1998 Plymouth Voyager - loss of dashboard display

I've had a 1998 Voyager, about 140k miles, for a little over a year. We
occasionally lose all the displays on the dashboard (i.e., speedometer,
odometer, fuel gauge, temperature gauge, etc.) and the "service Engine Soon"
and "ABS" lights would come on. To begin with this would not happen very
often (maybe once a month), and it would last for only a short period (1/2
day - or the next time we started the vehicle). We took it to a service shop,
but of course the displays were fine every time so they could not tell us
what was wrong. However, now that the situtation has worstened to the point
that this occurs two or threes times a week, and may last for upt to two days,
we were finally able to have it looked at. The shop said that it was a
computer and that it would cost about $600 to replace and that it would still
need to be taken to the dealer (for some type of calibration - my wife took
it in, so I am not exactly sure what would need to be doen by the dealer).
Does this sound like the correct diagnoses?
Does the dealer need to be involved when replacing the computer?
Is replacing the computer something I can do?
Thanks for the help.

 

I should have added that when the display is off, although it is difficult to
tell how fast we are going, there does not seem to be an problems with the
vehicle operation. It seems to run just fine.

 

Hmmm - I can't comment about the loss of display, but I've replaced the
computer on my 1990 Voyager. This was the computer in the engine
compartment on the passenger side - I know it controls the transmission
(also the engine?) and I was replacing it because of the many upgrades
between time of manufacture and when I was having a transmission
rebuild. It was simply a matter of unhooking the old one and hooking
up the new one. About a 5 to 10 minute job.

Dave

 

I had exactly the same thing on my 98 Voyager. I bought a used cluster and
stuck it in and that appears to have solved it.

One thing for sure, it's not the computer. Find another shop.

 

Thanks for the information. What exactly is a "cluster?"

 

They are more then likely selling you a BCM Body Control Module, Don't be
surprised if the problem is still there. Get it in writing that it will fix
the problem!! More then likely the cluster is bad (instrument cluster)
My opinion only

Glenn Beasley
Chrysler Tech

 

Looks like everyone has a differnt opinion.

One question: When the instruments and lights are messing up like that,
do you also happen to get a message "No Bus" in the odometer window?

The problem could be any of the things already mentioned by others:
Instrument cluster, TCM, BCM, and some other things. If you get the "No
Bus" message, then it could be one of many things, and some
troubleshooting would be necessary to pin it down.

(NOTE: I got a $6000 Concorde recently for exactly $1000 because a
dealer could not find the cause of a very similar problem - I found the
problem and fixed it by replacing the TCM with one for $20 out of a junk
yard. *BUT* I had to troubleshoot it down to that - like I said -
several things could have caused the exact same symptoms - you can't
just go randomly replacing parts based on one person's experience,
including mine - mine could have just as easily been due to a bad BCM or
cluster - in fact - the dealer replaced the cluster!)

Post back with the answer to my question.

ALSO - I know LH cars (similar electronics) can start having very
similar symptoms with the cluster when the battery starts going bad
(shorted cell) - so don't rule that out as a possibility (testing may be
difficult since apparently your problem is intermittent). But if your
battery is old, you may start out by taking a risk and simply replacing
the battery. Have it tested first - it may be marginal and show up bad
in a test and give you justification and confidence for replacing it
whether it is causing the cluster problem or not (and it just might be).

Bill Putney
(To reply by e-mail, replace the last letter of the alphabet in my
address with the letter 'x')

 

Oops - mis-typed - should have said "...in fact the dealer replaced the
BCM!". But they could have just as easily and randomly replaced the
cluster - would have done the same amount of good (i.e., none).

Bill Putney
(To reply by e-mail, replace the last letter of the alphabet in my
address with the letter 'x')

 

No. I have not seen that message. I will try testing the battery.

Thanks.

 

Instrument cluster. It's the circuit board, gauges and plastic box that
holds them. According to information from my local Chrysler dealer, ones
made in those years were prone to faulty solderings.

Removing it isn't hard but to do it yourself you would want to buy or borrow
a Haynes manual and both a short and long phillips screwdriver. Requires
removing a few dashboard panels. If you find a decent recycle yard the guy
who pulls the old one would probably be able to install it in yours. If I
can do it, you don't need a pro.

 

Had a similar problem with my 2001 T&C. Dealer did NOT diagnose the
problem. They threw parts at it - replaced the cluster, multi-function
switch, and BCM, all of which did not solve the problem. Turned out
that there was a bad ground with the small orange cable that comes from
the battery cable. Check that first, it can save you a LOT of money if
it is truly the problem. You most likely have a ground problem somewhere.

BBA