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Dodge Caravan Instrument Panel

167 messages,  Last post on Dec 05, 2011 at 12:47 PM

You are in the Chrysler/Plymouth Voyager, Dodge Caravan Forum.

What is this discussion about? Dodge Caravan, Chrysler Voyager, Plymouth Voyager, Electrical, Van

Messages Page 11 of 17

#99 of 167 2002 Dodge Caravan - When I Use the Turn signal the dashboard power dies. by moloch

Aug 03, 2009 (12:19 pm)

I myself own a 2002 Dodge grand caravan sport like preacher1120, and I have the exact same problem as preacher1120 and handyman49.
 
Now, my instrument cluster and upper panel are completely dead. It would somewhat try to reboot itself after a while on the road, but simply go back dark in a matter of seconds.
 
I was wondering if you had found any other alternatives than changing the fuse box.
 
I also checked the single black wire connected on the frame as stated by rbergstrom, but its all good.
 
Thank you

#100 of 167 Re: 2002 Dodge Caravan - When I Use the Turn signal the dashboard power dies. [moloch] by handyman49

Aug 03, 2009 (12:33 pm)

Replying to: moloch (Aug 03, 2009 12:19 pm)
Hi there moloch. Apparently, it is the connector under the fuse box that gets full of corrosion. One of my friends tried cleaning it, but it caused more problems. The replacement of the fuse box is the only solution. A cheaper solution would probably be to find one in a scrap yard. The symptoms you are describing are exactly the same as in my van. I just wish that I had changed that fuse box first. Good luck.

#101 of 167 Re: 2002 Dodge Caravan - When I Use the Turn signal the dashboard power dies. [handyman49] by moloch

Aug 03, 2009 (12:36 pm)

Replying to: handyman49 (Aug 03, 2009 12:33 pm)
thank you handyman.
 
I guess I will check the local scrap yards tomorrow and hope to find a good looking fuse box. In the mean time, I will try to remove it and check for signs of corrosion in the connectors to the fuse box.
 
Thanks

#102 of 167 Re: 2002 Dodge Caravan - When I Use the Turn signal the dashboard power dies. [moloch] by moloch

Aug 03, 2009 (2:06 pm)

Replying to: moloch (Aug 03, 2009 12:36 pm)
I removed the Fuse box and noticed many prongs with nasty corrosion buildup. I cleaned them up the most that I could, also used some dielectric grease, unfortunately, no success.
 
However, judging by corrosion in there, it is a highly probable cause for the source of the problem.
 
I will try again with a used if possible fuse module or new if needed. I will keep you posted.
 
Cheers,

#103 of 167 03 dodge grand caravan by ttothez

Aug 07, 2009 (7:48 pm)

The gas hand and tempature gauges work but the odometer don't move. It is setting below zero, it use to set right at zero. What is wrong with it, should I change the whole instrument panel?

#104 of 167 Re: 2002 Dodge Caravan - When I Use the Turn signal the dashboard power dies. [moloch] by moloch

Aug 14, 2009 (2:28 pm)

Replying to: moloch (Aug 03, 2009 2:06 pm)
Alright, I finally found the problem. It wasn't due to the corrosion buildup, nor bad soldier points on the boards, but I damn chipmunk decided to make a nest beside the speaker mount on the driver side of the dash.
 
Guess where all those wires go, right there and he/she decided to strip a wire completely and tried on 3 other ones too, but I believe he/she got a small shock because it's only small bites in those ones.
 
So tomorrow, I will be re-wiring that section and hope that it did not short a resistor somewhere else.

#105 of 167 Re: 2000 Plymouth Voyager- Instrument Panel Craziness and OBD not communicating [cardisciple] by cardisciple

Aug 29, 2009 (5:31 pm)

Replying to: cardisciple (Jul 18, 2009 7:49 pm)
Well, I'm happy to say I was able to fix this and pass the inspection in time! While I was disconnecting the battery so I could begin to disassemble the dash without fear of triggering an airbag (I was going to search for some harness or connection problems in there), I noticed a wire harness below the battery holder that looked in bad shape. I opened it up and noticed two wires were worn. I fixed those wires and fixed the problem. Wish I looked here first, but at least I learned a lot in the process. Thanks goes out to KarJunkie for his suggestions and support!

#106 of 167 Re: 2000 Plymouth Voyager- Instrument Panel Craziness and OBD not communicating [cardisciple] by xwesx

Aug 31, 2009 (10:49 am)

Replying to: cardisciple (Aug 29, 2009 5:31 pm)
This wiring harness was below the battery holder? Did you remove the battery to find it? I am starting to have one gremlin after another attack my van, and I am really losing patience with it. At this point, I am leaning toward damaged/worn wires as the root of my woes, but I am really not sure where to even begin with it! As the problems are intermittent, I have no faith that all my diagnostics of various circuits bear any relevance from one moment to the next. Just when I think I have isolated the problem (and determined that another circuit is A-OK), that problem goes away and another suddenly arises.... With 213,000 miles on the van, I would be fine with a major mechanical problem, but the mechanical systems are perfect. These electrical gremlins are really getting under my skin.

#107 of 167 Re: 99 Plymouth Voyager instrument panel problem [wickjr] by samb35

Sep 22, 2009 (6:15 pm)

Replying to: wickjr (Mar 08, 2009 8:44 am)
I have a 99 Dodge Caravan (same thing) that was doing the same thing. Just pulled the cluster out, removed the circuit board and badabing, I found a broken solder joint where the plug snaps in. Soldered it, now working great. Easy but little time consuming process. Hope this helps.

#108 of 167 94 dodge caravan gauge problem don't work by dduck22003

Sep 24, 2009 (1:06 pm)

my gauges on the van do not work, (temp, speedometer, and fuel gauge) the smaller lights come on when i start it and the check gages light stays lit but that's it, also the illumination does not work at night on the gauges, it all happened after i used the ac for a day and it got damp on the floor, they flickered on n off for a day then quit, then about 2 weeks later worked for about 4 hrs after i had pounded on the dash n such then all went dead again and have stayed that way, wiggled wires, checked fuses and such but no go,, do i just have to replace the cluster,, could really use the help, don't need to run out of gas again that really stunk.

Messages Page 11 of 17

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