Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) instrument cluster

[wrichards]

My Tach, oil press, and temp guage are not working. The dealear told me it was that the plug on the female side of the connector to the cluster was fatigued from diesel vibration and they could fix it for $3000 with a new harness. I have tried several fixes including slightly bending the male tabs to make better contact and also placeing flat pieces of solder in the connections. Each time I fix it it stops working almost exaclty five days later. Could there be a computer problem ie a problem with the signal and not the connection?

 

[jmy]

If your problem is on your 2002 truck you can test your dash as follows;

Press and hold the odometer reset then turn the key on. When CHEC shows in the odometer release the odometer reset. A diagnostic self test will be run by the dashboard computer. All lights, gauges, tach and speedo will be tested and all should move several times. If everything completes OK and your Tach, oil press, and temp guage work on this test but don't work during normal operation then may have a harness or connector problem.

 

[obert]

That test also works on the 98. If the harness connection is the problem, and there isn't damage to the dash connection, you dont really need to replace the harness. You should be able to dig up some new pins/sockets for the connetion. At work we have them on a pigtail of wire so you can cut off the old and solder in a new piece, that way you dont loose any length of harness. Especially handy when only repairing one or a few wires on a connection of many.

 

[wrichards]

thanks Ill check today. Could you send me a pigtail? Dealer says they can't get them. OK checked them all work fine with the test. Now what? Can someone get me the pigtails and which wires are for tach,temp and oil?

 

[obert]

I dont remember what that plug looks like. There are many kinds of connector bodies and terminals. We use a few variaties of weatherpak and duetz.

 

[obert]

I poked around a bit and found:



Happy Terminals



They have quite a selection of weatherpak and metripack, but terminals come in units of 100. For $35 bucks, though, I guess that means you can screw up a whole bunch and still be OK



If I get to the shop tomorrow I'll see what's laying around, and where we get those handy little pigtails... .

 

[ACoyle]

There is a TSB for that connector.



AC

 

[ROADWARRIOR]

Look here: http://dodgeram.info/tsb/2000/08-05-00.htm



Dan

 

[wrichards]

thanks guage test checks out ok. I'll check out those sites.

 

[wrichards]

I bought the terminals let you know how it works out, if anybody else needs them let me know.