I recently purchased a 2008 Town & Country and I am having a issue with the Trip computer and also the other functions of the Temp/Compass. My problem is that when I press the buttons to switch functions on either one it does nothing. The odometer works but I can't toggle between it and the trip computer. The same way with the other side. I can see the outside temp and direction but can't switch and see my distance to empty and average fuel mileage. Is there anything anyone can think of that it may be. Dealer says I would have to replace the instrument cluster which conveniently isn't covered under the warranty I have.

Any help would be appreciated.

 

You can try disconnecting the negative battery cable for a few minutes. This will reset the CAN data bus that controls it.

 

I will try that tommorrow, I didn't even think about that.

 

Unhooked the negative cable for about 3 minutes..no luck still not getting any response from the buttons.

 

May need to have it reprogrammed or the switches are just dead.

 

Did the dealer do any checks or did they just say "new instrument cluster"

I take it you are talking about the overhead display? If so, then the fact that is showing the temperature means it's talking to the instrument cluster over the data bus and the most likely thing is a dodgy switch. I'll try and have a look at ours later when the wife comes home as my memory of the buttons is a bit hazy.

Regards

Richard

 

I don't know what checks the dealer did on it. All they told me was new cluster. Like I said the Temp and compass read out and changes temp and direction but doesn't respond with other functions with the button. Same with the odometer. It reads mileage/gear and cruise and oil change and open door but will not switch over for the trip computer.

 

Which system does your vehicle have, the Base or Premium? There are different Compass Mini Trip Computer / EVIC systems.

The Electronic Vehicle Information Center (EVIC) features a driver-interactive display that is located in the instrument cluster.

EVIC Menu / Step Control Button as it appears on the left side of the steering column.
Press and release the MENU button and the mode displayed will change between
Compass/Temperature, Trip, System Status, and Personal Settings.

Odometer Display Area
When the appropriate conditions exist, the following odometer messages will display:
CHAngE OIL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Oil Change Required
CRUISE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Cruise Control On
door . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Door Ajar
ESPOFF . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ESP Off
gATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Lift Gate Ajar
gASCAP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Fuel Cap Fault
hood* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Hood Ajar
noFUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Fuse Fault
LoCOOL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Low Coolant
LoWASH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .LowWasher Fluid

These messages can be manually turned off by pressing the right reset button (on the instrument cluster).

Compass Mini-Trip Computer (CMTC) Display — If Equipped
On vehicles equipped with CMTC, the display provides the outside temperature, one of eight compass headings to indicate the direction the vehicle is facing and the
current radio station.

NOTE: Some of the above warnings will be displayed in the Compass Mini-Trip Computer / Electronic Vehicle Information Center Display Area under the Speedometer.

Compass Mini-Trip Computer (CMTC) Display — If Equipped
On vehicles equipped with CMTC, the display provides the outside temperature, one of eight compass headings to indicate the direction the vehicle is facing and the current radio station.

Compass Mini-Trip Computer (CMTC) Odometer Displays
When the appropriate conditions exist, the following odometer messages will display:
CHAngE OIL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Oil Change Required
CRUISE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Cruise Activated
door . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Door Ajar
ESPOFF . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .ESP Deactivated
gATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lift Gate Ajar
gASCAP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Fuel Cap Fault
hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Hood Ajar
noFUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Fuse Fault
LoCOOL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Low Coolant
LoWASH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .LowWasher Fluid
These messages can be manually turned off by pressing the right reset button (on the instrument cluster).

CMTC Reset Button
Press the left reset button located on the instrument cluster to scroll through the sub menus (i.e., Trip Functions: AVG Fuel Economy, DTE, Elapsed Time, and Units).
To reset the display shown, turn the ignition switch to the ON position, then press and hold the reset button for approximately two seconds.

When the appropriate conditions exist, the following odometer messages will display:
NE. Eight-point compass headings are displayed (N, S, E, W, NE, NW, SE, SW)
14°F. . . . . . . . . . . . Temperature (Fahrenheit or Celsius)
AVG . . . . . . . . . Average Fuel Economy (U.S. or Metric)
DTE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Distance to Empty
ET . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Elapsed Time
P. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Park Assist On/Off

Electronic Vehicle Information Center (EVIC) Display — If Equipped
The Electronic Vehicle Information Center (EVIC) features a driver-interactive display that is located in the lower half of the speedometer.

This system conveniently allows the driver to select a variety of useful information by pressing the switches mounted on the steering wheel. The EVIC consists of the
following:
² System Status display
² Vehicle information warning message displays
² Tire Pressure Monitor System
² Personal Settings (Customer Programmable Features)
² Compass display
² Outside temperature display
² Trip computer functions
² Audio Modes display
EVIC Menu / Step Control Button as it appears on the left side of the steering
column.

Press and release the MENU button and the mode displayed will change between
Compass/Temperature, Trip, System Status, and Personal Settings.

EVIC Displays
When the appropriate conditions exist, the EVIC displays the following messages:
² Door(s) Ajar (with a single chime if vehicle is in motion)
² Liftgate Ajar (chime will sound when vehicle starts moving)
² Hood Ajar (If equipped with hood switch)
² Check TPM System.
² Turn Signal On
² RKE Battery Low
² LOW WASHER FLUID
² Oil Change Required
² Left Front Turn Signal Light Out