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DTC codes / Chrysler codes / P1687

P1687 · ChryslerNo Cluster Bus Message

P1687 on Chrysler vehicles means the instrument cluster (the module that drives the gauges and warning lamps) has stopped sending its periodic status message over the interior CAN bus, so the powertrain control module (PCM) sets this code. The PCM is not reporting a cluster failure itself; it is reporting that the cluster bus message it expects every few milliseconds never arrived.

SystemPowertrain
Code typeChrysler specific
SeverityMedium
Fix difficultyProfessional
AreaComputer and output circuits

Symptoms you may notice

  • Often no symptoms besides the warning light, because the cluster may still power up and display normally on some key cycles
  • Multiple warning lamps illuminated at once or the cluster going dark intermittently
  • Gauges dropping to zero or sweeping erratically while driving
  • No communication with the cluster when a scan tool tries to read cluster codes
  • Other modules logging U-codes (communication codes) at the same time
  • Intermittent no-start or stalling if the bus is shorted and disrupts other modules

Common causes, most likely first

  1. Open or corroded wiring in the CAN interior bus circuit between the cluster and the PCM, especially at the cluster connector
  2. Failed instrument cluster (internal bus transceiver or power/ground fault inside the cluster)
  3. Blown fuse or poor ground feeding the cluster, so it never powers up to transmit
  4. Chafed or shorted CAN bus wiring behind the dash or at a splice pack
  5. Another module on the same bus holding the bus low and preventing cluster messages
  6. Loose or damaged cluster connector pins from prior dash or radio work
  7. PCM software or bus configuration issue after a battery replacement or module swap

How to diagnose and fix it

  1. Connect a scan tool and check whether the cluster responds at all; if it does not, verify battery voltage and the cluster fuse and ground before condemning anything
  2. Inspect the cluster connector and the CAN bus wires at the cluster for corrosion, pushed-out pins, or chafing
  3. Measure CAN bus voltage on both bus lines with the key on and confirm they are not shorted together or to ground
  4. Disconnect other modules on the interior bus one at a time to see whether the cluster message returns, isolating a module that is dragging the bus down
  5. Perform a wiggle test on the dash harness while watching live data for the cluster message to catch an intermittent open
  6. If wiring and power checks pass, substitute a known-good cluster or bench-test the original before replacing it
  7. After repair, clear codes and verify P1687 does not return over several key cycles and a short drive

What the cluster bus message really means

  • P1687 is a communication code, not a cluster hardware code, so replacing the cluster first is a common and expensive misdiagnosis when the real fault is a chafed wire behind the dash.
  • A cluster that lights up and shows gauges can still set P1687 if its internal bus transceiver has failed, because the display and the bus message are separate functions.
  • Low battery voltage or a weak ground can prevent the cluster from transmitting without any visible cluster symptom, so always load-test the battery and check grounds before chasing the bus.
  • Aftermarket radios, remote starters, or alarm installs tapped into the dash harness frequently disturb the CAN bus and cause this code on Chrysler vehicles.
  • A single shorted module elsewhere on the interior bus can silence the cluster message, so the fault may not be at the cluster at all.

Can I keep driving with P1687?

The vehicle usually remains drivable, but you should avoid long trips and not ignore the warning because a bus fault can spread to other modules and cause stalling or a no-start. If gauges drop out or multiple lamps flash, stop driving and have the bus circuit diagnosed.

Tools that help

Tools we recommend are in the Auto Veteran shop on Amazon. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

Guidance is general and written for Chrysler vehicles. Exact tests and values vary by model, so confirm the fault before replacing parts.

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