Hey everyone. We bought a 2001 Dodge Ram 1500 4x4 5.2L Laramie extended cab from someone who said all it needed was a new computer due to a bad voltage regulator. Well I'm tired of it sitting in the driveway not working properly because my boyfriend is too busy at work to try and get it working. So, $600 later replaced the ECM, and having the following issues:

The bad:
- No odometer (completely blank, no sign of power)
- Gauges are not reading (oil, temp, speedometer, fuel)
- No inside dome lights

The Good:
- headlight symbol on instrument cluster work as well as high beams
- No other lights have shown up from what we have seen.
- Instrument cluster lights up when headlights on
- Engine starts right up and drives well aside from needing a new steering gear box.
- Alternator is putting the correct voltage to the battery
- All fuses are good

Not sure if its getting heat, haven't had it started long enough with the new ECM to find out. Also, the previous owners had a custom stereo system and speakers which they installed themselves and took out.

My questions are:

1. Could the lack of stereo and speakers possibly be the reason due to an opening in how they wired it?

2. Does anyone know how I can test the instrument cluster to ensure it is receiving power and that its not a problem somewhere else?

3. Is there anything else that can be tested or checked to determine the problem?

Thanks and happy holidays!

 

Sounds like you aren't getting power to the cluster. According to popular theory, you can test the cluster, by holding in the trip reset button, and turning the ignition to "on". Of course, it is supposed to display codes in the odometer.... and yours doesn't work. Not gonna help much, but, it should also sweep the gauges. If they don't move at all, then power is indeed your issue.

Looks like most of the cluster is power by fuse 14. (10 amp) Yellow wire, that goes to pin 6 in the cluster connector. (yep, gotta pull the cluster) That should be hot at all times.

Do ANY of the indicators in the cluster work? What about dash lights? (so you can read it in the dark.) If NONE of that is working, probably just a poor connection for the cluster.

 

Thanks for the reply, Ill try the test again and wait longer and see if the light work. I know the e-brake and headlight/brights indicators work and the back light that lets u in the dark works. Im also gonna test that wire. Thanks so much.

 

Gotta be a bad connection somewhere then. They are just fun to find.

Gotta love electrical problems.....

 

Yup, after fooling around with it for a while, figured out its not getting electricity. Considering the ecm is new, the alternator is new, and the truck starts no problem and getting correct voltage, were going to look in the bcm.