2000 Volvo VNL Instrument Cluster Problems

It's unlikely to be the instrument cluster. The left side and center are on 2 separate connections to the J1587 network so if they both go down at once then it's more likely to be the network. On mine just the left side goes down and if I move 5he connector it comes back. This link may be useful for troubleshooting

J1587 / J1708 Network Operation and Testing - BusTekHub

 

It's the name of a network that connects the ECU, the VECU (also called Cab Controller) the dash, the 9 pin plug and the abs computer. It's a common standard used on all types of heavy machinery from this era. Fault codes are transmitted on this network as well as the information to the dash. Confusingly there is another network called J1939 which was just being implemented at this time. It's a lot faster and is used to transmit commands between the computers but it does not go to the dash. If you have a 9 pin plug you have both networks, if you have a 6 pin plug then you have just the J1587 network.

 

9 pin and 6 pin plugs are your obd port is what he means to network. I have a 6pin plug some have 9 pin plug. From ecu to cab vdec to obd port.

 

Both of mine went down and it wasnt network. It was actually both plugs. 99 percent it's the cluster in these. From old age and road bumps the cluster takes a beating, solder cracks and plugs get worn out.

 

I bought a replacement cluster from a shop that bought it new from Volvo and they wouldn't take it back when it turned out not to be the issue. It solved my issue for about a week. My issue is intermittent bad connection but it's the pins on the wiring side not the dash as I'm having the same issue with both old and new cluster. Check inactive fault codes. Mine leaves "communication error" fault codes when it goes down...but has to be back up to read them!

 

I paid $1,900 for mine at Vanguard Volvo in Phoenix.
That was for an '01 cluster.