instrument cluster malfunction

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Jan 8, 2004 | 08:26 AM

Capt Dan

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Joined: Mar 2003

Posts: 169

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From: Bryan, Texas

instrument cluster malfunction

On the way to work this morning after dropping my kids off at school all the warning lights on my instrument cluster came on, the guages pegged out then the whole thing went dead, (resetting itself again, I guess) and then it came back on. It took about 3-4 seconds for all this to happen. The only apperent ill effect is that the trans temp guage went back to cold and then rose slowly back to normal as if I had just started the truck. all otheres went to normal right away. I really can't say what it read before this happened, but I am fairly sure it would have warmed up by that point. (I had the truck running for 10-15 min and had driven 4-5 miles and the engine temp was already near normal)

It was wet outside with a light drizzle, and I had the windshield wipers on.

Any ideas? Will this type of thing set a diagnostic code? I don't think it would do any good to take it to the dealer unless it keeps happening without some way to track what happened.

thanks in advance

Jan 9, 2004 | 08:07 AM

rlh68050

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Joined: Apr 2003

Posts: 1,089

Likes: 1

From: Michigan

The cluster did indeed reset. This is an issue with certain Ford vehicles (Mustang in perticular) that occurs when there is a communication error from the PCM to the cluster. It will set a DTC that is stored in the PCM (it will not set the check engine light). If it only happened once, I wouldn't worry about it. If it continues, take it to the dealer and they may have to replace the cluster, or even the PCM.