Need Help: Instrument Cluster Freaking out
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4wd Low
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
Need Help: Instrument Cluster Freaking out
Hi Guys I have a 2011 350 with 200,000 miles with a 150 Tune DEF Delete & air filter. Truck was running fine up until recently every once in a while the instrument cluster starts shutting off and then restarting itself other times it will start setting off air bag symbol Check brake system warning light battery light speedometer starts jumping up & down service wrench Turn signals stop working and running lights wont shut off & rear camera stops working etc.I have to disconnect batteries to shut lights off again only when it acts up. When this happens it has no effect on radio or air conditioning or engine performance. Here is the weird part will act up all day then out of nowhere everything will just goes back to normal and work fine for a month or longer but when it happens sporadically will last a couple days or so then go away again.
Posting Guru
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,902
Likes: 26
From: BA, OK
Are there any trouble codes present? Battery light on?
It could be the red wire leading to the alternator. Here is the location to look for corrosion.
There is also a black and grey connector that is attached to the parking brake bracket that has been known to cause the dash to go bonkers with a bunch of warnings. If you use your parking brake a lot have a look at this video.
It could be the red wire leading to the alternator. Here is the location to look for corrosion.
There is also a black and grey connector that is attached to the parking brake bracket that has been known to cause the dash to go bonkers with a bunch of warnings. If you use your parking brake a lot have a look at this video.
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4wd Low
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
Thanks I will check both of these things out tomorrow just wondering when the dash acts up the running lights wind up staying on & wont shut off so I just been disconnecting the battery overnight would the 2 things you asked to check also have any effect on lights staying on?
Posting Guru
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,902
Likes: 26
From: BA, OK
Thanks I will check both of these things out tomorrow just wondering when the dash acts up the running lights wind up staying on & wont shut off so I just been disconnecting the battery overnight would the 2 things you asked to check also have any effect on lights staying on?
I'm not 100% positive but I think the body control module controls the light timeouts.
4wd Low
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 13
Likes: 3
Any update to the fix for this issue? My 2011 is doing about the same thing. Entire dashboard blanks out, fogs turn off and come back on randomly. I have dismounted the harness from the parking brake. Gave it a few tugs this evening while it was acting up and it had no effect on the issue during my drive home.
Noticed this evening that the alternator seemed to be hunting for voltage just before the driveway. Battery cable harness was replaced 2 years ago so I may check that out. No battery light though.
Edit: My issue encompasses the entire dash, AC and radio turn off too
Noticed this evening that the alternator seemed to be hunting for voltage just before the driveway. Battery cable harness was replaced 2 years ago so I may check that out. No battery light though.
Edit: My issue encompasses the entire dash, AC and radio turn off too
More Turbo
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 587
Likes: 101
From: Nampa, Idaho
My first thought is something possibly wrong with the voltage regulator or the plug behind the parking break that mentioned previously. Have seen a voltage regulator cause very odd symptoms including gauges doing weird stuff, the weird symptoms won't make any sense because they aren't related to each other besides getting poorly regulated power Pretty sure most vehicles now have the voltage regulator built into the alternator.
4wd Low
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 13
Likes: 3
I spent last night looking at forums and I think you are right.
Before I parked the truck, I had an issue with the passenger side speakers cutting out while driving over rough terrain. The alternator went, replaced then parked the truck to drive my other one for a bit. I had a few miles on the new alternator and boom, dash starts to act up like the speakers. I asumed the speakers were related. I'm going to dig into it when I get the chance and test voltage to see if the alternator is the culprit. If not, guess I'm getting the opportunity to perform an old fashioned pinout test of my dash harness...
Before I parked the truck, I had an issue with the passenger side speakers cutting out while driving over rough terrain. The alternator went, replaced then parked the truck to drive my other one for a bit. I had a few miles on the new alternator and boom, dash starts to act up like the speakers. I asumed the speakers were related. I'm going to dig into it when I get the chance and test voltage to see if the alternator is the culprit. If not, guess I'm getting the opportunity to perform an old fashioned pinout test of my dash harness...
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4wd Low
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 13
Likes: 3
I am stupid, plain and simple
So broke out the fluke 789...
Place my alligator clips on the battery. Start the truck and check out the alternator while its spinning round doing its thing. Figure why not, start here and work my way down to the concrete. Feel it up, find the control plug, give it a quick wiggle... see nothing change. Figure I'd make sure it's seated while I'm there. A distinguished click sound was noticed. Quickly and shamefully put meter away as I was the one who installed the alternator and didn't seat the connector...
Going to drive the truck again to verify this fixes my problem. SMH
Place my alligator clips on the battery. Start the truck and check out the alternator while its spinning round doing its thing. Figure why not, start here and work my way down to the concrete. Feel it up, find the control plug, give it a quick wiggle... see nothing change. Figure I'd make sure it's seated while I'm there. A distinguished click sound was noticed. Quickly and shamefully put meter away as I was the one who installed the alternator and didn't seat the connector...
Going to drive the truck again to verify this fixes my problem. SMH
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More Turbo
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 587
Likes: 101
From: Nampa, Idaho
Hi Guys I have a 2011 350 with 200,000 miles with a 150 Tune DEF Delete & air filter. Truck was running fine up until recently every once in a while the instrument cluster starts shutting off and then restarting itself other times it will start setting off air bag symbol Check brake system warning light battery light speedometer starts jumping up & down service wrench Turn signals stop working and running lights wont shut off & rear camera stops working etc.I have to disconnect batteries to shut lights off again only when it acts up. When this happens it has no effect on radio or air conditioning or engine performance. Here is the weird part will act up all day then out of nowhere everything will just goes back to normal and work fine for a month or longer but when it happens sporadically will last a couple days or so then go away again.
1st Gear
Joined: Mar 2024
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Anyone figure this issue out yet?
Having the same issues, warning lights going crazy than cluster goes dead but radio and heater still on, and if u shut off truck it will not restart until dash comes back on. Took it to shop 3 times and they can’t figure it out.
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 10,191
Likes: 8,082
From: Texas
Watch The videos in post #2 of this thread. Pay particular attention to the third one. Don’t just wiggle the connector, unplug it and reseat it likle he said he did. If it cures your problem, move the harness to a location that the park brake does not vibrate the connector when you release the brake.
5th Wheeling
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 48
Likes: 14
From: Utah
2016 F350 I had this same issue several times. Problem is at the parking brake area, wires not secured into the "connecting Blocks" as ford put it. Use the parking brake and release the dash goes crazy. Happened to me several times when pulling 5er, WTF.. All resolved now but a PIA when the truck would not start after instrument panel goes BONKERS.
1st Gear
Joined: Apr 2025
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
I spent last night looking at forums and I think you are right.
Before I parked the truck, I had an issue with the passenger side speakers cutting out while driving over rough terrain. The alternator went, replaced then parked the truck to drive my other one for a bit. I had a few miles on the new alternator and boom, dash starts to act up like the speakers. I asumed the speakers were related. I'm going to dig into it when I get the chance and test voltage to see if the alternator is the culprit. If not, guess I'm getting the opportunity to perform an old fashioned pinout test of my dash harness...
Before I parked the truck, I had an issue with the passenger side speakers cutting out while driving over rough terrain. The alternator went, replaced then parked the truck to drive my other one for a bit. I had a few miles on the new alternator and boom, dash starts to act up like the speakers. I asumed the speakers were related. I'm going to dig into it when I get the chance and test voltage to see if the alternator is the culprit. If not, guess I'm getting the opportunity to perform an old fashioned pinout test of my dash harness...
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