1999 to 2016 Super Duty 1999 to 2016 Ford F250, F350, F450 and F550 Super Duty with diesel V8 and gas V8 and V10 engines
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Ford says instrument cluster bad. Help!

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
  #1  
Old 08-18-2011, 08:39 AM
true blue's Avatar
true blue
true blue is offline
Elder User

Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Huntsville, Alabama
Posts: 549
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Ford says instrument cluster bad. Help!

My truck is an early 2002 F250 V10 4x4.

Here are my issues:

-Power door locks do not work
-Door ajar light stays on
-Interior light will not light when door is open
-Radio has no power
-Cruise control will not work
-Auto lights will not work (fog lights come on all the time when selected)
-Power windows work for a few minutes after the door is open
-Lights in the PDL switch won't illuminate

I bought the truck without key fobs so I don't know if they would work or not.

Ford says I do not have a GEM or a VSM. They said all is controlled by the instrument cluster. Has anyone else had these issues?
 
  #2  
Old 08-18-2011, 08:51 AM
jh818's Avatar
jh818
jh818 is offline
Cargo Master
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Chino, California
Posts: 2,884
Received 22 Likes on 20 Posts
The door ajar light staying on could be the switch in the door is gummed up. The previous owner may have been fed up with the interior light staying on all the time and cut the wires to the lights. You can try spraying WD-40 in the door clasps to help clean it out a bit.

Power door lock actuators may be weak. Do you hear the motor turn when you hit the power door lock switch?

Not sure about the other issues. Has it rained recently? Maybe a windshield leak messing up your electronics?
 
  #3  
Old 08-18-2011, 08:56 AM
true blue's Avatar
true blue
true blue is offline
Elder User

Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Huntsville, Alabama
Posts: 549
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
The door locks make zero sound. No rain no leaks. The light inside works when you turn it on manually and comes on briefly when I turn off the key.
 
  #4  
Old 08-18-2011, 08:57 AM
true blue's Avatar
true blue
true blue is offline
Elder User

Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Huntsville, Alabama
Posts: 549
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I'll try the WD40
 
  #5  
Old 08-18-2011, 11:47 AM
jc8825's Avatar
jc8825
jc8825 is offline
Posting Guru
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Fort Worth
Posts: 1,711
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Worst case scenario, buy a used cluster from a salvage yard for ~$100 or so and swap it yourself. You could also buy it, swap it, and see if it fixes your problem. If not, most reputable yards will let you return the parts the same day if needed.
 
  #6  
Old 08-18-2011, 02:15 PM
true blue's Avatar
true blue
true blue is offline
Elder User

Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Huntsville, Alabama
Posts: 549
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
What year models can I take from? Do I get an 02 or 01 since my truck was made in 12/01?
 
  #7  
Old 08-18-2011, 03:20 PM
Tylus's Avatar
Tylus
Tylus is offline
MMNC (SS)(Ret)

Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: SE Georgia
Posts: 11,309
Received 30 Likes on 22 Posts
The Dealership isn't screwing with you...well maybe not. In 2004 Ford went exclusively to the Inst Cluster running all the stuff you are having issues with.

I wasn't aware of the 99-04 vehicles being that way, but it could happen.

If your model is one of them, the Inst Cluster is the culprit. Ford designed a 10 minute battery saver circuit into thier programming. All of the stuff you are having issues with are items that are part of this circuit. The radio, windows, lights and CC are powered from it during normal driving and for 10 minutes after turning off the vehicle (or until a door is opened).

No idea why the locks aren't playing. they are on their own circuit
 
  #8  
Old 08-18-2011, 03:22 PM
Tylus's Avatar
Tylus
Tylus is offline
MMNC (SS)(Ret)

Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: SE Georgia
Posts: 11,309
Received 30 Likes on 22 Posts
I'd put a replacement Inst. Cluster in there and see. It's plug & play.
 
  #9  
Old 08-18-2011, 05:07 PM
jc8825's Avatar
jc8825
jc8825 is offline
Posting Guru
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Fort Worth
Posts: 1,711
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
If it is a 2002 model, you should interchange between 2002-2004. Your cluster should have the speedometer and tachometer flanked by the small gauges.
 
  #10  
Old 08-18-2011, 05:24 PM
dchamberlain's Avatar
dchamberlain
dchamberlain is offline
Lead Driver

Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Scio, OR
Posts: 8,174
Received 664 Likes on 424 Posts
I think (not 100% sure) that there are at least 4 different clusters in and around those years. Gas and Diesel clusters are different (they have a different set of idiot lights). And Automatic and Manual transmission clusters are different (auto's have transmission temp gauge, manuals have a volt gauge).

I don't know what would happen if you plugged a diesel cluster into a gas truck. Or a manual cluster into an auto truck. Everything might work right, except where lights and gauges are different. Or the wires going to them might be different and who knows what would happen.

Also, I believe the odometer reading will stick with the cluster. So you'll get the odometer reading of the replacement cluster, instead of what you had.
 
  #11  
Old 08-18-2011, 05:56 PM
true blue's Avatar
true blue
true blue is offline
Elder User

Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Huntsville, Alabama
Posts: 549
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Ok. I'll give it a shot. Thanks!
 
  #12  
Old 08-18-2011, 07:02 PM
Rongold's Avatar
Rongold
Rongold is offline
Elder User
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Putnam Valley, New York
Posts: 819
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
CLUSTER

I'm not 100% sure, but I think the cluster has to be programmed to match the truck's equipment.


RON
 
  #13  
Old 08-18-2011, 07:36 PM
true blue's Avatar
true blue
true blue is offline
Elder User

Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Huntsville, Alabama
Posts: 549
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Does that mean the truck won't run?
 
  #14  
Old 08-18-2011, 08:08 PM
Tylus's Avatar
Tylus
Tylus is offline
MMNC (SS)(Ret)

Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: SE Georgia
Posts: 11,309
Received 30 Likes on 22 Posts
Originally Posted by Rongold
I'm not 100% sure, but I think the cluster has to be programmed to match the truck's equipment.


RON
Originally Posted by true blue
Does that mean the truck won't run?
the truck will run.

but say you have an Lariat, and are putting in the Inst. Cluster from a XLT. The XLT has "as built" data that is different from a Lariat.

The Inst. Cluster runs almost every single damn thing on newer Fords. If you have the Auto AC, it won't work.

All Ford Dealerships can look up the "as built" data for your current truck and re-program the new cluster to your truck. Some are stupid though, or have never even been taught to do this. Drop down into the 2004-2008 F-150 forum. Inst Cluster swaps are an extremely popular mod for those trucks and lots of guys can tell you all the necessary info to get a new"er" Inst. Cluster working.
 
  #15  
Old 08-18-2011, 08:16 PM
true blue's Avatar
true blue
true blue is offline
Elder User

Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Huntsville, Alabama
Posts: 549
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
My truck has a manual transmission so can I get a cluster from another manual trans of 2001 to 2004?
 


Quick Reply: Ford says instrument cluster bad. Help!



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 09:10 AM.