Hi

I have a problem with the "clock" and "temperature" under the speedometer which both are illuminated/partly flashing at times when the car (and lights) is off and locked.

Problem is that this twice have drained my battery! - I went to my garage which said the entire speedometer had to be switched - which means €1100/$1600 + labour !!!!!!

Can this really be true ? - have anyone experienced similar problems and effectively solved it ?

Any ideas ?

Thanks in advance

 

Electrical problems like you describe are tough to diagnose. Replacing the Instrument panel seems extreme and unwarranted at this time. Why not start by replacing the instrument dimmer switch and/or the headlamp switch. If you are lucky, the new parts can be returned if not needed, but at least you have eliminated one likely culprit IMO.

 

I just had the same problem last weekend. All the LCD dash readings stayed on when the car was off. The key was out of the ignition and the doors closed. The top was down and I could see the listed items as on. I opened the door, put the key in, turned it to on (not running) and back off. This did shut them down but it did worry me that it could have drained my battery overnight.

 

Thanks for the feedback. I have discused this issue in details with my garage (official Chrysler dealership and garage) They say they can't source any special parts besides the entire instrument panel - beeing one part!

They and certainly I don't know anyone specialized in repairing car electronics. So forgive for asking as a technical rookie :
-what exactly is the instrument dimmer, and where is it located ?
-headlamp switch , also what and where ?


BTW; I tried the procedure suggested by Sixsooter several times, unfortunately unsuccessful ;(

Any good suggestions ?

Thanks

 

Illuminated partly flashing, what do you mean, is the light on/flashing or is it the LCD /flashing that you can see. I did not understand what you meant so I ignored the thread initially. I doubt these LCD's would drain a good battery in a year. The bulb would in a few days or so. LCD's can run on Mickey Mouse solar cells so they are not exactly overwhelming for our batteries which have parasitic losses all the time.
A later poster says they have the LCD on when the key is out and the doors shut, mine stay on for about 2 minutes after closing the door with the key out. Opening the door switches the LCD's on and turning the key on to off does not turn off the LCD's, they switch of later as I said. He never mentioned the LCD's turning of later, maybe he never noticed.

 

I'll try to be a little more clear, which hopefully will help

It is the background of the two LCD displays which is lit. Everything else is off, no lights in the car, and the car it self being locked. The readings in the displays (temperature and time) isn't shown either, it turns off after a short while when the car is locks. This probably at the same time when the background lights are supposed to turn off as well.

The thing with the "partly flashing" is that the background lights doesn't seems to be stable all the time! From time to time there deviations in the strength/degree of the illumination.

Just in case i have included a small picture, hope this makes it clearer!

Any ideas how to solve this problem ?

 

I am only guessing but I assume that the instrument cluster illumination bulbs would all be on the same circuit. The wiring for this I assume to be a printed circuit board. If some bulbs are on then they would have to get the power from some source other than that which powers the other bulbs which are off. So I would assume there is some intermittent short circuit to another power source, why it would not the light the others on the same circuit escapes me. Maybe they are separate somehow.
If it was me I would take out the instrument cluster and look at the back of it. If you can remove the steering wheel, the instrument cluster looks easy to remove, but its easy for me to say. If you cannot find a problem the simple solution is to take out the bulbs while you are there. You can test the cluster when it is unscrewed but plugged in. No fix, no bulb.