This quick video shows you how to repair the instrument cluster of a dodge caravan. This resolves the “slap dash” repair issue. Get all your gauges working a…
Repair instrument cluster 1999 dodge caravan
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thanks for the video! my panel had the same pin cracked. 45 minutes of work
and I no longer have to use my GPS as a speedometer. (smart phone. yeah
there is an app for that.) It is videos like this that make the internet
the most powerful tool on the planet.
Hey John, thanks for adding more great info. It looks like you went through
quite the over haul for your electrical system.
cont – this time I also took out the power distribution block beside
battery, removed the 7 connectors, burnished, retensioned & silicon coated
their female slots & did same to the matching male pins on the block
itself.. I also removed all fuses & gave them the same treatment – no need
to remove relays, they’re so tightly seated no oxidation seems to occur..
Put it all together an ‘so far’, everything seems ok.
Yeah… went through this about two years ago.. I added 60/40 lead solder
to all the connector joints… Fractures are caused by new lead free solder
which has a higher silver content making it much more brittle… Same thing
happened again two days ago; same old s**t, motor started and then stopped,
gauges going beserk and this time, mileage/gear indicator flashing on&
off.. Took it apart again and inspected joints using a loupe – all good.
Resoldered entire board again, top & btm – continued
Awesome!, thanks!!!!
Now you will finally start adding mileage to the van 😉 Anytime the gauges
were dead, it wasn’t recoding mileage. The pros and cons of this
malfunction.
Thanks for the post, totally crapped out finally on my parents van. Going
to get out the Weller 🙂
Glad it helped you out @Sidney Griffin.
Dude you rock it was the same freaking connector
The same freakin post it must get hot right there
Man this is great thank you I lost my gauges on my 97 Dodge Grand Caravan
going to fix it now then I’m going to fix the AC thank you dude keep me
informed
Dude…you ROCK!!!!!!!!!!!! Thank you so much! This has plagued us since we
bought it, but not any more!
@RWLXXII that was hilarious. I could see myself doing that same reaction.
Hehehe
Did this fix and damn, easy as hell. Even used a soldering iron I didn’t
think would work. Took me a total of about a half hour because I was
fumbling with the panels and helping a friend out at the same time. The
solder reflow on the pin doesn’t look pretty, but it works, and that’s what
I was going for. You know that gauge cluster would’ve cost me 200 for a
replacement part alone?
my van is doing the same thing but got a question for you…did it also
disable your climate control stuff like temp and AC and all that noise…my
only blows hot and seems that whole area isn’t working minus the cd player
and radio…
@wattywaca, it sounds to me that you have an additional problem. Your issue
with the instrument cluster should not affect your climate control system.
I would start with the simplest things like fuses and work out from there.
Unfortunately, I don’t have more knowledge on those systems.
All I did was plug the harness back in and turned the key on. As soon as I
did that, all the gauges lit up so I went ahead and reinstalled it.
OMG your video just saves me $300.00 from a gouging mechanic 2 thumbs up 🙂
Your welcome! I appreciate the extra time you took to leave a comment here.
That is the only way I know it is helping people. It makes me feel great to
know that my video is helping others. Cheers my friend…
Thanks man
fantastic information
How about drivers side window won’t go up or down…it’s also
Intermittent …
Thanks Shawn, you don’t happen to make home repairs do you? My Mom has same
problem but they want to charge her $500 for repairs. She lives in Arcadia,
ca if you know anyone in the area please le me know.
@underground2000, I am doing some research on a similar problem I have. My
rear side window doesn’t work. Right now I don’t have anything on that but
if I figure it out, I will let you know.
good job thanks for sharing
I yea me and my dad are worked on a 98 dodge caravan 2.4 the guy burnt the
motor up and we replaced and now he got it really hot and so we did a head
swap and now the instrument cluster will not work we changed it with a used
one butt still not workn thanks for the video….
Sorry Marlene. But YouTube is a great resource for the do it yourself type
of person. Taking the instrument cluster out is just a matter of taking out
a lot of little screws and disconnecting a wiring harness. Do you know a
young teenager that could help you out? If I was in the area, I would
gladly help you out. Good luck.
Thanks so much for posting this video! We have been having this issue with
our 1999 Caravan and after checking with a former Dodge mechanic he told us
to replace the cluster circuit board. The best price we found was $499
through Amazon and Ebay. My husband saw your video and we were able to fix
the van without having to spend all that cash! You’re our hero!
I have been looking for this information for ages! Thanks for taking the
time to show us!
It should just turn on with your original mileage. I don’t believe the
other instrument panel will retain any mileag
Great advice! I’ve only had one of my five Chrysler mini-vans act up and
it’s now too old and worn out for further help. The instruments on it would
usually start working again after restarting the car.
Thanks for the best info and (only) fix I can find for this online. Had
this problem was driving me nuts. Gonna break out my soldering iron and try
your solution tonight.
Thanks. I spent a year without gauges dreading ripping apart the dash but
finally I got enough information to just do it. I was quoted over $750 by
the dealership to deal with it. When I finally attacked it and when the
dashboard display came back to life it was “great success” as Borat would
say. Every time I look down at the dash now I have so much more
appreciation for this bit if technology.
There is a ribbon cable that needs to be unclipped from the wiring harness
to the instrument cluster. You should be able to just gently pinch the
sides or use a flat screw driver to disconnect it.
I am glad you found the answer. My dash is digital so it has a slightly
different configuration. I would do some searches about the gas gauge now.
It could have something to do with the sensor in the tank. Chances are
though is that it has something to do with the work just done to the
instrument cluster. Hopefully there was no contacts joined with solder that
shouldn’t have been. Good luck with the fuel issue. If you resolve it, let
us know. Cheers…
My Speedo is dying. This gives me hope. Cool!
@MrSargentodpro I am glad it was able to help out someone who can really
appreciate it. It was time well spent making that quick video for everyone
else 🙂
@717lin, it is actually very easy. You need to look around the plastic
surround. You will see a bunch of screws. You need to remove these scenes.
Once all the screws are removed, the plastic cover/surround will come right
off exposing your instrument cluster. You will then need to undo a couple
more screws to release the cluster itself. The only tricky part comes next
when you pull the instrument cluster out, you will need to move the gear
shifter down in order to have enough room to get the in
Need help fast! I’ve never soldered before, and my panel is a LITTLE bit
different. The connector is the same though, I’ve done research saying I
might as well just re-solder all the pins.