So i went to go pull parts from a 99 Dakota 2.5 and it turns out the alternator bracket i was looking for, was broken in two pieces just like mine... Upon looking around i noticed the cluster was equipped with a Tach, so i pulled the cluster and swapped it out, upon starting the truck

The odometer Read "No bus" as soon as my CEL came on

AND my highbeam indicator on the cluster WILL NOT shut off once the truck is off, And the indicator will be lit when the low beams are on, and then the indicator turns off once high beams are turned on


Im not TOO worried about either of these issues... Simply removing the bulb from the cluster is good enough for me...

But this "No Bus" is in place where my odometer should be, it still records milage, but you can only see numbers before the CEL comes on, this No Bus error as far as i can find, on other models is due to a bad PCM, but my truck runs perfectly fine with the exception of codes

As far as my CEL goes, theres a power steering code and a P0420 code which is for the Cat

 

What year is your Dakota? Are they both 99's?

Lots of things can cause a "NO BUS" error. Do the gauges work?

Try this: with the key off press and HOLD the trip reset button down. Turn the key on (don't start the truck) while continuing to HOLD the button until CHEC shows in the odometer window then release the button. This will test the cluster. The gauges will sweep and the lights will test. When it gets done any codes will display in the odometer window - these are just cluster codes, not P codes.

Power for the headlight indicator is from the dimmer switch or the DRL module if you have them. It comes in via Connector 2, Pin 9. Connector 1, Pin 5 is the ground.

Don't rule out a possible defective cluster.

 

Everything works as it should, Tach, spedometer, fuel, oil pressure, charge, up shift, gas and all other indicators work as they should.....

My dakota is a 98 2.5 and the one i pulled it from was a 99 2.5, i am also not ruling out the possibility of a bad cluster, but i need to check some things before just buying another and getting the same error, No Bus comes on at the same moment the CEL turns on, is this just a coincidence??

some posts stated using electrical grease on the connections will solve the no bus error, but i call BS...

 

None of the gauges and only a few of the lights should be working with a "NO BUS" message. It means that the cluster, which is a computer itself, isn't talking to the PCM or other modules on the CCD bus.

On the power steering code, if you have a power steering pressure switch and it is leaking it can force fluid down the harness and into the PCM connections AND the 02 harness. All sorts of strange things can happen then. It's common on the 4.7 which uses the pressure switch.

 

I don't think the 2.5 setup has that same problem I had my sending unit leak and it never got sucked in the wires like the 4.7 problem. The sensor is way lower on the 2.5.


but its worth a look just to be sure


I'm betting on a bad connection

 

Speaking of the alternator bracket?

Couldn't you just use some steal or aluminum plat and make a bracket use the old bracket as a template?

 

well ALL of the gauges and functions on the cluster work as they should besides the Hi beam indicator which doesnt turn off when the truck is off, and the high beams are on when the light is off, and the light is on when the low beams are on

 

Sounds like the cluster then.