FORZA 614 has a new program, this time for Chrysler Pacifica 93C86 dashboard
Hey everyone! Today on the workbench, we have a cluster that many of you have been asking about for a long time: the Chrysler Pacifica 2017+ instrument cluster, built around the NEC D70F3525 microcontroller and a 93C86 EEPROM.
Yes - Chrysler has finally joined the FORZA 614 supported list. Applause!
The unit we're working on carries part number 68239262AG, a Mopar-built cluster, and honestly it's one of the cleaner dashboard designs in this segment: a large 7-inch TFT screen sitting right in the center, flanked by two analog needles. In this article we'll go through the hardware, the typical faults we see in these clusters, and how FORZA 614 handles programming - both through the dash plug and over OBD2.
Chrysler Pacifica NEC D70F3525 + 93C86 bench odometer programming
How It's Built - Chrysler Pacifica Speedometer
Open the housing and you'll find this is a two-board construction. The rear board carries the graphics processor, its DDR3 memory, the stepper motors and the main connector, while the front LED board hosts the main cluster microcontroller and a NAND flash. It's a more complex architecture than the average single-MCU cluster - one chip runs the vehicle side, another runs the screen.
- Main microcontroller: NEC D70F3525 in a QFP-144 package, clocked by a 4.0000 MHz quartz. It handles CAN-bus communication, gauge drive and the core cluster logic.
- Graphics processor: NXP/Freescale i.MX 6Solo (MCIMX6S4AVM08A), an automotive applications processor designed specifically for display-based clusters. This is the chip that renders everything you see on the center screen.
- Graphics RAM: ISSI IS46TR16640B - 1 Gbit DDR3 SDRAM (64M×16) in a small BGA package, sitting right next to the i.MX 6Solo as its working memory.
- NAND flash: a 1 Gbit parallel NAND in a TSOP-48 package, storing the graphics firmware and display assets.
- EEPROM: 93C86 in an MSOP package - this is where the important data lives: mileage and the VIN.
One thing worth knowing before you reach for the screwdriver: the EEPROM is mounted on the display side of the assembly. To get physical access to the 93C86, you need to strip the cluster down completely - there's no shortcut through the back cover.
LAM070G031A 7-Inch Center Display
The centerpiece of this dashboard is the LAM070G031A 7-inch color TFT panel sitting between the two analog gauges. The same cluster family covers both the gasoline and eHybrid variants of the van, so whichever one lands on your bench, the internals follow the same recipe.
Good news for repair jobs: the LAM070G031A is available to buy on the open market as a standalone panel, so a damaged or failing screen doesn't mean the whole cluster is scrap. And if sourcing a new panel takes too long, you can always pull one from a used donor cluster - at around $100 for a complete used unit, that's a cheap source of a working display and a full set of spare parts in one box.
Typical Faults in the Pacifica Instrument Cluster
The classic complaint with these clusters is a thermal one. The customer tells you: "It works fine in the morning, but after a longer drive - or on a hot day - the cluster just doesn't come on anymore." Cold start, everything is fine; warm cluster, black screen or no startup at all. If you hear that exact story about a 2017+ Pacifica, you already know what's on your bench before you unbox it.
A second thing to watch out for is mechanical, and it concerns you, not the car: the stepper motors. These are the ones we don't like - they're fragile and they love to break when you're pulling the needles off. If you want a small trick for removing them safely, message me by email and I'll show you how we do it.
FORZA 614 Software Programming Options for Chrysler Pacifica Speedometer
FORZA 614 supports this cluster two ways: through the dash connector on the bench, and over OBD2 in the car.
On the bench you only need the F1+F2 cables. Connect to the dash plug, power up, and you're working. The full connection pinout is always available in our PC application, and for your convenience we've also included the pinout graphic below in this article.
Over OBD2 there's one thing you must remember: from 2018, vehicles in this group are fitted with a Security Gateway (SGW) that blocks write access through the OBD2 port. To program the cluster in the car, unplug the gateway and connect an SGW bypass adapter into the vehicle harness - then plug the FORZA 614 OBD2 interface into the bypass. Without the bypass, the security gateway will simply not let you through.
A note on the 93C86 EEPROM. On this cluster, neither reading nor writing of the full EEPROM contents is possible diagnostically - not over OBD2, and not through the dash connector. If you need the complete memory dump, you'll have to use a serial EEPROM programmer connected directly to the 93C86 chip - which, as mentioned above, means a full teardown, since the chip sits on the display side.
And one genuinely convenient thing about this model: the cluster does not need a CAN-bus signal to power up on the bench. Two +12V lines and GND are enough to bring it to life - no CAN generator required. If you additionally connect CAN H and CAN L, you can also test CAN-bus communication with the cluster right on your bench table.
Chrysler Pacifica Dashboard Pinout
The full bench connection pinout for the Pacifica cluster is included in the FORZA 614 PC application - you'll find it directly in the software when you select the model. For a quick overview, the pinout graphic is also attached below:
Chrysler Pacifica 93C86 Instrument Cluster Pinout
Why Workshops Repair These Clusters
Simple math. A brand-new Mopar cluster for a 2017+ Pacifica runs anywhere from roughly $940 to $2,285 MSRP at the dealer, depending on the trim version - and that's before the dealer adds the coding labor on top, because a new cluster doesn't just plug in and drive away.
Yes, used clusters are available on eBay and similar platforms for around $100 - a fraction of the dealer price. But a used cluster arrives with someone else's mileage and someone else's VIN in the EEPROM, so it still needs to be adapted before it can go into the customer's van. Which brings us back to the same conclusion: repairing the original cluster, or fitting an inexpensive donor and adapting it properly, is by far the most cost-effective path - and it's exactly the job FORZA 614 was built for. For a workshop, every Pacifica with a dead dash is a repair the dealer prices in four figures and you can price in three, with margin to spare.
FAQ - 2017+ Chrysler Pacifica Instrument Cluster
Does the Pacifica cluster need a CAN-bus signal to power up on the bench?
No. Two +12V supply lines and GND are enough — the cluster starts without any CAN traffic. If you also connect CAN H and CAN L, you can test CAN-bus communication with the cluster on the bench.
Do I need an SGW bypass to program this cluster over OBD2?
For vehicles from 2018 onwards - yes. The Security Gateway blocks OBD2 write access, so you need to unplug the gateway, connect a bypass adapter into the harness, and plug FORZA 614 into the bypass. Model year 2017 vehicles without the SGW can be programmed directly through the OBD2 port.
Can I read the full 93C86 EEPROM through OBD2 or the dash plug?
No - on this cluster, full EEPROM access is not available diagnostically in either direction. For a complete 1:1 read or write of the 93C86, use a serial EEPROM programmer connected directly to the chip.
Are there any extra fees for programming the Chrysler Pacifica with FORZA 614?
No. The model is included in the standard subscription.
Download our PC application and look around
