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Two_Hands's avatar
Two_Hands
Explorer
Dec 31, 2016

Dash Gauges Out

We just crossed an extremely rough section of interstate. All the dash gauges quit working. Everything else seems to be working. I phoned a Freightliner rep who said the computer may have been roughed up. He suggested I try pulling the instrumental panel (IP) fuse and replace it after three minutes. If that didn't work I was to disconnect the battery then reconnect. One of these things should reset the computer and fix the problem. I could not find an IP fuse so I disconnected and reconnected the battery. This didn't work. I'll be visiting a Freightliner Service Center Tuesday unless any of you folks can offer some advice. Thanks in advance.
  • First thing I'd look at would be the fuse of course, there's got to one somewhere as you know. You already did the battery disconnect so it's doubtful that it's the computer.

    What I'd think it is, and what I'd look for in a newer RV is a wire bundle strapped too tightly to a frame member somewhere on the chassis. The rough section of interstate you were bouncing around on probably separated a connector somewhere. I've seen it happen even in 10 year old RVs causing intermittant issues. Often at the factory, they're in too much of a hurry and strap the bundles with zip ties with no freeplay. You're lucky that your system is just dead, makes it easier to find and fix.

    Need to study your 12 volt electrical drawings and try to chase out the bundle, tugging on wires and connectors as you go.
  • I have heard many stories of bad grounds to the dash gauges. You might want to find a good ground connection and run a wire from that to the gauges just to see if they come on.
  • My Freightliner gauges acted up this summer. They didn't go completely out, just started reading wrong. Freightliner's response was to pull the dash, unplug it and reconnect it. It solved the problem on mine. Yours could possibly have been a loose plug and it came out. Pull the dash and take a quick look.
  • Thanks for your replies. The suggestions are just way beyond my abilities.
  • After several hours the Freightliner Service Center found that the problem was a loose connection in the daisy chain (what ever that is) wiring inside the dash. Freightliner stepped right up and took care of the bill under warranty, no begging on my part. Great company! On a side note, the instrument panel fuse is located in a small black plastic box which is inside a removable panel on the bottom center of the dash. Thanks again.