maxpower wrote:

> You really don't know what you are doing and could be causing
> more problems for the person that is going to end up working
> on it after you soldered and disconnected things.

I called the service dept at a Dodge dealership and described the
problem. The guy said that something is messing up the data bus and
the only way to diagnose it is to unplug the various modules on the
bus.

He thinks it's probably the cluster itself -> but would that explain
the CCD message on the overhead console? Or the fact that initially
the engine would crank but wouldn't start?

Unless I'm wrong, CCD stands for "Chrysler Collision Detection" and is
the data bus system used by the airbag and the anti-lock brake
systems. Is the overhead console connected to those systems via the
cluster, or around (bypassing) the cluster?

> As I said before if you have a total bus loss it may be caused
> by the PCM which would be covered under the 8/80 warranty.

The glove-box owners manual says to check a smaller booklet for
warrany information.

The smaller warranty booklet (2001 Canadian Warranties and roadside
assistance) says that everything except tires is covered by a 3-year,
60,000 km warranty. If it has a diesel engine (which it does not)
then some engine parts are covered by a 5 year, 160,000 km warranty.

Outer body panels are covered against corrosion for 5 years/160k. The
booklet goes on to say that for cars and light-duty trucks, the
"defect warranty" covers the following major emission-control parts
for 8 years or 130,000 km: Catalytic convertor, Powertrain control
module.

A small half-page flyer (Five Star Protection - 5/100 coverage for
2001 models - Powertrain components - roadside assistance) lists items
that are covered after the initial 3/60 warranty ends. These items
are many engine parts (no electronic parts), transmission (including
TCM), front and/or rear drive parts, and roadside assistance.

So the short answer is that unless this is a PCM problem, it *may* be
covered on the basis that the PCM might be defective from an
emmission-control point of view, and the 8-year warranty for that
aspect hasn't yet expired. But by all indications all other
electronic parts or wiring problems are no longer covered (the 5-year
point would have been reached this past March or April).

According to a Chrysler parts dept guy, a PCM costs $1050 (CDN) which
is equivalent to around $850 - $900 USD.

You mentioned earlier to check connector C130. When looking at the
circuit diagrams in the Haynes manual, I can't see anything labeled as
C130. I can see a C129 and C133 (I think C133 is the big connector
under the dash) and C131 (fender-mounted Daytime running lights
module).

The manual is wrong in that it shows all guages and indicator lights
as having direct connections to the two cluster connectors (C215 and
C216) but other than the high-beam lamps, the general illumination
lamps and maybe the seat-belt and parking-brake lamps, everything else
is driven by the electronics on the cluster circuit board. The manual
shows that C215 and C216 are 14 pin connectors, while in reality on my
cluster they're 10 pin each.

I am getting 12 volts at those connectors, and also getting a lower
voltage (10 and 11?) on a couple of other pins. Where can I get the
real pin-out for the cluster connectors?

If the problem is in the air-bag control unit, then is that covered
under any non-specified warranty?