Dodge Caliber Dash Light Repair

A cheap way to repair Dodge caliber dash lights

[@TheReaper1416]

For those who don't want to rip everything apart. I find a clip on hat light seems to work alright. My next plan would be to drill small holes on the bottom casing to wire in 1-3 little leds (each pointed upwards), everything can be usb powered which saves time, cost and can be controlled. If that plan doesn't work, a low power mini flood light might work. At this point, I don't want to rip up the dash again to fix it AGAIN, I'll try to post a short video whenever I get to fixing it.

[@masonpugh3637]

Yes LDTV lights work much better much more brighter great video great

[@ClaremontClassicGarage]

Thanks!

[@soepkuh]

Thank you very much!! Very usefull, gonna try this!! What are the specs of the LED-strip?

[@ClaremontClassicGarage]

Wish I could remember. It came on a roll. I got it on amazon.

[@jeffescortlx]

I go over the repair on my channel, same deal as the Sebring and Avenger. It's the little driver chip that drives the transformer that fails.

[@WorldEagleKW]

After I put the chip in, a humming noise began to develop. Have you had the same problem?

[@jeffescortlx]

@@WorldEagleKW I have not

[@brianbrian3971]

How does the dimmer work from the multifunction switch I don't understand

[@ClaremontClassicGarage]

Its hooked into the dash light circuit so it is controlled by the dimmer.

[@vvs982]

2 years later first time seeing September 30 2022

[@yeraraguila6665]

very good video but I have a problem in my Dodge Avenger dashboard, all the dashboard lights work but from a few days onwards only the temperature indicator light, which is the same as the kilometers traveled, began to drop in intensity, I already checked the levers where the dim is but note that it is not from there since when you open the doors this small screen turns on and in the same way it turns on with a very low intensity of light, sometimes if it turns on well and other times not, could you give me a suggestion with a video ?

[@ClaremontClassicGarage]

Hi, I'm sorry I have never experienced that problem. Could be a lot of things. bad connections or a malfunctioning module somewhere.

[@yeraraguila6665]

@@ClaremontClassicGarage ok thank you very much I will look for more information. greetings thank you good end

[@bigshai411]

What's the Ohms of the resistor you used to control the over brightness?

[@ourclock9273]

do you know what kind of LED this cluster use to iluminate every single warning lights?

[@ClaremontClassicGarage]

Sorry, I don't know what they use.

[@rodger6940]

What was wrong with it, cause mine only the gas light and the gas gage doesn't work

[@ClaremontClassicGarage]

The transformer for the dash illumination failed. Your problem is different than wht I had.

[@thegamelegend4779]

Does a 2010 have electroluminescent lighting as well?

[@ClaremontClassicGarage]

Yes, all Calibers do.

[@bigshai411]

Hi mate, that's a great educational video. Please could you tell me exactly what wire you taped in to get the LED lights? I know the ground wire was grounded but I missed what part you got the current from

[@ClaremontClassicGarage]

In the center stack you'll find orange wires that are for illuminating switches/knobs etc. I found one that was hooked to nothing and used it. I did end up puuting a resistor in line because it was too bright.

[@bigshai411]

@@ClaremontClassicGarage great! I will have that in mind cos mine had started playing up. The 2 sides (fuel & RPM) lights comes on ok, it just my actual middle speed (mile/km) part that refused to come on, when it slightly does, it looks like a ghost shade with light patches through. The left and right section lights up ok

[@bigshai411]

@@ClaremontClassicGarage what grade was the resistor you used? Did it help with reducing the mega brightness?

[@ClaremontClassicGarage]

@@bigshai411 I can't remember. I just used some that I had kicking around. I put them in the ground side at the door post. It was a lot easier to get at than opening the dash again. Just grab a selection at radio shack and its trial and error

[@bigshai411]

@@ClaremontClassicGarage did it help with the controlling the brightness? I usually dim mine to bare minimum anyway, I hate it when it's bright

[@qasimabbas6437]

How did you open the dash?

[@ClaremontClassicGarage]

It is screwed together from the back

[@Realest_AR]

Since it has that kind of dash lighting does that mean you can change the colour? I’ve seen people put in colour bulbs so I’m just curious if you can do this with a dodge ?

[@ClaremontClassicGarage]

You could use different colored LEDs. I think there are also color changeable LEDS that you could use.

[@brianbrian3971]

And how did you hook up the dimmer wire with a fuse inline?

[@ClaremontClassicGarage]

Just look for an orange wire in the center stack under the heater controls. That is your dash lights. The circuit is already fused and controlled by the dimmer.

[@qasimabbas6437]

Can you plz show us that where did you connect these lights?

[@ClaremontClassicGarage]

Look around in the center stack under the radio, find an orange wire, those are the dash lights. Test it to be sure, make sure it turns on with the headlights and dims with the dimmer, then you know you've found the right one. cars with different options will have different stuff in there so look around. Like I said in the video, orange is pretty std across Chrysler for dash lights.

[@tveeder8845]

Intermitting problem on Chrysler been going on since made (pin connectors ) get bad connections

[@ClaremontClassicGarage]

Not a problem on my car anymore.

[@brianbrian3971]

How do I get the needles off do they pop off or screw off

[@ClaremontClassicGarage]

They just pop straight off. And if one breaks, the junkyards are full of Calibers, just go grab another cluster for parts.

[@markbarnes1878]

My question is where do you hook the power wire too

[@ClaremontClassicGarage]

Look for an orange wire in the center stack that is hooked to an incandescent light bulb, like the heater control, or other switches. I found one that wasn't hooked to anything so I used it. Most anything in there that's orange is dash lights and should work.

[@Tomcsiboy]

Not bad, but the lighting is not like original than with ELD5 inverter fixing method. :)

[@ClaremontClassicGarage]

Agreed. My only concern was to have working dash lights. Its a 300 dollar car. I wasn't going to get too carried away.

[@mijaandrei6292]

Hello! I have the same problem with my Dodge Caliber 2007, but I’m from Romania and I don’t know what to do...can someone help me?

[@ClaremontClassicGarage]

Buy the LEDS on Amazon and show the video to your mechanic. Its pretty easy to do.

[@Tomcsiboy]

Hi, you can buy ELD5 inverter from your country. And the lighting is like original. Search it on youtube, google or ebay: ELD5 inverter. Romanian guy sells it.

[@johnhall4427]

And heres a excellent detailed vid link for removing the instrument cluster. Not to bad at all. kzbin.info/www/bejne/eXWohGOhqNyKec0

[@taurusgps2608]

Take a used ....

[@ClaremontClassicGarage]

Can't use a used cluster. There are way too many different ones and it has to have your vin and mileage burned in at the dealer. Way too much hassle for me.

[@ThePettyQueen]

Where are you located cause I need mine done and I don’t have the tools or expertise to do it but I need mine done

[@ClaremontClassicGarage]

Sorry, I'm not a shop. Just a guy keeping his own stuff rolling.

[@ThePettyQueen]

@@ClaremontClassicGarage dang cause i need someone with knowlege to save my caliber thats been in my family since 2007 and its got minor issues