Hello,

I actually have a 97 Plymouth Grand Voyager, but I was told it was the same as the Dodge Caravan, so I decided to ask for help here.

My 97, 3.3L, automatic trans, w/AC, 76K miles, starting acting up this morning. I just recieved a call that my girlfriend was driving it to work and the instrument cluster did not come on until she was a mile or so from home. It acted up some (sorry don't know much more) and then when she pulled into work and turned it off, there was some sort of "humming" noise and the speedometer and tach dials were bouncing.

I have a power disconnect on the battery and I told her to lift the hood and disconnect the power.

All of the dash failing leads me to thnk there is a ground problem. The tach and speedometer bouncing and acting up after the key was off is an issue. I will try to drive by at lunch and have a look. So far I'm just going by what she told me over the phone this morning. Will post what I find. After I try for codes, and normal operation, I will hit the dash as someone recommended in a previous thread to see if that helps.

Any thoughts from anyone? Similar problems?

Thanks for any help.

Best regards,

Bob

 

Stopped by and looked at the van. The fuel gauge was going flaky just when I put the key in.

I did the code test holding down the odometer trip and reset then turning the key on unit the odometer said "test". The only code was 999 which means "end of codes" and then another message that I think said "code 0".

Then I did the Emitt Fix it Repair where I pounded on the dash across the top of the instrument cluster. That seemed to stop it for the moment. She said the problem comes and goes as you are driving an hitting a bump will start it messing up and the next bump will stop it.

That's a heck of a thing to diagnose.

A friend of mine in another state had the engine just go out of his van, I think it is the same year and everything. Happened about a month ago. Yesterday a mower through a rock against the sliding door window of his van and broke it. It has a lot of miles and he is thinking about just selling it for scrap. What do you think? Does he have any parts I might want?

Is the odometer reading part of the instrument cluster? If I change it, will the van still know how many miles are correct?

 

is the tach not working at all speeds?

I know they act up if speed sensors are bad usually the speed doesn't show anything till around mph

also My tach acted very funny when my battery was getting old

others a lot more knowledgeable will be sure to give advice

 

'97 vans were known for smoking the printed circuit board on the back of the cluster, it would shock me if that is what you are dealing with. You can switch one from another van, the mileage is stored in the BCM. It should be recalibrated to make it accurate but would work, preferably from a van from "96 - early "98.

 

My firiend's van is a '96 and mine is a '97. He has offered it to me.

How much does a new instrument cluster cost if I ordered it online? Any links?

Woud I need to go somewhere special to get one adjusted? Who can do this?

Where can you buy a new instrument cluster? Any place other than the dealer?

Thanks everyone.

 

A grand voyager is just a long wheelbase voyager.

I put a 99 T@C gauge cluster in my sport and the mileage stayed the same as it is stored in the computer.

There should be lots in the junk yards at a reasonable, cost easy to put in too!

 

No salvage yards close by. Easier for me just to find one now days online and order it.

What is the year range for my 1997 that are the same as mine? '96-'98 ?

Also, the problem has temporarily stopped since I banged around on the dash as suggested. Should I just remove it, try to clean the connectors? If I can locate the ground connection, I have new connectors. I could run an additional new ground and solder it on then put wire ties to the other wring to keep it solid.

We both have small cars now (30mpg) so the van sits and gets driven every other weekend. It had 17K on it when my father passed away about 7 years ago and I ran it up to about 74K. Now it gets about 1K per year or less. I keep a battery disconnector on it and turn off the power each time I park it for a couple of weeks. It basically has become my pickup truck, but enclosed.

I could not have made it through the hurricanes of 2004 here in FL without it. It is the best spare vehicle I can imagine for us. Great for luggage to the airport, handle friends visiting or the occasional visit to the lumber yard. No big rush to empty it or try to beat the rain. I had a good trailer hitch and wiring put on it and a new electric hoist in the back I picked up for $35 at a yard sale.

I remember just after the hurricanes of 2004, the house roof was missing, tarps nailed down, no power, (2) small generators for the fridge and other stuff, I had parked the van sideways against the garage door to protect it during the storms then used the van to get 15 gallons of gas each day (sat in long lines), wood and supplies, had no phones, no cell phones and the ONLY thing that was normal for weeks was going out and sitting in my van. I used to take a CD because all the radio stations were "hurricane this" and "hurricane that" and so were the channels on the small TV we hooked up. New hurricanes were constantly being formed and in all (3) hit us. The eye of the first one went over our house. Everyone was saying "think positive" so my response is "this was smallest electric bill I ever had since there was no power".

Once this van is gone, I will still buy another.