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skinsgamer · 01-18-2019, 09:41 PM

Can anyone post a pic or info on the specific location of the VDC on a 2002 Dutchstar (Freightliner chassis)?

I have an issue with the instrument cluster suddenly lighting up, then dying and recovering while driving. No dancing or chasing, just boom all the idiot lights light up and the speedo and tac go to zero, then recover like nothing happened.

I'm reading it may be a grounding issue on the VDC, but nothing says where the VDC is physically located other than "close to the engine".

Thanks!
Dale

JFXG · 01-19-2019, 01:04 AM

Dale...
I had a very similar VDC failure on my 02 DS a few years ago. The failure has to do with a couple of defects, cold solder joints on the circuit board inside. This is a well recognized failure in that vintage. That does not mean, however, that the VDC is easy to get to from either the rear or the bedroom hatch. 🤨
VDC is a small box about the size and shape of a paperback book, located along the passenger side sidewall of the engine compartment along with some other equipment. Recognizable by the gray plastic color, and by the fact that there are both electrical cables AND color-coded compressed air lines feeding into it. The VDC takes raw data on many vehicle parameters, converts, multiplexes it, and sends it upline to the dashboard gauges.
Some on the forum have repaired the solder joints themselves. There are archived threads discussing this some years back, and I believe 007 has put some of the VDC repair information in the Quick Fix section. When mine went bad I elected to have the folks at Gaffney replace it on my next visit. I had a service contract at the time that covered the whole cost, which was $364 for the unit and $90 labor in early 2015.

Good Luck!

skinsgamer · 01-19-2019, 04:45 PM

Found it and got it out, mine was right up top on the passenger side of the engine. I popped it open and did see some evidence of corrosion and dry solder on the connector pins for both connectors. J2 had almost every pin effected. I reflowed them, reinstalled and by all appearances, it's working (at least it's not inop). Since the issue is so intermittent the only way to know for sure is to take a trip. We're heading to LVMS in March so I guess I'll find out for sure then.

skinsgamer · 03-04-2019, 04:11 PM

Okay, after reflowing the bad solder joints on the VDC we just made our first trip. We went to LVMS for NASCAR this weekend and drove over 500 miles with not one instrument cluster issue. I consider the issue resolved. I pulled the VDC and opened it (pry the backplate off) reflowed the solder joints for both of the main connectors. They did show signs of dry solder joints. Then reglued the backplate.