97 Dakota 5.2, 5 speed, 4x4. Had to weld exhaust pipe back onto converter after original weld cracked. Battery was NOT Disconnected. After successful weld was finished, started truck for test drive and all gauges were dead including odometer. The overhead computer will only read outside temp and compass, everything else on overhead display reads "--"
Disconnected battery cables and did a Hard Reset.... installed cables and truck had same symptoms but now would start and run for 3-5 seconds and die. took dash apart and removed the gauge cluster, attempted to start truck and it would start/run fine. The overhead display functions all operated perfectly. Reinstalled gauges (still inoperative) The only thing in the gauge cluster that works are several warning lights (ABS-Cruise-Brake-Security) and they stay on when truck is running. The turn signals and the Hi Beam indicator also work...that's it.
Once the gauge cluster was reinstalled the overhead display went back to only reading temp/compass and the rest of the display options reading "--" again.
Shut it off and come back the next day to start it....it would start and run 3-5 seconds and die again continuously. if I remove the fuse for the gauges OR disconnect the gauges from dash, it starts/runs fine again....until I either re-insert the fuse or the gauges; then it starts and dies.
Gauges are completely dead except for what I stated previously. It will not even do a self diagnostics.
I know the gauge cluster is a computer itself and it obviously is most likely not communicating with the PCM. My question is---Is it the PCM or the gauges? How do I figure out which one it is? If I had another 97-99 Dakota I would just test swap gauges, but I don't have one available lol

 

The turn signals and high-beam indicator are hard wired in the cluster. They have nothing to do with the computer, or how the PCM, CAB, CTM, gauge cluster, overhead computer, and other computers communicate via the CCD (Chrysler Collision Detection bus, a data bus these items use to communicate digitally). The ABS light will come on if the CAB sets an error or if the cluster cannot communicate with the CAB. The security light will come on and stay on if the cluster cannot communicate with the CTM.

The gauge cluster probably has a fault in its communication module, which makes the CCD bus malfunction. This assumption is hardened by your report that the overhead unit will show all values when the gauge cluster is removed. The overhead gauge cluster gets all info, except temperature and compass, from the PCM. If it cannot communicate with the PCM, it will show "--". Further, if the PCM cannot communicate with the CTM (if you have a security module) will make the engine die. That plus the symptoms above (which lights in the dash are on) pretty clearly point to a faulty gauge cluster.


You already successfully A-B-tested for a faulty gauge cluster, because all symptoms go away with the gauge cluster removed, but will show with it installed.

I recommend getting another gauge cluster. They are under 100 bucks on ebay. I have another one from a 98 Dakota I can ship to you. (Friday earliest). Does yours look like this and does it have the same part number?



98 Dakota Gauge Cluster


98 Dakota Gauge Cluster Label

 

Yes, my gauges look like that but not for an automatic. There are a few at my local salvage yard for manual transmission setup but are for the V-6, not the V-8. I don't know if they would be the same.
I don't think there was a part # sticker on my cluster. I've actually been using the part # stamped into the back of the circuit board of the gauges.

 

I have been watching this circuit board on E-bay for $29.99 It's for 97-99 Dakota with manual transmission. The last 4 numbers imbedded into the board are not same as mine. it appears to be almost identical to mine however there are one or two circuitry lines that are not identically routed but are essentially ending in the same area as mine.
I just haven't decided to pull the trigger on it yet.