On the left side of my gauge cluster the lights are out! I not really sure what is back there...is there light bulbs that I can replace? Should I check the fuses? It is really wierd...the top two thirds of the spedometer and everything to the right of it is lit...the rest is dark. Any suggestions?

 

99 and up V10 powered Ford truck, van, or Ex?

Each dash cluster is a little different

I know how to get to the back side of an 05 and up but not sure on the 04 and earlier

Sounds like a loose connector or ground...very unlikely to blow two or more bulbs at once

I highly doubt you can get to the back side from below

I know some of the clusters are a real pain to remove

Worst case is a trace on the back of the dash cluster is fried and you will need a new unit as these are imposible to repair

 

I have a 01 F350 Lariat CC long bed V10. I may just take the truck to Ford if I can't fix it myself...anyone else had this problem?

 

Back a few years on another site mostly diesels...there was a rash of trucks that had a drivers side windshield water leak that ran down the "A" pillar into the back side of the dash and fuse panel and the GEM (General Electronics Module) causing all sorts of similar grief

I never removed my 01 dash cluster and frankly do not remember how IT is done so I have to deffer to some of the other here...

BUT I do know what you are looking for once you get to the back side of it

The back of these modern instrument clusters are fed with a thin film plastic "circuit" board like interconnect that is clear enough to see the connection traces through. Around the perimeter there are several places where the circuit board is grounded to the frame...there are recessed holders for the dash bulbs that turn 1/4 to lock and have ears that make the connection

The "grounds" and "ears" on the bulb holders can get corroded and cause high resistance and impact a lot of "down stream" items like lighting meter functions

It is possible for three or four bulbs to be fried but it is unusual but do not assume because I say so...... they need to be checked

This is not really too hard for a typical owner...hardest part is the correct removal procedure for that dash cluster... brute force WILL break things

 

Do I HAVE to take the panel out to get to the bulbs? Are they bulbs I can get at an auto parts store? What about color, is that determined by the dash and not the bulb? Thanks for all the help..!

 

Yes to get to the bulbs you must pull the dash cluster as there is no way a normal man's arm can snake up from behind

user replaceable bulbs most of the time if I recall correctly they are the push in type that go into a "holder" that has the connection as "ears" on the piece and recess into the back of the dash cluster in a 1/4 turn type fashion

Like I said it would be very unusual for more then one or two to die at the same time so you really want to see why they are not working