Trip Computer going haywire!

[DEZLPWR]

Has anyone else had problems with their overhead travel computer? My trip odometer always reads 0. 0mi and never moves from that. My compass setting stays on "S"/180 no matter what direction I am travelling. How can I fix these annoying problems? If I take it to the dealer, I am sure that they will tell me that I need a new computer and will probably want to charge me $500 minimum. The compass is less important, but I would really like to get the trip odometer working. All of the other functions of the computer seem to be working just fine.

My '99 has 73,000mi on it so the bumper to bumper warranty is long gone.

 

[Archive]

SCooke. . have you tried recalibrating it? Look in your owners manual and it will explain it. You will need a big parking lot. Its a lot to type, if you don't have a manual let me know and I will post it.

 

[EMDDIESEL]

Mine was acting wierd when i got my truck, then as Rob said, i found a section in the owners manual that tells you how to calibrate it. Basically you drive around in circles in a parking lot that is not near any power lines or large metal objects and hope the cops dont pull you over under suspicion of DUI.

 

[DEZLPWR]

My owner's manual should be here any day... . I had to order one because I bought the truck used and it didn't come with one.

When you say that I need to recalibrate it, are you referring to the compass, the trip odometer, or both?

 

[Shovelhead]

The info should be in the owner's manual in the glove box.

(unless your truck had a previous owner, maybe?)

 

[DEZLPWR]

Oh... . Is that why underneath the "S" on the compass it has the letters "CAL"?

The trip odometer can't be calibrated can it?

Hopefully my owner's manual will arrive today!

 

[Steven]

self test

My trip odometer is also stuck on 0. 0 and will not move.



There is a self-test that you can run on the computer. With the ignition turned off, press both buttons (as if you are resetting). Keep holding them down and turn the ignition on. This will initiate the test.

 

[JGabl]

used...

Does anybody have one of these they want to sell or know of anybody that does... . Mine didn't come with it (used) and I'm envious ...

 

[46mech]

If you can get your hands on the service manual for your truck (it can be ordered from D/C) it may give you more specific info how to correct your problems. I don't know about your trip meter, but the compass may need to be demagnetized. At least that's what my service manual says. I too was thinking I had to replace the whole console because, of course, the Dodge service rep didn't tell me they could just do that procedure.

 

[SLVRBLT]

SCooke-

My close friend owns a 99 and had the exact same problems. He repeatedly tried to calibrate the compass to no avail. He made so many circles in my front yard trying to calibrate it the neighbors thought he was drunk, crazy or both. His trip odometer also would go crazy from time to time. The dealer replaced the trip computer under warranty so I can't help out with the cost. You might try contacting a few dealers and see what the cost would be? Hope this helps.

Dave