Random flashing/flickering backlight on instrument cluster

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Sir John

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There is a software update released for this issue however as far as I can tell it only applies to 2015+ as of right now.

I have a 2016, so this software update should apply. Do you know anymore about that software update? ??
 

Tach_tech

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I have a 2016, so this software update should apply. Do you know anymore about that software update? ??

I'll check tomorrow when I'm at work and let you know.
 

Sir John

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I'll check tomorrow when I'm at work and let you know.

I have an appointment with my dealer tomorrow (Friday) @ 1pm ET for this issue. If possible before that, it would be awesome. I'll keep an eye out for your post. Thanks!
 

Tach_tech

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I have an appointment with my dealer tomorrow (Friday) @ 1pm ET for this issue. If possible before that, it would be awesome. I'll keep an eye out for your post. Thanks!

I just checked, it's actually only for 2016 trucks right now. TSB 08-073-16.
 

mooreman21

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yeah and if you've got a 2015 that does the same, they'll replace the cluster. that in itself isn't so bad. but my brand new cluster does the same flicker. I made it maybe 200 yards down the road from the dealership before I noticed the flicker again
 

Sir John

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First, I would like to thank Ramcare for the superb level of customer care they gave me. They had Ram engineering on the phone talking to my dealership. I was, and still am, very impressed with that.

Unfortunately, it looks like my Rebel already had the software update that was supposed to fix this exact issue and it clearly does not. This has Ram very interested in my Rebel right now. They ran a bunch of diagnostic tests and checked my connectors. The fuses were all seated by me last week. They sent all the tests back to Ram to be analyzed and will contact me to come back.....my case remains open for this. Obviously this has me very concerned and sad. I just got this $57k truck to replace my 2014 Sport, which was a major lemon. On a brighter side, I haven't seen the flickering since that one day. But, like others have said, it can be gone for a long time and then show back up again one day.

I'll keep you all posted if anything new happens. :(
 
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Tach_tech

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Well that sucks, sorry to hear it's still having issues. Just to clarify, does you're flickering only occur when the dimmer is at the lower settings?

Hopefully they figure something out. I can tell you as a tech there's nothing worse then having a vehicle with an issue that there is supposedly a fix for but it doesn't work, and there's no clear answer how to fix it.
 

Sir John

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Well that sucks, sorry to hear it's still having issues. Just to clarify, does you're flickering only occur when the dimmer is at the lower settings?

Hopefully they figure something out. I can tell you as a tech there's nothing worse then having a vehicle with an issue that there is supposedly a fix for but it doesn't work, and there's no clear answer how to fix it.

Yeah, it definitely does suck. Since it's one of the limited Mopar 16 editions (#200 of 500), it's a very special truck to me. Very sad that less than 500 miles and I already have an issue.

It did not flicker on full brightness. If you go down from that, it was flickering. Basically, as soon as I turned on my headlights, the dash lights dim (for night driving) and that was when it did it. The more I lower the dimmer, the worse it got. It only did it one time on my way to work. When I drove back home on the same day, it wasn't doing it and hasn't done it since, which from other people's experience is normal for this issue.
 

Tach_tech

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Yeah, it definitely does suck. Since it's one of the limited Mopar 16 editions (#200 of 500), it's a very special truck to me. Very sad that less than 500 miles and I already have an issue.

It did not flicker on full brightness. If you go down from that, it was flickering. Basically, as soon as I turned on my headlights, the dash lights dim (for night driving) and that was when it did it. The more I lower the dimmer, the worse it got. It only did it one time on my way to work. When I drove back home on the same day, it wasn't doing it and hasn't done it since, which from other people's experience is normal for this issue.

Ya that's pretty much the exact issue the updated software is supposed to fix. Lights flicker when on the lower dim settings. Back to the drawing board again I guess for a fix.
 

Sir John

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Ya that's pretty much the exact issue the updated software is supposed to fix. Lights flicker when on the lower dim settings. Back to the drawing board again I guess for a fix.

Yup, it looks like it. That's probably why Ram is so interested in my truck right now.
 

Sir John

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I just got my BRAND NEW Rebel back from the dealership today to only find that they cut my damn dash!!!!!!!!!! I am beyond pissed right now. This is why I didn't want to take it to the dealer. They took pics and said that they had to send them to Ram....why?!.....they did it! I took pics of the area before I gave them the keys and in the pics that damage is not there!
 

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Sir John

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No idea why that one is sideways
 

Sir John

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As you can clearly see in the pics that took right before I gave them the keys, there's no cuts!
 

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Tach_tech

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It's hard to see the exact same area the damage is in since the pictures are from completely different angles, but I'm sure they did it.

It looks like someone just tried to pry that trim piece out and didn't know wtf they were doing. There's a T20 screw that holds it in, have to take out the screw then remove the cluster surround.

The reason they said they had to take pictures and send it away is to see if warranty will cover it. Even though technically it shouldn't be covered since it's not a defect from the factory. If warranty will cover it then the dealer won't have to pay for their mistake.
 
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Sir John

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It's hard to see the exact same area the damage is in since the pictures are from completely different angles, but I'm sure they did it.

It looks like someone just tried to pry that trim piece out and didn't know wtf they were doing. There's a T20 screw that holds it in, have to take out the screw then remove the cluster surround.

The reason they said they had to take pictures and send it away is to see if warranty will cover it. Even though technically it shouldn't be covered since it's not a defect from the factory. If warranty will cover it then the dealer won't have to pay for their mistake.

Yeah, that one top pic it the better of the two to see that the cuts weren't there before. It took me about 3-5 seconds to see the cuts when I sat down in the seat. They DEFINITELY were not there before.
 

Sir John

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The reason they said they had to take pictures and send it away is to see if warranty will cover it. Even though technically it shouldn't be covered since it's not a defect from the factory. If warranty will cover it then the dealer won't have to pay for their mistake.

100% the reason. Completely dishonest. Clearly they have no integrity!
 

Sir John

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It's hard to see the exact same area the damage is in since the pictures are from completely different angles, but I'm sure they did it.

It looks like someone just tried to pry that trim piece out and didn't know wtf they were doing. There's a T20 screw that holds it in, have to take out the screw then remove the cluster surround.

The reason they said they had to take pictures and send it away is to see if warranty will cover it. Even though technically it shouldn't be covered since it's not a defect from the factory. If warranty will cover it then the dealer won't have to pay for their mistake.

I was wondering if you knew how involved replacing the top of my truck’s dash was. As you might imagine, I’m very concerned that the dealership will do just more damage if the skill level requirement is higher than it was replacing the instrument cluster. I think I’ll send you a PM with this same question. I'm not sure how often you read in here.
 

Tach_tech

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I was wondering if you knew how involved replacing the top of my truck’s dash was. As you might imagine, I’m very concerned that the dealership will do just more damage if the skill level requirement is higher than it was replacing the instrument cluster. I think I’ll send you a PM with this same question. I'm not sure how often you read in here.

Replacing the dash skin is a fairly involved job. Lots of pieces have to be removed. It's been awhile since I've done one but it's probably going to take half a day to do it if not more.
 

Sir John

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Replacing the dash skin is a fairly involved job. Lots of pieces have to be removed. It's been awhile since I've done one but it's probably going to take half a day to do it if not more.

Yeah, this has me very nervous. I don't want the same person, who cut the dash in the 1st place, touching my truck again....definitely don't want him removing my whole dash! I can only imagine the damage he would/could do.
 
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