My 1996 Grand Caravan intermittently loses the four key guages on the instrument panel.. It is also associated with the ABS light and Check Engine light illuminating. The suspect is the body control module. How can I know that before starting that big project?

 

We have no way to test the BCM so all we can do is eliminate all other possibilities. The biggest of those possibilities is the instrument cluster solder joint issue very common to 3rd generation vans. Have you eliminated that yet? I would be interested to know what code is setting off the CE light and what is leading you to look at the BCM.

 

I have not checked the solder joint. How is that accessed? It sound very likely because the fault is intermittent. I will get the CE code.

 

He has you remove the light bulbs before you remove the circuit board from the cluster housing. Probably not necessary.

 

CE light code P1698 Thanx for video

 

P1698 - No CCD messages received from PCM. That is one of the codes typically associated with the solder joint issue. It's saying the PCM either isn't sending the CCD data stream or the wiring that carries it has a problem. That problem could very well be the solder joints at the cluster. Recommend you reheat all the pins at the connector and not just those that have obvious cracks. Even the tiniest crack can create problems.

 

I live in the uk and have finally after 10 years of dreaming found my Dodge Ram 1500. I brought it in may 2012, after having 3 months of great fun I have lost my instrument cluster, gutted as getting spares or a new cluster delivered to the UK is not cheap. After watching the video posted earlier in this string, I am very confident that I can strip and repair the cluster which will be my weekend activity.

I will post and let you know how i got on, hope you guys can offer other helpful tips to keep my baby in tip top condition.

Thank you for the help already.

Bex

 

I want to thank the people who responded to my distress with the instrument cluster; particularly Cougar 41. The video was especially usefull because it led me to the faulty contact. I would not have seen it without guidance. The crack was nearly imperceptable.

 

 

greetings all! read the messages and the information is excellent.
i'm suffering a different problem, though ultimately related.

basically, while driving, hit a bump and gauges went max, then dropped (all 4). engine stopped while still moving at highway speeds. slipped into neutral, tried to restart no luck. pulled over, pulled battery for a minute or two, and reconnected. fired up and drove it back to the yard to change vehicles.

now, the passenger front quarter panel (exterior) was hit, big dent. we surmised there were wires pinched. had replacement part, so i ripped off the old one to see. NO wires broken or pinched. wondering if possibly its the connector in the door (as the door locks and power windows won't work on the passenger front door).
if its not the wiring would it/Could it be the crappy sodder job on the instrument cluster?

thanks people! your help is very much appreciated!