The Chrysler Minivan Fan Club Forums banner

Turn Signals don't work and cause dash lights and gauges to quit working

46K views 9 replies 8 participants last post by  fbab661 
#1 ·
My battery on my 2002 Chrysler T&C LX 3.3L was 4 years old and died. I put in a new one and then noticed my turn signals didn't work. While switching down turn signal lever down/left or up/right, the dash lights will turn off and the gauges quit working. When I put the turn signal lever to the middle, the gauges come back on as well as the dash lights. Also, the l.e.d. lights for the odometer and trip meter are dimmer than they used to be. All outside lights work except the turn signals. No bulbs are burned out as I can see. When I put on the turn signal while engine is off and key is in "on" position, I can hear the slight clicking of the relay and see the turn signal lights blink but dimmer than usual but while this is happening, the gauges go dead and the gauges lights go off. Anyone else have this problem and hopefully an answer to a fix?
Thanks
 
#2 ·
This should be sticky:

Many instrument panel/dash cluster problems (the speedomter pegged backwards for example) can be cleared by using the reset/check function:

Open the door, get in and (without turning the key or turning on the interior lights - in other words, do nothing). Reach through the steering wheel and press the odometer button. Advance until it displays "trip".

When it gets to "trip" hold it in for about 20- sometimes 30 seconds.

If it is already on trip just hold it in (20-30 secs).

While holding it in, at some point the odometer will display Sof.* (it doesn't matter), and the system will begin to self check/reset/calibrate itself. Let go of the button and sit back.

For about 30-45 seconds, many strange things will happen. Every light will illuminate /flash and the gauges will stroke from top to bottom. Just watch as it goes through the process.

Do not be alarmed; this is normal.

With any luck when the cycle is complete the cluster will be OK.
 
#3 ·
This same thing happened to me last week. I replaced the battery in my 2001, however when I went to use my tun signal everything went out. I had someone flip the relay switch and everything came back on. Until I turned on the turn signal again. The turn signals don't work and there are no lights or anything working on the panel. I can't even see if I am in drive or not. When I tried to hold down the odometer button nothing happens.
 
#4 ·
Thanks for your response Chengny,

I tried that and it did a 3 second "test" as gauge lights flashed once and now not only did that not work but I hear a slight "electronic buzzing" when I first turn on the key after trying your suggested. Any other suggestions?
This seems weird because the battery died. I did put an overnight trickle charge on the old battery and drove the van to get a new battery. It now starts fine with the new battery but still no outside flashers or turn signals. The dash turn signal lights do flash but appear dimmed when turn signals are applied with the analog gauges dropping to zero and gauge lights going off. Again, thank you for any help you can offer.
 
#5 ·
I finally figured it out how to get the turn signals and flashers to work after further research... Thank you Chengny... I didn't hold down the trip set button long enough after seeing the 5of.xx on the odometer l.e.d. So, here's how I finally got the turn signals to work again...
1. Get in van, close the door.
2. Hold down the trip set button for at least 30 seconds, even after you see 5of and 2 other numbers, i.e. 01, 02, 03, 04 or 05. Then let go and do nothing else.
3. As shown in Chengny's post, you will see about a 40 second series of tests, gauges going up and down and dash lights, warning lights etc flashing.
4. When that stops, turn off key.
5. Unplug the negative battery cable for at least 5 minutes
6. Reconnect the neg. battery cable
7. start the engine for a few seconds and turn off.
8. push the emergency flashers button and leave it on for a couple minutes
9. slowly the outside flashers got brighter and started to work as well as each turn signal
The computer had to reset I guess, everything is now working again!
Lots of work after simply replacing a battery!! Good luck!!
 
#8 ·
Hi, my 2001 chrysler minivan- voyager, same like town and country has the same problem, gauges gone after left right signals, I left the car with a friend for 8 months so he would maintain it but eventually he did not and found he killed the old battery and purchased new battery.
I replaced the whole instrument panel per the chrysler dealer tech recommendation in Houston, the new one worked right away but couple days later got the same problem. I spent lot of money on this in Texas and seems like big techs here have no idea what is going on, I feel have no courage to visit a mechanic again for this problem, i am driving without signal and without gauges!!!! Please help
 
#9 ·
First rough guess would be a dead short in the Multi-Finction Switch unit - the one for the turn signals and wipers - that's taking down the the signal from the BCM to the instrument cluster.
 
#10 ·
Here are other things to try.

I had the same dead cluster after changing a battery in my 01 grand caravan.

I have a friend who is a mechanic at a Dodge dealership. I called him and he gave me these things to try first.

1) disconnect both battery terminals and touch the cable ends together for a few seconds. (This worked for me!!)

If that doesn't work reconnect battery and

2) find your control module (it is in the cab on the firewall up under the drivers side dash), unplug both connectors, Turn key to on(don't start engine) and plug in both connectors at the same time.

If neither of these things work, you have to replace the module.
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top