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Smoke Coming From Instrument Panel

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Turn signals stop working?

10A Mini fuse blowing for A/C

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The initial symptom is all front and rear dome light are all lit. I checked that all four doors were shut. The indicating light of "door ajar" is not lit on the instrument panel. While driving about 15 minutes my daughter smelled something is burning and then I noticed smoke coming from instrument panel. I pulled over and shut down the truck. I was afraid of electrical fire. I re-started the truck after 10 minutes, now the following icons on the insrument panel were lit, engine block htr , brake lt, chck engine light, air bag lt, and also while driving the speedometer gage doesn't work.



Is anyone here had experience the same problem? If so, please chime in. I only have approx. 29K miles on the truck. :confused:
 
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hhhhhhhhhhmmmmmmmmmmmm smoke in the cabit, ABANDON SHIP !!!!!!!! oh yeah , I think ur truck needs to go see the dealer...
 
Update

Truck was towed to the closest dealership. I called Chrysler Emergency Service this morning. The tow truck towed the truck by lifting the rear end from the ground. Will this damage my front end? I have a 4 wheel drive. The distance from my residence to the dealership is approx. 20 miles... . I called the dealership, service manager said if it was damaged I have to pay for the repair..... Their mechanic will take a look at the front end and will give me a call.



I'm loosing confidence driving this truck. Anyone looking for a used truck? I'm asking $38K... .
 
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If you live in Kalifornia, you can just put up a no smoking sign and that will fix the problem.



:)



If the Chrysler emergency tow truck damaged your truck, Chrysler should pay for it!!!!
 
Update 2

I called the dealership today. Service adviser said, the instrument cluster is burnt. I told her that this is the second time that it will be replaced. I also informed her that their dealership replaced the first one. ... . I was without a truck for 13 days..... When I asked for filing for lemon law, I was accused of having a programmer being used in the truck. I was upset because I didn't have one but I guess it is a typical practice @ &%*##$ dealership nowadays when something goes wrong that they could not explained. I then contacted an attorney to start a lemon law paperwork. I also contacted Chrysler customer service. I was told someone will be contacting me... ... :mad:
 
Sorry about your (repeated) troubles. That just sucks.

I'm curious, was the first replacement due to something similar? I guess I'm wondering if something else could be causing the problem. (like in the wiring, or other computer module, etc. ) Be a tough one to track down.

Best of luck with it.
 
The first replacement was the result of dome light not working at all. They also found a short circuit on the overhead console..... I was also told that the new replacement instrument cluster has to be sent out to DC because the mileage has to be re-programmed to the current mileage that is why it took 13 days for me to get the truck back.
 
I would be asking about HOW they fixed the first overhead, or did they rep;ace it at the same time they replaced the instrument cluster? It would seem to me that the dealership should be able to program the mileage or have it programmed the same day it is shipped, that sound odd, but then again, so many things they do are odd it may just be normal. I hope you don't have a 2 week wait this time, they should provide you with a loner car since you are at a point of a two-time problem.



Have box/programmer - that seems to just be their standard catch-all for whatever might be an issue. Sorry excuse if you ask me, why don't they just get something right straight out of the factory, and then if something does creep into the warranty picture, especially something like this the second time, get it fixed once and for all. Ask them if they ever heard of overnight delivery? I suppose they would want to pass that expense your way too. As far as the tow truck, if THEY ordered it, it's THEIR problem. I have always requested a flatbed when having something towed, especially a 4x4.



There was a fellow whose truck went up in flames, maybe this was his issue also. I don't recall him being back to tell his final story. He had very low mileage if I recall correctly. In any event, they NEED to take care of you with some respect. You are the one who has the investment, not them. Their only investment after the sale seems to be to chastise people regarding getting anything done under THEIR warranty, must also be by their rules, but they change them every day.



I find it hard to believe that they think a programmer plugs into the instrument cluster, gives a really poor idea in my mind of what else kind of stupidity they have regarding other add-ons, eh? I got a lot of static about my gauges from them too, my only reply to them was if they offered correct monitoring instrumentation I would have not had to have installed them. At minimum they could have offered them as an option.



CD
 
Was your truck made in US or Mexico? My truck is from Mexico with 26K and so far the only problem has been the air conditioning.
 
It is made in Mexico. It also has a sticker @ the driver side window that my truck went to a "Quality Control" test. Bought the truck brand new from Elkin, North Carolina..... I guess they perform the "Quality Control" check on a Friday. Hopefully the dealer fix my truck correctly this time around. Hate to have a truck that might catch on fire..... What does a programmer does anyway? The service writer accused me of having one... ... How do I find out if the factory in Mexico used a programmer to build my truck.....
 
A programmer remaps the boost, timing or rail pressure maps in the ECM. The only thing it does to the gauge cluster is make the needles move faster ;)
 
I would be asking about HOW they fixed the first overhead, or did they rep;ace it at the same time they replaced the instrument cluster? It would seem to me that the dealership should be able to program the mileage or have it programmed the same day it is shipped, that sound odd, but then again, so many things they do are odd it may just be normal. I hope you don't have a 2 week wait this time, they should provide you with a loner car since you are at a point of a two-time problem.

. As far as the tow truck, if THEY ordered it, it's THEIR problem. I have always requested a flatbed when having something towed, especially a 4x4.



CD



The dealerships can not program the cluster's mileage... ... its a big brother thing. Normal turn around time is 72 hours for anything ordered function 11 sometime quicker,but that ugly word backorder pops up from time to time.

A flatbed is always the best way to go if you must use the hook:) The tow company is the liable party if they improperly towed the vehicle.



Bob
 
A programmer remaps the boost, timing or rail pressure maps in the ECM. The only thing it does to the gauge cluster is make the needles move faster ;)



I remember when I had a 2003 Ford F250 and I had a bell housing leak they also ask me if I had a programmer? But when I take my Toyota Sequiao, Camry, and Avalon for repair none of the service managers accused me of having a programmer? They just go ahead and fixed the problem... ...



I got rid of the Ford because dealer couldn't figure out where the leaks coming from they just keep changing the engine/transmission gaskets.....
 
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The dealerships can not program the cluster's mileage... ... its a big brother thing. Normal turn around time is 72 hours for anything ordered function 11 sometime quicker,but that ugly word backorder pops up from time to time.

A flatbed is always the best way to go if you must use the hook The tow company is the liable party if they improperly towed the vehicle.



Bob

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You're right ! DC has to program the new instrument cluster... Called the dealer yesterday, truck is not ready yet... She said maybe Friday... and it will take about three (3) hours to install. I hope this 3rd one will not smoke out just like the other two. I'm out of transportation for seven days now... . Total of 20 days since I owned this truck.
 
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update 2

It is Wednesday, truck still @ the dealership. It has been ten (10) days without a truck, and no loaner... vehicle called DC for a loaner, no hlp at all.
 
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I am not certain how Warranty repair works dealer to dealer but if you want, send me a PM and I will send you the name of a mechanic at Kernersville Dodge in NC that is on the up and up based on my 400K miles experience with him. I had a computer fry on my 1998 which he had to fully rewire and he had it done in about two days. Whenever I have anything besides an oil change done, that is where I take it. If you have AAA, it is under 100 miles so they may be able to cover getting it towed out of there!
 
update: Picked-up the truck today

Picked up the truck today. Everything is working now (no smoke) , except the power adjustable pedal doesn't work anymore... ... Checked all fuses, no blown fuse @ the panel... I guess another appointment to the dealer. I also checked the correct way of using the adj power pedal as per owner's manual. :confused:
 
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