94 caravan 2.5 instrument panel works when the van is warmed up

[94caravanblues]

I have a 94 dodge caravan 2.5 and for some strange reason the instrument panel comes on after driving the van around for a little bit. I have taken the instrument panel out and have checked for any loose plugs or wires.Everthing seems in place ,when they finally come on they stay on. As soon as the van is parked again and gets cold they wont come back on .I deal with this everyday ..Im use to it already but would love to figure out this problem..Can anyone help?

[tempfixit]

Did you look at the solder joints when you had the instrument panel out. These solder joints seem to fail in these and just by heating up the solder usually solves all of the instrument panel problems.

Do you have any driveability problems when panel doesn't work?

[RIP]

I'll say your saying the instruments and back lighting don't work until the van warms, correct? Could be any number of things but, the first thing that comes to mind after connections is solder joints. Generation 3 vans (96-00) and some gen 4s are prone to cracked solder joints on the instrument cluster circuit board creating stalling, starting and erratic instrument problems. Specifically the solder joints connecting the connector you connect the wire harness to.

Try smacking the dash above the cluster. If the instruments come alive it indicates bad solder joints. Even if they don't come alive, the joints could still be the issue. Since it's temp related you could try warming the cluster with a hair dryer and see if it makes any difference. You could try the same with the Body Control Module (BCM). Not sure on gen 2 vans but, the BCM controls the instruments on gen 3 vans and up. Could also pull the IOD fuse for 2-3 minutes to reset the BCM.

Don't forget to disconnect the battery anytime you fish around behind the dash. This disables the airbags if equipped.

Looks like tempfixit and I had a simultanious same thought. There's a picture of what we're talking about in this thread: http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbul...d.php?t=480027

[jpb53]

Cluster is connected to BCM on the bus. Here are the wire inputs and colors to the cluster. Pink is battery feed from IOD fuse same wire feeds BCM. ORG/DK BLUE tracer from BCM; purpose decode lo inst cluster.LT BLUE from BCM; purpose decode hi inst cluster.Orange is for cluster illumination. Black with light green tracer and black with orange tracer are grounds. Grey is hard wired from oil pressure switch or sending unit.Dark blue with yellow tracer is ignition feed run /start. Violet with brown tracer is BUSS plus and violet with brown tracer is BUSS neg.

[94caravanblues]

Originally Posted by tempfixit

Did you look at the solder joints when you had the instrument panel out. These solder joints seem to fail in these and just by heating up the solder usually solves all of the instrument panel problems.

Do you have any driveability problems when panel doesn't work?

NO problems other than the dash lights and interior lights both seem to come on together when warm and cut off together again once the van is cold. Thanks for responding.

[94caravanblues]

Originally Posted by RIP

I'll say your saying the instruments and back lighting don't work until the van warms, correct? Could be any number of things but, the first thing that comes to mind after connections is solder joints. Generation 3 vans (96-00) and some gen 4s are prone to cracked solder joints on the instrument cluster circuit board creating stalling, starting and erratic instrument problems. Specifically the solder joints connecting the connector you connect the wire harness to.

Try smacking the dash above the cluster. If the instruments come alive it indicates bad solder joints. Even if they don't come alive, the joints could still be the issue. Since it's temp related you could try warming the cluster with a hair dryer and see if it makes any difference. You could try the same with the Body Control Module (BCM). Not sure on gen 2 vans but, the BCM controls the instruments on gen 3 vans and up. Could also pull the IOD fuse for 2-3 minutes to reset the BCM.

Don't forget to disconnect the battery anytime you fish around behind the dash. This disables the airbags if equipped.

Looks like tempfixit and I had a simultanious same thought. There's a picture of what we're talking about in this thread: http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbul...d.php?t=480027

Will do -I dont think it has that bcm that you mentioned or even an iod fuse but that picture explains alot so I will try looking into the soldering part. Thank you

[94caravanblues]

Originally Posted by jpb53

Cluster is connected to BCM on the bus. Here are the wire inputs and colors to the cluster. Pink is battery feed from IOD fuse same wire feeds BCM. ORG/DK BLUE tracer from BCM; purpose decode lo inst cluster.LT BLUE from BCM; purpose decode hi inst cluster.Orange is for cluster illumination. Black with light green tracer and black with orange tracer are grounds. Grey is hard wired from oil pressure switch or sending unit.Dark blue with yellow tracer is ignition feed run /start. Violet with brown tracer is BUSS plus and violet with brown tracer is BUSS neg.

Where would this bcm be located at? Does the 94 carry that part ?

[jpb53]

BCM is just to the left of the center console behind the knee bolster.

[94caravanblues]

I wanna thank everyone that responded to my post on my problem with my 94 dodoge caravan,concerning the instrument panel .I took apart the instrument panel -checked all the soldering on the circuit board and no signs of cracked or loose soldering connections. I looked for a loose wire, plug or ground and found everything in place..I even checked the bcm box if thats what it is called and dont see anything loose ...Know if i tap on the bottom of the dash or the side -I can get them to come on sometimes -but only when the car is restarted-they never come on while im driving,which leaves me to believe that if it were some type of loose cable ,ground or plug they should turn while im driving correct? Lets say i hit a bump or pot hole the gauges never come on. But if i drive the car around a while they come and stay on ...Does anyone think it could be one those relays on that bcm box thats bad and if so which one?

[RIP]

The BCM is a solid state module with no "mechanical" relays. That doesn't mean there couldn't be a loose connection in the internal circuits. Same for the cluster itself.

The instrument cluster appears to have two power sources. One is from 10 amp fuse #15 on the fuse panel under the dash. It connects to the cluster at contact # 11 and uses a dark blue with yellow striped wire. The other is the 15 amp IOD fuse in the engine compartment fuse panel (PDC). It uses a pink wire. There's no contact # shown at the instrument cluster. Could be losing one of these power sources.

When the cluster is dead is anything else dead like the radio, door locks, etc.? Is the cluster back lighting dead? Not sure this works on your van but try an instrument cluster self test by pushing the trip odometer buttons for a good 5 seconds with the key on. The instruments should cycle. When the cluster dies, try the IOD fuse BCM reset.

A BCM would be your last resort. You won't get a new one. It will be a rebuilt BCM and cost around $250-$300. $500 from the dealer. You could try a junkyard but, finding the exact part # BCM on a gen 2 van would be miraculous. They'd charge $50.