Literally dumped a medium black coffee onto my gauge cluster and everything below it. Steering wheel knocked the cup from the cap as I was getting out... I kept the cap in my hand but the cup landed upside down on my gauges I let it sit for about 4hrs, but its cold and I know it didnt fully dry in that time.

By next day, the dash is making a random "beeeep beeeeep beeeep" sorta like the beep you hear when the WTS light turns off but this is lower frequency. Not very often though. Also one time I turned the key off a bunch of relays furiously clicked. The right blinker arrow didn't light up for a few blinks but then started working again. Runs fine other than that *knock on wood*

What do you think? Just leave it be until the airbag randomly deploys and go from there? Is the beeping an actual diag code?

 

If the air bag light is burnt out it will beep in short succession every 15 minutes or so.

It is easy to pull the cluster in just a few minutes. I would pull it out, see what I could clean and let it dry and hope for the best.

 

If you were to pull off the dash panel, you would see that the instrument cluster is basically a sealed unit on the front.

 

Now that you mention it... my airbag light does not light up when I turn the key on. I guess my scan sw can't pull airbag codes, it only has an ICP code (didn't know that... good to know).

The relays are clicking now everytime I turn the key off. Sounds like they are coming from somewhere behind the 4wd dash switch, maybe lower and probably more towards the center of the truck. I'm kinda sketched out pressing my ear against the dash knowing the airbag system is going crazy. Any ideas what relays are in that general area? I couldn't see any, but I've only take the fuse panel cover off so far.

 

Maybe run the heater for an hour or so - May help dry it out

 

Fill the cab with rice or potato flakes.

 

It may be your flasher relay, it's in that general location. You should be able to reach up and feel it clicking if it is. You really need to dry things out, maybe hang a hair dryer or put a little heater in there for a while?

 

The Cluster is fairly well shielded, but is quite complex on 02+ trucks. Ford added battery saver relays, and a Motorola processor which uses SCP Data to display information.

If you have a pre 02, the are more Basic. The tone code is a pattern which you can use to determine SRS malfunction. Post up the pattern of tones if you replace the bulb and it still makes noise!

 

Get yourself a $0.99 bottle of isopropyl alcohol, a soft bristle toothbrush, and some canned air (or an air compressor without a bunch of oil in the air). Once the dash is out, flush the board but good, and scrub as needed where there are stubborn spots. Blow it all dry before re-assembly.

I have fixed many, many electronic devices with stuff lying around in the medicine cabinet - including a digital camera dropped on the ocean beach.

At least it wasn't a banana milkshake from Sonic - those lurk in the shadows for years.

 

Thank you everyone for the tips (except for the potato flakes ). This morning the airbag light is working (not throwing code, just normal operation) and no beeping. No other symptoms this AM. I did wear my t-shirt and run the heater full blast on my way to work for good measure. Maybe it fixed itself.... we'll see.

 

I'd let it sit idle and run the AC on high buttoned up.

That will wick moisture in the cab 10 times faster.

Denny (even if you think everything's all-right)

 

My opinion only, but NOTHING fixes itself on these trucks.........

 

Park it in the sun with the windows down for a few days. A breeze helps too. Nature can be helpful when you let it.