thanks! I got it down. mine only appears to have one bad resistor. One side of one of the 620’s is popped up. I’m debating on taking my circuit board to a electronics shop to have it done professionally. I’m not sure if my hands are steady enough to do this…<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comfficeffice" /><o></o>

 

I know what you mean. I had 3 pop with a fourth ready to go. I have had it on my desk debating the same thing since I took it out. I'm afraid to over heat the circuit board. Here in Jacksonville, FL we have a Ford specific junk yard. I going to give them a call to see what they would charge to take one out of a wrecked X or F250.

 

I also have a 2003 F350 6 l.

I just pulled on the front of the overhead console and it came loose. It was fairly tight but did come off. There are plastic clips on the side but once part way off you should be able to see them, they are all attached.... Hope this helps......

 

If you are going to take it some place you might just change them all. do it one time thing.

 

You're right, it would be my luck that one that I didn't change out would pop.

 

After taking my circuit board out and looking at it, I came to the conclusion that I wouldn’t be able to do the soldering myself. I just figured I’d pay the $20 or $30 to have them done professionally. I did a search for an electronic repair shop here in Birmingham, found one, brought it in yesterday and they popped them in there and soldered them for free. Took them 2 minutes. Plugged it in, recalibrated my compass and everything is working just perfect.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comfficeffice" /><o></o>

 

Hi,

I think one of the resistors fell off the trip computer board and is lost. If anyone can please look at the picture and tell me (#1) if there is supposed to be a resistor there, and (#2) what rating.resistance/size it is.

Thanks! Mark

 

Yes it is not there, not sure what one it is. If i found out i will get back to you.

 

https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gall...&albumid=19462
check out this link to see which one is missing on your board? It tells you all about the repair, i am going to pull mine back out and replace all mine. Good luck with it, just don't get it to hot in the repair.

 

The one missing is a 680 like the two on the far right..
There are 4 620's an 3 680's on the board..

 

Hi,

Thanks for confirming so quickly! Just to be sure, is that a 68 ohm 1/2 watt resistor?

Thanks, Mark

 

Today I finally decided to attempt to fix the overhead readout on my 2004 Excursion. It had been getting dimer and the compass had quit working.
It was quite simple . In the sunglass compartment there is a fillips head screw in the center that needs to be removed first. I just pulled on the front (windshield front) part of the cover and the two FRICTION clips released .Then I pulled on the rear of the cover and the 1 FRICTION clip released. Then I took a small #10 torx screwdriver and unscrewed the three screws and removed the module with the readouts and buttons. I removed the plug and heard something rolling around in there. Carefully I opened it by taking my fingernail and pulling out the little tabs(four of them) and slid the top black plastic off. I then lifted the green electronic board out of the black plastic base. Found the 3 chips laying in base. 2 -#680 and 1- #620.
Looked on the post above with the directions ans figured out where they went and soldered them back in place. Plugged it back in and the readout was bright again but no compass just the square around the direction was light. Put the screws back in and snapped it back into the Friction clips and that was the end of it. Do the back first then the front. Started the Excursion up and held the 2 button in until the cal.was on the screen. pushed the correct ZONE for the Pittsburg PA area and pushed the other button for the temp. Droce a little and had to pull off to take a call. Shut the Excursion off... Restarted it and viola there was my compass working. So maybe the lose chip was a problem that fixed not only the brightness but the compass. Thanks to the former people that gave me the courage to tackle this easy job. And it really is easy.

 

Well the compass worked for 2 days and quit . Now all I have is the square around the direction.

 

Thanks, Miescha. Just did this last night, and it worked. Took a quick run down to Radio Shack for the 15W gun & .015 solder, and I am back in business. Fun project - not too difficult & a quick fox to one of those things that has just been bugging me.

 

After inspecting mine for cracks in the solder to no avail, i decided to plug up just the circuit board to troubleshoot. As i said before, mine never completely quit working. I could push on it and it would light up and tben slowly fade away. After moving it around to see what was causing the bad connection, it appeared to be the connector. After inspecting the pins on the harness, they seemed to be covered in some type of film. I removed it as best i could and put a good coating of dielectric grease on each pin. Works fine now!!! Hope this helps someone.