Gauges ticking/moving when key is turned off?

AARONMAYHEM

MEMBER
1999 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY
6 CYL
2WD
AUTOMATIC
198,000 MILES

When the key is turned to the off position the gauges will "tick" and jump around a little. Just barely tapping their posts.

So far, I have replaced the ignition switch and I have soldered the connectors on the back of the instrument cluster. I have cleaned the battery terminals even though they are fairly clean anyways. I even tried connecting a jumper cable to the negative and grounding it on different bolts in the engine.

I honestly don't know what to test or try next with this.

8 Replies

KASEKENNY

MECHANIC
18,907 POSTS

Can you get a recording of this? I am pretty sure I know what you are seeing and it is normally caused by a weak battery or poor connection.

If you have cleaned and tightened the terminals then I would get the battery load tested and see what comes back. Here is a guide that will help with this:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/car-battery-load-test

If this is not it then we may have a ground issue on the cluster itself but I think replacing the battery will solve this.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-replace-a-car-battery

Let us know and we can go from there. Thanks

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Monday, February 1st, 2021 AT 6:58 PM

AARONMAYHEM

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I will go get a load test today.

If it is a ground issue. How would I test that? Maybe it would be easier to test it before trying to get it up to get load tested.

Here is the video. And no, the numbers don't look like they are flashing like that when not on video.

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Tuesday, February 2nd, 2021 AT 1:49 AM

KASEKENNY

MECHANIC
18,907 POSTS

Yep. I have seen that a number of times and it is normally a battery issue. The way to test the ground is we will need to do what is called a voltage drop or a resistance reading. They are not overly complicated but I would start with the battery test because I would be surprised if it passes.

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Tuesday, February 2nd, 2021 AT 6:20 PM

1969ANDY

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7 POSTS

Does anyone know what is causing this issue? I just had a new ignition barrel and started installed. This wasn't happening before. Tia Andy

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Thursday, September 22nd, 2022 AT 2:53 AM

1969ANDY

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7 POSTS

Does anyone know what is causing this issue, just had a new ignition barrel and started fitted, this wasn't happening before Tia Andy

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Thursday, September 22nd, 2022 AT 2:55 AM

KEN L

MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
42,920 POSTS

So, that is not you trying to crank the engine over? Is the battery in good condition fully charged? It looks like it is low voltage.

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Thursday, September 22nd, 2022 AT 12:20 PM

1969ANDY

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7 POSTS

No, it's not me trying to crank it, the keys were not even in the van.

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Thursday, September 22nd, 2022 AT 1:20 PM

KEN L

MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
42,920 POSTS

It looks like the BCM was gone out. here is its location and how to replace it in the images below. We should do a CAN scan first though to make sure it is not the cluster as well. Also, let's recheck the work that was done, maybe a ground wire has been left off. You can get a CAN scanner (Controller Area Network) from Amazon for about $36.00.

Here is a video to show you how:

https://youtu.be/u-4syLc-ifQ

Here is a scanner link:

https://amzn.to/3o41KcZ

Check out the images (below). Please let us know what happens.

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