it shows me soldering the circuit board. There is a crack in one of the joints.
@@KeyFobRob Thank you for your very fast reply. I watched some other videos on it as well. Thanks again
@@KeyFobRob the crack sir is it noticeable?? Just wondering sir
he soldered the connector socket to connector. the connector wires wiggles and eventually the solder on connector socket starts to crack.
What about the instrument panel lights. I have a 1998 Chrysler Grand Voyager LE and has a similar problem. Do let me know.
What did you sawder ?
3:11
Thank you so much! works perfectly, it saved me a lot of money
Glad it helped!
What did you solder
The bad solders are obvious, I went over the whole board and fixed any that looked sketchy.
Nice quick video... Thanks Robbie
Very welcome
They were not obvious on mine but 3 of the four solder blobs/corners of that MAIN PLUG looked a "hair" less shiny than all the others...normally would've thought fine but since using a critical eye I re-soldered all four corners and WELLA! ...working again!
Cold solder joints from a supplier 22 years ago. Re-flow all solder on cluster. Check.
This worked for me. I used to smack the dash just to get it to work, too. I soldered the cracked connection and put it all back together without testing. When I started the Caravan and turned the headlights on, they flashed off and on like a police car, including the instrument cluster inside. I traced the issue to the parking lights relay in the fuse box near the battery. When I pulled the relay the headlights stopped blinking. Put it back in and everything was blinking again. I tapped on the relay because it was clicking and then it stopped and all the lights worked perfectly again. The one issue I have is when I start the Caravan, the speedometer automatically jumps to about 25 miles per hour. So when I drive, I just subtract 25 mph from however fast the speedometer says I'm going. Is there any way to reset the speedometer so it starts at zero again?
Did you use rosin or acid core soder
LOCATION ??? LOCATION???
WHERE ON THE BOARD IS THAT LOCATION TO SOLDER???
THANK YOU 😊 very nice video except WHERE????
Exactly. Useless video
Maybe watch the video - 3:11
Soooo, my gauges were flickering like crazy unless I crank the heat. Or the fan, rather, doesn’t seem to matter if it’s hot or cold air. My van has been sitting for several months and won’t start without a jump now which I suspect is just a battery issue but any idea why the gauges only work when the interior fan is cranked? Thanks!
So can you explain what did you soldering ?
Thanks. Worked perfectly.
Nice!
What did you solder? Good video but you didn’t talk about the key part
solder job at 3:20 - it's not a great shot but look for solder joints that have cracks in them
my dash lights on my 05 dodge caravan stopped working recently this week. smacking it gently or giving it a smack doesn't help. is there a fuse for the dash lights? the last thing i want to do it take apart the dash. last resort i'll take it apart if i have to but going to tackle this issue.
I used to smack mine for about a year and then it quit working as well. I did end up taking it apart as I've shown in this video and it did sort the situation out.
@@KeyFobRob i checked all the fuses and some fuses that were good but a bit dirty connectors. i used a wire brush to gently scuff up the fuse connection tips. then i used wire brush to clean off battery terminals. there is a red wire 16/18 gauge connected to the positive battery terminal. i cleaned that with a wire brush. cleaned both positive n' negative terminals. i removed the iod 15 amp fuse for 2 minutes, popped it back in, heard a click sound. then kept my fingers crossed and hoped for the best. my instrument cluster lights are back up and running.
i'm just happy i didn't have to take out my tools to open the dash. it's fall season and a bit chilly. just got to put on my winter tires and i'm good.
super helpful video if i had to open the dash.
To solder properly use a heat gun and heat area u intend to solder a bit and flux. Solder will flow better and joint will last
What if it's just blown fuse and not as extensive as needing to repair the solder joints like you did? I'm experiencing this exact problem currently in my 2005 Dodge Grand Caravan SXT, and the dash lights just went out while driving suddenly, but I also need a new Body Control Module and don't know if the problem is related?? Any advice? I do most of my own repairs and am struggling to find a solution.
@keyfobrob
What year is this vehicle? I have a 2005 dodge grand caravan, all my gauges, blinkers, and brake lights stopped working
This is a 99
Nice Video but you did not say what you are soldering ,was the solder loose ? what exactly we need to solder -my 1999 dodge van sometime gauges turn off & come back on after hitting a bump on road
I show you the exact joint I soldered at 3:12
Big thank you!
You're welcome!
You just saved me so much time and 💰 thanks!
You're welcome!!
I just did this and it works great for the temp gauge and speedometer, but now the fuel gauge is reading full or over full and won’t go back down. Any idea what I missed? I’ve pulled it three times now and made sure I didn’t mess anything up. Can’t figure it out!! Thanks in advance for the video.
My friend hired a guy to do exactly what you did, he charged $100 to fix it, and it started and ran for three weeks. Now it won't start again. Do I need a new Cluster?
What and where did you sauder
Nice fix.
Thanks!
Would this work for the instrument cluster of a 1999 Dodge Caravan v6 3.3liter model?
Yes, it uses the ezact same gauge cluster as the other gen 3 vans
How to you change the information center lights
My cluster is working, just the speedometer isn't. Should I try this?
We have a 2007 Dodge Grand Caravan for use with my son's power chair / wheelchair, and the instrument cluster flashed (but is not fully out) and when it does, the radio also goes dead, then all comes back on, all while driving down the road. Anyone diagnose the actual root cause or problem of that, or is it the same issue (broken solder joints)? Any help would be greatly appreciated, as we don't have another vehicle that has a ramp and can handle his 400lb wheelchair.
So would this repair technique be used in the same instance of the dashboard cluster going into "limp mode"
That I'm not sure of. I would think these broken solder joints could cause all sorts of stuff to go haywire
Good video thanks
You're welcome
..mine went bad after i left key on overnight, had to recharge. re-set using odometer button didnt work, speedo stuck at 120! will have to get IN there i guess, look for bad solder joints? i had cluster out years ago to silence that darned beeping thing!
You saved me $500 for a new gauge cluster. Where can I send you a check?!
Ha! Glad you could get it sorted out. There is a super thanks button near the share / thumbs up/down buttons. Just scroll to the right and looks for $Thanks
Does anyone know where the fuse is for the adjustable pedals on a 2013 Dodge Caravan. My pedals aren't working when I operate the switch
THANK YOU, i did this exact step and it works, IDK what happened or why it works, but im happy to have it functioning again!!!
Nice!!
@@KeyFobRob next is to fix the driver side window, when i push the button down it screams like a bad connection and i hold it at a certain angle it works
Hello , is taking it apart the same as a 1996 dodge caravan?
Yes
thanks
No problem
Czy waszych samochodów też sie nie da uruchomić jak gaśnie wyświetlacz?
Samochód pojedzie, jeśli wskaźniki nie będą działać
U mnie silnik gasł, po uderzeniu w okolice licznika wszystko się zaświeciło i można było odpalić ponownie, dzisiaj to polutowałem, 70% zimnych lutów na przylączu kostki, efekt taki że nie gaśnie auto i skrzynia automatyczna przestała szarpać przy ruszaniu.
dodge i have started doing this- but the engine wont stay running then i un-hook the battery then it stays running. one time would not turn over- i turned on the headlights then it started great.
Hope helps. Good video baddddd soldering. Wont last.
Thanks. Still working 3 years later
My problem is the cluster that works but there but it keeps cutting off is there a sensor behind my RPM
At least you were able to start your car. Mine wouldn't start at all.
Perfect!
Ah! Got it. Bash it a few times.👍
That will work for a while 🙂
I can do a video on what is a bad s joint,how 2 solder them & if u r not sure, re flow all joints where wire connectors attached 2 board.
if its not that the problem what else can it be? give a tip please or anybody?
2001 dodge caravan replaced all the bulbs on the panel cluster and still not lights on dash board .cant see at night
You didn’t show the damage? Would have been nice if you showed the broken connection.
It's a very very small hairline crack. My camera really wasn't good enough to capture it
Ya you didn't even talk about it or try to show it.. no help at all
Didn't mention its location or where to check or anything.. really? That's the point everyone wanted to see. We all know how to use a screw gun.
@@pop7rox There are plenty of 20-30 videos on the same subject...
Robbie made it short and sweet. Thanks Robbie
@@KeyFobRob if i decides to put a new cluster will work??
How much should this cost? I don’t think I can do this…can I send mine to you to be fixed?
Most shops are going to charge around 150 to get this done. You could also buy a used cluter at the junk yard but then you're still dealing with the install.
What did you solder?🤷🏻♂️
3:11
Who would give a thumbs down to this? Btw thanks
Glad I could help you out!
My 2020 dont have a instrument cluster. Why
Resoder all the points on the plug and the speedometer plug
how do you know what to solder
look for cracking in any of the solder joints on the back of the speedo
My symptom at one point was like yours, but the other day was : Start, run for 2 seconds, and die. Did that 8 times, then no cranking at all. Slapped the dash and it started. Has that happened to anyone?
My van was that way for several months then it finally bit the dust and needed to be resoldered.
@@KeyFobRob was the soldered connection directly related to the dying after 2 seconds? Thanks for response
I misunderstood you. I thought you meant the dash was dying not the entire car. My bad. I did not have that issue.
@@KeyFobRob yes, after 8-10 starts, no crank, no nothing. Slap dash, all was back to normal. Unsettling to think this might happen in a really bad place.
The deal with running for 2 seconds and quitting makes me think this is related to oil pressure circuitry in the instrument cluster, which is powered by the circuit repaired in the video.
It's 1150 am Tuesday. How did you know which contact was not making contact correctly because I also have the same problem but I am not quite sure because my car dealership I took it to told me that the instrument cluster panel is very hard to get and they're pretty expensive and so I just told them that I'll come and pick up my van and don't do any work He was not too fond of that. He wouldn't even did we ever get our battery back from the battery that we bought He didn't give us that battery back yeah. Oops yeah that's right they wanted a cord charge but yet we were leaving the battery with them so we got screwed on both ends yeah welcome to the car dealership world in small towns.
Dnt use that gun on an expensive PC board. Even a cheap s iron is better if area on PC board is pre heated.
But you didn't say what happened
You didn't get into exactly what you soldiered. I have an 06 with the same problem. I haven't tried beating on the dash though.😁
Beating the dash will work for at least a couple months
I beat the hell out of the dash and got nothing 😮
Solder*
Sometimes its better to go to the junkyard and rip it out of another caravan and replace yours for like $5
For sure
Would my car fail a smog if the lights weren't working?