The overhead console works good except for I am having compass issues. Sometime I get the compass to show and it works perfectly fine, but most of the time the compass area is just blank, with the CAL symbol showing. I have gone back and resoldered every resistor. I was also missing a 680, but replaced it with a 68 ohm 1/2 volt resistor from radioshack. Does anyone have any ideas to why the compass works sometimes and doesn't other? I have tried trouble shooting the components to atleast figure out what causes it work off and on, but can't seem to narrow it down for sure.

 

There's a section in your owners manual that tell you how to recalibrate your compass. Might want to give that a try.

 

Thanks for the reply, I'm trying to keep this thread alive to hopefully resolve the issue since I know there are a few of us with it out there. Unfortunately a common misconception that alot of people are having who aren't experiencing this is that there is no direction being displayed. Just the CAL symbol is being shown. So yes I have done the manual's directions of calibrating but it doesn't do anything for the issue since there is not direction shown. When the direction does show, the calibration actually works.

Like said this issue seems to be odd since sometimes I'll have a compass and it works normally as it should. And then most of the time I wont have a compass at all, just the CAL symbol. I am still trying to figure out whether it is the wiring harness or maybe the actual compass....if I could actually locate it.

Thanks for the replies and input.

 

Posted in the wrong place. Sorry.

 

My 99 lariat display worked intermittently for several months so I didn't think that the resistors had fallen loose. Well it went our completely and I didn't do anything for months. I had stumbled across the fix months ago and bookmarked it. Went to the book mark last weekend, followed the procedure and it works great now.
I've never had a temp reading on the display and the compass has never been accurate.

 

Miescha:

I clicked on your red links and got the message "error retrieving picture". don't know if you've removed the. I'm new to the forum so maybe I'm doing something wrong.
I have an 02 F-150 XLT and removed the console as you desribed and it went well. But when I looked at the ckt board, I dodn't see the 7 chips you talked about. Maybe that was for the 06 model only? Any help is appreciated.

James

 

James, Welcome to FTE. Don't know why the red links aren't working. Just click on Mieschas on his post and a drop down will appear, click on view gallery and it will open his pics. Go to one labeled for overhead console. All of his pics are there. Works well. I done mine and a couple of others. Good luck.
Oh what the heck, you being new and all just click HERE.

 

Thanks guys, the fix work perfect. Soldered back the surface mount chip resistors and its working like new!

ncon
99 F250 SD 4x4 5.4

 

mine has been working for 1 hour now
i was told a new one would cost around $400 at the ford place. thanks

 

Now if only someone could ever figure out why the compass still does not work for me haha. Has anyone ever heard of these things needing to be demagnetized?

 

mine works fine until i turn the head lights on and it goes out. i did replace one of the 680's with one from radio shack and reheated the others. any suggestions? thanks

 

The brightness of the display is tied to the interior dimmer dial, make sure you try this first!

ncon

 

boy do i feel dumb!!!!!!!!!!!!!
that was it
it was daylight when i did the repair and i never noticed the other dash lights were not on. thanks thanks thanks

 

I think my display is burnt out. there is an area on the side of the "screen" that has what appears to be a burn mark under the glass. Is that normal? Anyway I called the dealer and they told me that it was year and model specific is that true?

They told me that I had to replace it with one from a 99 F250 SD Lariat. That doesnt seem right though.

 

Yep, it's normal and not an issue.