Hey all, Has anyone experienced their digital odometers shutting off for a period of less than a minute then coming back on?

Mine has done it a few times (i just bought it two weeks ago) and I'd hate for it to shut off again and not come back on.

I saw it mentioned recently very briefly but nobody posted a fix.

Thanks!

dp

 

I too have this problem. I have been looking for a fix for awhile without an success. I saw that on the f150 forum, someone showed the inside of the cluster and what part might be the problem. But, I could not find anyone who could tell me how to get to the cluster. I am a novice so I need detailed instructions.

 

I called Ford and they tell me that the entire cluster must be replaced. they need to special order it with your VIN, mileage and production date. it's about $350 with a $300 core charge.
dp

 

i have this problem too. mine is off when i start up the car and comes on anywhere from 1 to 5 min later. need to fix it.

 

Wow! Mine has just starting doing this also. I knew it would be expensive, guess I better get ready to pony up the $350. I wonder what mileage you give them when it quits altogether? I had planned on waiting until it just quit working completely before fixing it.

 

I can't believe that no one has a fix for this. This certainly can't be a bad electronic component since the readings are not affected, nor are any of the digits. The entire display is either on or off... Loose ground on the display, loose power to it, or simply a loose electronic component. Removing the display should be revealing. I'm not quite ready for this, and frankly Ford has ***** to ask people to pay for it. If I get into fixing mine, I'll post the fix for everyone.

 

It happens to my 99 too... Especially after a gas stop(just coincidence??? because I naturally look down to reset my trip OD)... But I can usually get it to come back on by "flicking" the reset button with my finger a couple times... That tells me something is loose or corroded... I'm not paying $350 bucks for a dash...

 

It may not require a replacement of the entire instrument cluster - try looking for a loose connector first as many 99's apparently have experienced this problem (mine included). If the mileage of the odometer continues to accumulate while the display is out, then more than likely it is either a poor connection betwwen the ribbon cable and the connector on the odometer display daughter board.

As for how to remove the gauge cluser, for those who have not yet invested in a Ford Service CD/DVD, if you go to
<A HREF="http://www.dashart.com">Dashart.com</A> and look under support and then install guide, you will find instructions applicable to F150/Expdy on how to remove the gauge cluster.

After you take the cluster out/apart, check the daughtercard (display module) that is piggybacked into the cluster's motherboard. This module will have a 33 ohm 5 watt resistor next to it. Check for a loose/poor connection from the daughtercard to the motherboard of the cluster as well as a poor/cold solder joint for the resistor. Below is a "pic" of the section where the module's connector is located (fig #1) on the cluster's motherboard. Fig #2 is the resistor.

<img src="http://ms6073.50megs.com/images/305013.jpg">

If, you determine it is the cluster and not a loose connection or bad solder joint, then you have a couple options.

1.... Since you have a 99+ cluster, sometimes you can find a used cluster (F150, Expy) and take it apart, use the digital display section (the daughterboard) and also check the 33 ohm 5 watt resistor next to this card for correct resistance/tolerance. The mileage is stored on the cluster's motherboard processor not on the display board, so the mileage will stay the same.This will work most of the time, otherwise it is option #2:
a total cluster changeout and PATS reprogramming.


Michael

 

Michael-

Thanks for the valuable info. I am going to go to the website and check it out. I too read somewhere taht it might be a loose connector but had no idea how to get to it. Thanks again.

 

Now that's the kind of post I like to read. I knew there were people out there who could help. I'm going to check mine out soon. Any pointers on pulling the instrument panel? I don't want to break anything.

Thanks!

 

Just wondering if a cluster out of a 2000-2002 would work in a '99? I would consider looking at a salvage yard for one from an F-150 or Expy.

Thanks!

 

I can not say whether or not the parts for newer year models will interchange or not, but I will say that you will have problems if you do more than simply change out the daughterboard for the odometers. If the instrument clusters from the newer model years are compatible, you will still end up visiting a dealer to get the PATS reprogrammed unless you know someone with one of the very high end diagnostic tools made by Snap On, Rotunda, or NGC Star!


Michael