# Dead Instrument Cluster **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [September 5, 2011, 1:28pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/dead-instrument-cluster/67660 "2011-09-05T13:28:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![cpb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/db5fbb/32.png) [@cpb](https://community.cartalk.com/u/cpb)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2011, 1:28pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/dead-instrument-cluster/67660/1 "2011-09-05T13:28:59Z")
1994 Dodge Caravan, 3.0 V6, auto trans., cluster contains tachometer. Many months ago the gauges and speedometer would occasionally go dead for a second or two then come back to life as I drove. Over time this problem got worse (more frequent). I cleaned the body at every ground connection I could find, no help. Recently the entire cluster died for good. Only a red “check gauges” light. Although during start up the usual air bag, and other idiot lights do all light as expected. All fuses are good. So I bought another cluster at a junk yard. Still dead. All connectors look ok with no broken wires. Any ideas? ---
**Author:** ![SteveF](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/stevef/32/2_2.png) [@SteveF](https://community.cartalk.com/u/SteveF)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2011, 3:02pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/dead-instrument-cluster/67660/2 "2011-09-05T15:02:28Z")
We’ve had this problem many times here. All Chrysler products of that era eventually fall victim to this ailment – soldering breaks – a result of the cheap cold soldering method that Chrysler used back then on its printed circuits. The mechanic’s solution would be to replace with a new cluster. This is costly. But many owners choose to make their own repairs, which is not too difficult. Here’s a video of how it’s done: ---
**Author:** ![Nevada\_545](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nevada_545/32/41232_2.png) [@Nevada\_545](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Nevada_545)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2011, 1:53am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/dead-instrument-cluster/67660/3 "2011-09-06T01:53:51Z")
The instrument cluster gauges are driven by the body computer on the Caravan/Voyager. Try unplugging and reconnecting the body computer (to the left of the steering column), it may start working for a while. I have replaced about 20 body computers on AS bodys, never the instrument cluster.