2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission 2001 Dash Not Working Issues....

[Hammer]

I have a friend who has a 2001 Quad 4x4 automatic with an a issue we can have not been able to solve. I have searched here and on Google and found many different ideas and yet can not get him the help he needs to solve it. So I will post it here for our collective minds to banter on and see if we can get him on the right path.



At any rate,his truck has now had the entire dash assembly quit working. No gauges at all and it will not show any codes. The truck does still drive as normal,does charge(it was checked by an external gauge) and will shift the automatic like its supposed to. Overdrive and lockup does still work even though the speedo and tach do not. All of the warning lights are also on in the dash assembly when it does this. The odometer will flash when you turn the truck on and when its done flashing it shows "No Bus" in the view.



I have searched here and come up with little or no help so any ideas gang on what we are missing here??????. Any help or ideas are greatly appreciated... ... . Thanks... ... Andy

 

[JLandry]

Andy,



The gauges on the instrument cluster are driven by a computer (in the instrument cluster), which gets its information from the truck's communication network. Some of the warning lights on the instrument panel are powered directly from other sources and not the instrument cluster's on-board computer.



Has he checked the connectors on the back of the instrument cluster? Maybe he should just unplug and replug them back in to make sure all the pins are getting good contact.



Now I'm going from memory here again because I don't have the Dodge service manuals with me, but I believe if you push and hold the trip reset button while turning the ignition key to run (but not start the engine), the instrument cluster will enter a self-test mode. Once the test starts the trip reset button can be released. During this test each gauge needle will swing through it's full range and the odometer window will have all of its segments tested. I think there may be an indication in the odometer window when the test completes successfully.



If the instrument cluster passes this test, then you know it's fine and it must be some sort of communication issue with the truck's network. From there I would have to check the service manual to see how you go about troubleshooting a communication problem.



If the instrument cluster fails to enter or pass a self-test, then it's either not getting power or the on-board computer is toast.



Regards,



John L.

 

[JLandry]

Andy,



I cracked open the Dodge service manual last night, and the instrument cluster has its own chapter with 37 pages covering the theory, operation, testing, and diagnosis!



Some quick and dirty suggestions:



Check fuse No. 14 in the Junction Block (fuse panel on the driver's side of dash).



Check fuse No. 17 in the Junction Block.



Perform the instrument cluster self-test (push and hold trip reset button while turning ignition switch to run until self test starts - don't start engine). Once the self-test completes, if a failure is detected a code will appear in the odometer window. Codes are explained in the Dodge service manual, but if you don't have a service manual and post it here I can tell you what it means.



If the fuses are fine and the self-test is fine, the next step would likely be to start trouble shooting the communication network.



Regards,



John L.