How To Repair Chrysler/Dodge Minivan Instrument Cluster Problems is part of the Fixing it Forward series. Not long after Barbara got her van back, she called me and told me her instrument cluster was freaking out. 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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Tools
Weller Soldering Iron: http://www.jbtoolsales.com/weller-wes51-analog-soldering-station-with-power-unit-pencil-new#oid=1002_1
DVOM: http://www.jbtoolsales.com/electronic-specialties-480a-auto-ranging-digital-multimeter#oid=1002_1
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1998 Chrysler Town & Country Transmission/Radiator Replacement (Part 3): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c5Ii_6BKMZw
1998 Chrysler Town & Country Transmission/Radiator Replacement (Part 4): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ILAXVYd-bLk
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Low system voltage(van will not start)can easily cause weird gauge fluctuations, etc. These vans are NOT notorious for gauge issues(GM products yes, not Dodge Minivans)
$862 for the part, 50 cents for the solder
Just a comment on the lightbulbs in the instrument cluster… those clusters don't get removed very often – if ever – in the life of a vehicle, and once you've gone so far with an ~seventeen year old cluster, you might as well just go ahead and replace the bulbs on general principles…
I'm only at 13:59, so you might have decided to replace them, but as of where I'm at now, I'd recommend it just to be sure…
Thanks for the video. I had to replace the instrument cluster in a 1999 dodge caravan and I followed your video step by step. Replacement one works like a charm. Cheers.
I don't know how relevant this is to you now, but I think I see at least three broken connections when you were showing a closeup of that circuit board from the instrument cluster. Several of the solder joints are connected directly to a "through" wire, that goes through a hole to the other side of the board.
You can see one of them right at the start of the closeup, at 10:08 toward the bottom left, another in the center of the picture at 10:20. I don't know if it means anything, but it appears as though these solder joints have broken off where they connected to a wire from the other side of the board.
Anyway, something to look at and consider for the future. I hope it's helpful, but maybe not. 😉
Fake dude. Should be Eric the CarGirl. Busted.
Such a disgusting car doesn't deserve this kind of treatment.
That van is cancer.
Eric, I had the same problem on a 02. Smacking the dash fixed it enough for me to get it started. Figured I would mention it for anyone maybe looking for a quick solution.
POSSIBLY RELATED? I replaced the computer twice for getting extremely hot, even built a heat shield for it, to reflect away the exhaust heat. The symptom was no crank only when engine extremely hot… Like after idling for 15+ min. with ac on in 95+ summer only. NOTE: Fans, radiator, entire cooling system works fine, coolant temp is ok. Just the "brain" was getting hot as an iron when no crank occurs. Pour a cup of ice on the brain & wait 10 min. every time fixes it. Also occasional parking lights coming on, (one side only) loss of window motor or seat motor function, instrument gauges freak, SO THE FIX: Took BCM out (4 screws, small square box in front of the fuse box, and directly behind the computer that was getting smoking hot). Inspected the rows of pins. All looked oxidized and many discolored/brown. I cleaned all the pins with scotch brite pad, sprayed with CRC electronics cleaner and applied electrolytic grease. Did same to all pins on underside of the fuse box connectors.
Over a year now with no problem at all. Dealers and independent shops tend to go for the computer too fast! After 30 years of fixing copiers, when it's "possessed" it's almost never the circuit boards, its a connection.
Month and a half my truck town & Country showed a failure, the needles are out of control board, not how to explain it, we could say that "dance" … the technician said that should replace the BCM, this was done, the failure persisted … then changed the general computer, a lot of money, long time … a few days ago, in a casual conversation with a person who never see because he lives in another city, told me that the fault is on the dashboard … I have started to investigate and oh, wonder !! I find your video as well explained … I will encourage and desarmaré the dashboard !! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you very much!!
I would be grateful to tell me your opinion: You may have broken some welding spots?
I helped the google translator, please forgive my poor command of the language …
Eric, my instrument cluster was dead. I had that problem before and this time it was the spring contacts that hold the guages in. They had a little mold and cleaning them did the trick.
Erik Thecarguy!!! PLS REPLY AS IM HAVE AN ISSUE WITH MY FORD FOCUS CLUSTER! DID THIS REPAIR WORK? IS THERE AN UPDATE ON THE ISSUE?
Wow Eric new camera? Awesome…. What kind of camera so clear… Really enjoy your videos has helped me more than once, keep up the good work. Thanks Bob
Hi Eric, quick question:on the chry 98 cluster removal, will the van turn on without the cluster connected?some have told me that it does. Definitely not for running, its that I am trying to finde an irregularity, and neet to test to see if it turns on with out the cluster, thanks, God bless.
did you ever notice (it always happens to me ) that when your soldering the smoke ALWAYS seems to go right foe your face ??????????? WTF !!!!!!!!
Hey, Eric. If she's having problems with the ignition key not turning let me tell you what I have to do. I also have a '98 Voyager and I've found that if I park it with the the front wheels turned (even a little bit) I have problems removing the key. Tell her to always point the wheels straight ahead every time she shuts off the car and you should be able to put off replacing the ignition switch for quite awhile. Also, I've found that one side of the (double-sided) key tends to fit (and work) better than the other side.
there was a lawsuit over that brake shift interlock thing you mention in this video
201,000 miles!!!! On that Mormon assault vehicle, time to say bye bye
You did not show how you put the electrical clips back together on on the left side of the steering wheel,,you said close quarters,,how hard is that to do?
that van should have been junked.just buy a better one.dodge products are garbage
Your video was a piece of cake to follow on my 1999. I had the same pin on the instrument panel that needed re-soldering. Fixed the problem in about and hour. Saved probably $1500 and a masive headach associated with having someone else do he job for me. That's a $1500.00 per hour savings. Will you take money, or beer for payment? IOU Thanks, Rich
Is it a fuse for the cluster
Is there a fuse for it
Eric, I just found your youtube videos and now I have to ask a question.
First of all the rear window defroster does not work and I suspect it is the relay, however, I cannot find any diagrams of the relay layout on the relay/fuse assembly located in the engine compartment.
Which one is the relay for the rear window defroster?
Thanks
John
I have a 1999 Town and Country that was sold to me as a solid "family vehicle" 2 years later and I still haven't gotten to use it. I have sunk hundreds of dollars into trying to figure it out. Local mechanics call it the van from hell. It keeps locking me out as though I'm trying to steal it. My research led me here to see how to check these solders. Thanks for this video, gonna give it a shot.
Epic instructional video my friend! Thank you so much. Our Dodge Caravan was doing the same thing. Cluster was dead. Took it apart & had "3" cracked solder joints on the back of the main plug. Just heated them up, applied a touch of solder, & it works like new!!!! Thanks again Eric!!!!
Heya, The best guide that I have checked out was on Volt daddy (just google it) Probably the most helpful info on batteries and this kinda things that have found.