What is wrong with a 1997 Chrysler Sebring when the odometer and RPM gauge stop working?

Answer

The speed sensor on the trans probably is bad

• • Before Carrying out any of the following procedures, Ensure that the battery is in good condition and has a very good voltage because there have been cases of the RPM gauge and the odometer display not working because of a bad battery. Another note, Your car WILL still record kilometers/miles even if the display does not work**

Answer

Actually my girl's car had this same issue what it ended up being was the solder joint on the printed circuit board of the instrument cluster. Only way I found out was to remove the actual cluster. Remove the back of the cluster to access to soldered joints and should be markings of RPM at a soldered joint on the green circuit board. I found the solder joint burnt and broken causing an open circuit. resolder that joint and good to go repair was done about 45k miles ago still going. Also the prndl illumination would go out as well so would have to manually check the shift knob to find d. GOOD LUCK

Answer 2

Here are step by step instructions to make the repair. I found this on another site and it worked perfect. I would like to share it with everyone that needs it.

Instructions to repair a non-functional odometer and tachometer on a Chrysler Sebring

Total time to fix is under 2 hours if you are comfortable with using a soldering pen and disassembly of interior components.

1. Disconnect the negative battery terminal

2. Remove the trim around the radio and temperature controls. This just pops out, being held by four clips.

3. Remove the fuse cover on the left end of dash.

4. Remove one (1) dash cover screw from inside fuse area

5. Remove four (4) dash cover screws from the radio and temp control area. There are two on each side.

6. Lower the steering wheel to the lowest position

7. Remove the dash cover by pulling straight out. There are four (4) clips that must be carefully disengaged. I found that when pulling the cover straight towards me while sitting in the driver's seat, the clips disengaged very easily. (Note: if your car is equipped with the temp/directional computer you will need to pull the dash cover away about 2-4 inches. Then reach up through the radio/temp control area and disconnect the plug that attaches to the temp/directional computer). Set dash cover aside, being careful not to scratch it.

8. Remove the instrument cluster by removing four (4) screws (two on top and bottom). Now pull straight out on the instrument cluster.

9. Disconnect the two plugs on the backside of the instrument cluster.

10. Remove wiring from the instrument cluster. The wiring harness is covered by a foam-covered piece of tape. I cut this, and re-taped with electrical tape upon reassembly. You might be inclined to try and pull the tab holding the wiring harness out of the instrument cluster--my advice is don't. Instead, pull the tab away from the wiring harness. The tab is shaped like a "T" with the wiring harness attached to the upper part of the "T" with black electrical tape. I slid each part of the "T" out of the tape and left the tab in the instrument cluster. Now the instrument cluster is free from the vehicle. Be careful not to scratch the front of the instrument cluster. Whenever setting the cluster aside, be sure to do so with it facing upwards.

11. Remove the "cardboard" backing to the instrument cluster that protects the circuit board. I think there were 4-6 silver colored screws that required a torx driver to remove.

12. Investigate the circuit board for the resistors and darkened circuit board. You will see a cluster of three blue resistors (I think two of the numbers were R101 and R210) and the board around them will be slightly brown to black. Turn the circuit board over and you will see that the contacts have come loose or are broken all together. Also in this same area, on the backside, near these resistors is a contact that simply put, is a loop (comes through the board and connects with a solder point). On mine, this "loop" was broken away from the solder.

13. Remove the circuit board from the instrument cluster. On the circuit board, you will see several silver colored screws, remove all of them. I want to say there might be as many as 10 or 12.

14. Unplug the circuit board from the instrument cluster.

15. Use a low voltage soldering pen to re-solder the resistors and that "loop" mentioned earlier.

16. Once cooled, reassemble. When reattaching the wiring to the "T" tab, just use new electrical tape.

First answer by Joe Johns. Last edit by Guitarman132. Contributor trust: 22 [recommend contributor]. Question popularity: 78 [recommend question]