2001 Dodge Grand Caravan ES Instrument Cluster Whacked!

[ecclesand]

Have a 2001 Dodge Grand Caravan ES with Autostick where the Instrument Panel (every guage) completely blanks out for a second or two and then comes back on when moving the gear shift selector from DRIVE to NEUTRAL and REVERSE to PARK.

Need to get this fixed...this is the wife's car and I'm tired of walking because she commandeered my car...UGH!

[Dakaty]

Our 1999 ES used to do this same thing. Turns out there is a recall on the Caravan for the drivers side "clock spring" which is located in the steering wheel. The Dealer replaced the clock spring (free) and solved all of these problems. Call your dealer and give them your VIN number to see if yours is included.

[gas28man]

I'm pretty sure this problem is not related to the clockspring. The clockspring problem was only on 96-00 Caravans. I had it done (twice) on my 96. 2001s were a redesign, and did not have the same problem.

The problem ecclesand is observing could be a couple things. In the worst case scenario it's related to the body control module, but that's doubtful. The next worst would be the transmission solenoid pack, which is not exactly cheap, but doesn't require a rebuild or high labor costs or anything like that. It's a bolt-on, external item.

On the side of better news, your problem might be a simple computer anomaly, resolved by a reset of your body control module, which you can accomplish by removing the negative battery cable for 5 minutes.

Or it might just be that the instrument cluster needs to be reset. With the key off, press the trip reset button for 5 or 6 sec. until Sof and a number appears in the odometer window then let it go. The cluster should move all neddles to set positions, then back to zero.

Good luck and let us know what happens.

Rick

[ecclesand]

Thanks for the info gas28man. We took the car into the dealer as we have an extended warranty and they checked the BCM and replaced the transmission solenoid pack because it was leaking. Still didn't fix the problem. They then told us that the only thing left would be the instrument cluster itself which was NOT covered under our extended warranty and would cost us $700 to replace.

I spoke to a friend who knew another friend that had a similar problem and they were able to resolve it by replacing the battery. We replaced the battery (it was somewhat hard starting lately anyway) and that did NOT solve the problem.

I tried resetting the BCM by removing the Negative battery post for 5 minutes and also tried resetting the instrument cluster. Neither worked and we still have the problem. When I did the reset of the instrument cluster, the SOF code of 3.3 came up and then an E Code of 200.7. Does this E Code have any significance?

Thanks again for your help! The folks at the dealership said they had never seen anything like this....just our luck!

[vipergg]

try pulling and reseating the IOD fuse in the power distribution center under the hood 2 or 3 times , the connection to this will sometimes get some corrosion on it and this kills the dashboard and this will fix it sometimes , otherwise maybe you do have a dash problem .