I have had this issue for some time and now it seems to be causing other thing to go bad.

I have a 01 Dodge Grand Caravan with a 3.3 liter. The gas gauge acts funny--I'll be driving and the needle will drop to 1/4 tank or float back up to where it is supposed to be. I can shut it off and turn it back on and it returns to normal.

Twice now, the gear selector showed all of the selections PRND3L highlighted, like they were all gear. Kinda like when you put it in drive and the D is highlighted, only it was all of the gears. When I dropped the thing, counting bumps) into drive, reverse, low, but got nothing. Went nowhere. Reset the cluster and nothing. Finally after a few minutes, it just returned to normal.

A few months after we got the van, the speedometer started acting erratic. While in drive with foot on brake, the speedo needle would wave up and down until driving (foot off gas). At times, it would still wave up and down and when driving, the vehicle would lunge with the up and down of the needle. Also, the needle, when the vehicle is in park or in drive and foot on the brake, the needle rests on 10 MPH. So when driving, the needle reads between 10 and 14 mph faster than what I am really going.

And just recently, I have input output speed sensor codes that pop up. Both have been replaced and things will work for awhile, but then the codes come up again...and it seems to be when the van is acting up heavier with regards to the speedo. This happens and the van goes into limp mode, although I thought LM had 1st and 2nd gear--the van seems to only have 1st. I can shut the car off, come back and drive it, and it runs fine for a little bit.

I have taken it to an AAMCO (the one I used to work at) and they threw the Snap-On scanner on it, but it didn't show any Trans codes. I was told that the Instrument panel CAN cause other things to go bad or act in strange ways. He thinks it is the cluster.

PLEASE HELP!!!! Have any of you had any of these issues before? Do you think replacing the cluster would fix the issue? I am not going for a new one, as they are roughly $900 including flashing the computer. Any help would be greatly appreciated!!!

 

Here is a TSB,try this first.

SUBJECT:
Fuel Gauge Indicator Visibly Drops 1/4 To 1/2 Tank While Driving
OVERVIEW:
This bulletin involves inspecting the Leak Detection Pump (LDP) air filter hose
for a kink and repositioning the hose if required.
MODELS:
2001 - 2002 (RS) Town & Country/Caravan/Voyager
NOTE: THIS BULLETIN APPLIES TO RS VEHICLES BUILT BEFORE
SEPTEMBER 30, 2001.
SYMPTOM/CONDITION:
With the fuel tank at 3/4 full or less, and after driving the vehicle for 10 minutes or at
least 6 miles, the fuel gauge indictor may visibly drop 1/4 to 1/2 of a tank providing
an erroneous reading. The fuel gauge indicator returns to a correct reading after the
engine has been shut off and the vehicle has sat for 5 to 8 minutes.
DIAGNOSIS:
Due to the nature of this issue, perform the Repair Procedure if a vehicle operator
complains that the fuel gauge visibly drops while driving.
REPAIR PROCEDURE:
THIS REPAIR IS COMPATIBLE WITH DAIMLERCHRYSLER’S MOBILE SERVICE PROGRAM AND
DOES NOT REQUIRE HOISTS OR OTHER FULL SERVICE FACILITY SPECIAL EQUIPMENT.
WARNING: THIS REPAIR INVOLVES WORK NEAR THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD
CROSSOVER TUBE. ON VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH V-6 ENGINES,
WAIT FOR THE ENGINE TO COOL BEFORE PERFORMING THIS REPAIR
OR PERSONAL INJURY MAY RESULT.
1. Open and support the hood.
2. Use a shop light to inspect the LDP air filter hose for kinks or restrictions
as shown in (Fig. 1). The LDP air filter hose is located underneath and to
the left of the power brake booster. Move aside any wiring or hoses that
prevents a clear view of the entire LDP air filter hose.
08-024-01 -2-
Fig. 1 LDP AIR FILTER HOSE
1 - ABS CONTROL MODULE (ABS EQUIPPED VEHICLE)
2 - LDP AIR FILTER
3 - LDP AIR FILTER HOSE - INSPECTION AREAS
3. If the hose is kinked, detach the hose from the filter and reposition it in
a manner that eliminates the restriction.

 

I have inspected the LDP and all looks fine. Gas gauge still acts up on occasion. My biggest concern though, is the speedo gauge going wacky and my check eng light showing in/output speed sensor codes when it is bouncing off the walls.

 

I went to a salvage yard and got a speedo cluster and plugged it in. Got rid of one problem, but still have the other. Now the thing sits at zero when running and foot on the brake and the MPH seems to be correct, not the 10 to 13 MPH over that it was. But, the speedo needle still waves back and forth on occasion. What causes the speed so act so erratically when not in motion. I am concerned that this may still cause other issues.

 

Did you have the gauges calibrated at any time ?

 

Nope. What type of place does this?

 

The dealer does.

 

I have a 98 dodge caravan, the gauge lights just went out. But no other signs of any other lights having problems. The gauges do work its just the light for the gauges don't, wondering if replacing the cluster if that would help or not..

 

Hey thaddy1978, I think I have a fix for your problem. My van was just doing the same thing this week. With the van running and sitting in Park I had my scan tool hooked up to it and it showed the van was going 40MPH! I took notice of the odometer and it was accumulating like I was moving, but the van was in Park. The speedometer showed 0MPH until I put the van in "D" then the speedometer would jump to 40MPH or so like the scan tool had shown. The problem ended up being a weak alternator and I had just replaced it from Autozone 4 mos earlier with the 160A Duralast. Thank goodness it had a LT warranty. I am going to go ahead an paste in my post I just did on another site that talks about the problems and troubleshooting....

I have a 2001 GC Sport 3.3 Flex with 166k miles. I wanted to go ahead and post the problem I had with my van and the fix so that it may help others.
A few weeks ago I noticed my starter was starting to drag a bit and then ultimately the dash lights would flicker and relays would click and then eventually start. I took the battery in to have it tested and it just needed to be charged. As a side note, I replaced the alternator 4 mos earlier from Autozone. I am fairly handy and do all of my own repairs, therefore I started to monitor the alternator with a voltmeter and it was 13.5V, but noticed the starter was dragging a week later. Then just a couple of days ago my speedometer went all crazy and pegged out and I also got the output speed sensor codes. When I hooked up my scan tool to check and clear any codes I noticed it showed the van was at 40MPH in Park! Also the mileage was accumulating while in Park! I changed the OSS and the ISS as mentioned above in jovia cynic's posts, but did not help. I noticed that when the RPM was above 1,000 the speedomter would be just fine and the van would run normally. I took the van up to Autozone to have the alternator I just replace tested as a last resort and found it was defective. Swapped out with a new one thanks to the LT warranty and everything is back to normal. I never would have thought a weak alternator would cause so many gremlins. Hope this helps someone!

 

Actually you don't have to take it to the dealer to get have the gauges calibrated or reset. All you have to do is with the van turned off, press and hold the trip reset button for the odometer for about 10 seconds until you see erroneous numbers pop up on the display. I believe the first number that shows is S 3.3 or something like that and that is the software revision number. The cluster will then perform several tests and move the needles as required for calibration. My speedometer had pegged out past 120MPH and I took the thing apart to reset with my finger, but I had read on another forum that you just have to hold down the button and it works great!

Good Luck!