2002 Dodge Ram Instament panel

DONALDMCDAID

MEMBER
2002 DODGE RAM
V8
4WD
AUTOMATIC
126,000 MILES

I recently had to change my ignition coil. Two days later I was driving to work, I looked down and none of my gauges were working. I also have no horn, turn signals, windsheild wipers or power door locks. The headlights are now on all the time, I can't turn them off. The radio and heater/air cond. Are working fine. The only light I can see on my instrument panel is the little red light that blinks when the alarm is armed. But it is on all the time, solid red. The engine starts and runs just nothing on the dash works except the radio and hearer.

3 Replies

MERLIN2021

MECHANIC
17,250 POSTS

All where working before the coil replacement? Make sure you didn't disturb any grounds on the engine. Then check all fuses under the hood and in the car. I don't think you could have killed the instrument cluster by changing a coil, but you never know! I still believe it's a wire or connector you unknowingly leaned on.

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Thursday, August 12th, 2010 AT 1:32 PM

DONALDMCDAID

MEMBER
2 POSTS

Everything was working fine before the coil change. I drove the truck for two days after also. Then all of the sudden, Everything went dead. I have been searching all over the internet for information. All I have found has been "check the ground wires and fuses". All the fuses are good. I had the dash apart and instrument panel out of the truck. I was told there are 4 grounds and 4 ignition power sources. That is exactly what I found. Is there any way to tell if the cluster itself is bad? I removed, cleaned and tested every grounding point I could find. Even on the engine where I was working for the coil. Have you ever seen anything like this?

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Thursday, August 12th, 2010 AT 1:47 PM

MERLIN2021

MECHANIC
17,250 POSTS

If you have power at the cluster connector, and a good ground, get out a magnifying glass, inspect the pins on the cluster itself, I have seen some loosen up on the board. Some will wiggle, some may spin. Re-solder loose ones. If you still cant find anything, It may require a garage trip to have the B and U codes read. It will pinpoint the problem for you. But try the inspection first, scan tools a dumb, they only read codes, and can't find loose solder points!

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