Hello, I have a 2001 Dodge Caravan that has a speedometer that starts at 38km/ hr as the starting zero point. Then as the speed of the car increases the gage goes higher. I have a few ideas to fix:

1) attach a paper speedomter with 38 km/ hr as the new zero point over the existing speedometer. LOL

2) Take off the plastic instrument cover and manually reset the needle to zero. Not sure how safe to do that.

Any other ideas? Thanks,

BGS

 

First off run the cluster self test and see if the cluster can operate the speedo properly. It will point the speedo at calibration points of 0, 40, 100, 160 KM/H. If it does that, you have other issues. If it never goes to 0, bad cluster most likely. Here is the procedure.

With the ignition switch in the OFF position, depress the TRIP ODOMETER RESET button.
Continue to hold the TRIP ODOMETER RESET button until Sof and a number (software version number (i.e. Sof 3.2) appears in the odometer window (about five seconds) then release the button. If a fault code is present, the cluster will display it in the odometer display. When all fault codes have been displayed, the cluster will display “end” in the odometer display. Refer to the INSTRUMENT CLUSTER DTC'S table to determine what each trouble code means

 

Thanks Tizzy1 for your reply. I forgot to mention that I did that reset test already and it performs ok but then goes back to 38 km/hr. I did not check to see if any error codes as you mentioned. You mentioned the error codes and their meanings can be ascertained by the instrument clusterdtc table. Is that online sonewhere or?

 

Post the error code and one of us will help you.

 

Ok thanks Master Tech. The code is 100.3 EATX Comminication Fault. I have a friend helping me now. He removed the 20 amp fuse that runs the hazard lights and the instrument cluster.He said there waa a drain on this circuit somewhere. He then disconnected the instrument cluster and the drain is gone. Does this mean the instument cluster is toast?

BGS

 

So your having issues with your battery going dead? How much drain do you have?

The code means the cluster is having communication issues with the transmission controller. This is where the cluster gets it's speedometer reading from so kinda makes sense. The bad part is, I don't think that is a do it yourself at home problem. Unless you have access to a good scan tool that is.

 

Thanks Tizzy1. Yes the code does make sense. My friend has a basic scanner and says there are no other error codes for car showing up.
Had to install new battery.

There is a battery drain problem. With the fuse in there is.0.77 amps draining (which he says is high). If you then take instrument cluster out there is no drain. If you have cluster in and fuse out then there is a 65 ma drain which he says is normal.

BGS

 

Then you are probably looking at a cluster. It could be causing it's own communication errors. And a normal drain is 30ma or lower, not that I would go after 65 unless it's causing issues.

 

Thanks again Tizzy1, I will post the results when I install new (used) cluster.

BGS

 

Ok, I went to the auto wreckers and got an instrument cluster. I installed it, and it works ok, except it shows these faults:


1) On the top middle of cluster display the brake symbol (!) and the ABS symbol stay on when the car is running. Should I care, van is running good?

2) Under the odometer reading it says: TRAC OFF.

Am I to assume that these codes can only be cleared at the dealer with their fancier code readers or is there a procedure to remove them by the amateur?

I also am wondering if these codes are an artifact of a possible car accident/air bag deployment that may have occurred hence the car ending up in the auto wreckers? If that is the case I could try and exchange the instrument cluster for another one from the auto wreckers that may not have that code if happened to die a peaceful death and was just taken to the auto wreckers as a last course for some major breakdown?

Thanks for any advice,

BGS