Dead Dash
 

My 07 Expy Limited with NAV has a dash that goes dead. Everything on the dash goes dead - lights out, radio out, A/C stops working. Cure is to pull over and turn off the truck and then back on.

Seems to be worse during very hot weather. It is a Ford problem (had this on my F250 and I was in my friend's F250 last week and it went dead). Didn't see a thread on this here. Anyone have this problem? What did the dealer do to fix?

never had this happen but I bet it scared the crap out of you when it happened the first time

I would pull all the fuses and relays and put back one at a time. Sounds like a bad circuit board though. I would post a Q on flateratetech.com in the Ford section.

It happened to me this weekend on my 2000 Expedition. Now when I shut the engine off. Tried to start it 30 min later, and it acted like a dead or very low battery. With a power boost it started, voltage gage went to mid scale and shortly thereafter, the red battery warning symbol came on. according to owners manual this indicates a problem with the battery or battery chargeing system. Today it started o.k, but red battery indicator remains on, yet gage shows normal reading for battery. Am perplexed, and awaiting to find out what happened with previous postings.

Found this. May or may not apply.
Printable View (70 KB)
TSB
07-7-4 MESSAGE CENTER SWITCHES INOP-TEXT BLANK/SCRAMBLED/COMPASS INOP/WASHER LIGHT ON/OAT READS HIGH

Publication Date: March 27, 2007

FORD: 2007 Expedition
LINCOLN: 2007 Navigator


ISSUE:
Some 2007 Expedition and Navigator vehicles built before 12/22/2006 may exhibit concerns with the Instrument Cluster (IC). The outside air temp reads 140 °F (60 °C), message center switches unresponsive/text blank or scrambled, compass display is inoperative, washer fluid level light is on.

ACTION:
Follow the Service Procedure steps to correct the condition.

NOTE: DO NOT REPLACE IC ASSEMBLY UNTIL COMPLETE DIAGNOSIS HAS BEEN PERFORMED.



SERVICE PROCEDURE

Check the build date code of the IC. The date code is displayed in the message center during "engineering test mode".

Engineering Test Mode:

Ignition in "OFF" position.
Cluster type.
For Base Clusters (without message center cluster): depress the reset stem on the cluster while turning the ignition switch to the "ON" position.
Message Center Clusters: depress the reset button in the vehicle while turning the ignition switch to the "ON" position.
Continue to hold down the reset stem/button for 5 seconds until the cluster message center displays "engineering test mode".
Press/cycle reset stem/button until the message center displays "manufacture" and the date of manufacture (MM-DD-YYYY).
If the date is after 12/22/2006, this TSB does not apply and proceed with normal diagnostics found in Workshop Manual (WSM), Sections 413-01 and 413-08.
Turn the vehicle ignition to the "OFF" position to exit the "engineering test mode".
Outside Air Temperature (OAT) Diagnostics

NOTE: THIS PROCEDURE IS FOR VEHICLES WITHOUT (ELECTRONIC AUTOMATIC TEMPERATURE CONTROL) EATC.



Run vehicle for 5 minutes.
Verify the OAT reads 140 °F (60 °C) in the Message Center.
Disconnect the OAT sensor.
Does the Message Center still read 140 °F (60 °C)?
Yes - proceed to Step 4.
No - follow WSM, Section 413-08.
Disconnect battery.
Disconnect IC.
Measure the resistance between pins 1 and 2 on Connector C132.
Resistance less than 1 Meg-Ohms - Repair shorted circuits.
Resistance greater than 1 Meg-Ohms - Proceed to Step 8.
Reconnect IC and OAT sensor.
Reconnect battery, to verify IC connection. If Message Center still reads 140 °F (60 °C), replace IC.
Message Center (MC) Switch, Diagnostics:

Refer to WSM, Section 413-08 Pinpoint Test B: The Message Center Switch Does Not Operate Correctly

Low Washer Fluid Level Light On, Diagnostics

Verify low washer fluid level light is on and washer bottle is full.
Verify washer fluid level switch is fully seated in the bottle. Is light still on?
No - repair is complete.
Yes - proceed to Step 3.
Disconnect the washer fluid level switch. Does the light go out after one minute?
Yes - proceed with normal WSM, Section 413-01 Diagnostics.
No - proceed to Step 4.
Disconnect battery.
Disconnect IC.
Measure the resistance on Pins 1 and 2 of Connector C138. Is the resistance less than 1 Meg-Ohms?
Yes - repair shorted wires.
No - proceed to step 7.
Reconnect the washer fluid level switch, IC and then battery to verify IC connections. If light is still on, replace the IC.
No Compass Display Diagnostics

Refer to WSM Section 413-08 Pinpoint Test C: The Compass Is Inoperative.

Message Center Display Blank/Text Scrambled, Diagnostics

Refer to WSM Section 413-08 Symptom Chart


WARRANTY STATUS:
Eligible Under Provisions Of New Vehicle Limited Warranty Coverage And Emissions Warranty Coverage
IMPORTANT: Warranty coverage limits/policies are not altered by a TSB. Warranty coverage limits are determined by the identified causal part.

OPERATION DESCRIPTION TIME
MT070704 Use SLTS Operations If Available; Claim Additional Diagnosis Or Labor Performed As Actual Time. Actual Time

DEALER CODING
BASIC PART NO. CONDITION CODE
10849 42

Sorry about posting in the wrong forum, my expedition is a 2000 Eddie Bauer. The trouble turned out to be a intermittent alternator problem. Everything back to normal now.

My dash is fine (01-03-2007) but the "engineering" area of the display had some neat information on it such as a digital speedo.

Any other secret key presses on the panel?

I also just "discovered" the total mileage is displayed just pressing Reset with the ignition OFF.

-- Chuck

Just took it in to the dealer for repair. I hope they can find a code or duplicate it. Service tech says it is probably in the a/c control module. We'll see and I'll post results.

How did you get it to display the digital speedo?

Follow the instructions in the Engineering Test Mode a few messages previously and just keep boinking thru the display until vehicle speed comes up. First one is MPH, second one is KPH. Pretty sure engine RPM is there as well as several other displays.

Only hassle is this mode has to be selected during startup and you don't get the regular display back until you shut down.

This is for "message center" equipped vehicles for sure.

Still wondering if there are other modes.

-- Chuck

Nice, I will check it out.

The engineering mode is pretty cool. Coolant temps, mph, RPM, real time fuel level, etc . I wish it had transmission temperature.

That is one cool feature..it is too bad we can only have it one way or the other....anyone trying to hack this so we have both?

Roger on transmission temperature! Would have saved me a couple hundred dollars.

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2004-...9-IMG_1124.JPG

-- Chuck

I still like the scan gauge. Too bad it's so expensive.