Hello all,
I own a 99' F-150 4X4 and was wondering if anyone has ran across this on there trucks. A couple of weeks ago I noticed that my digital odometer was not displaying when I started up the truck, then after it was running for a while it came on. Other times it would not come on at all until I have driven somewhere and turned off the engine and then cranked it back up. If someone out there has had this problem and found the fix, could you let me in on it.

Thanks alot.

 

Don't have a solution, just the same problem with the same truck, 99, F-150 4x4. I did have a few times where my knee hit the panel dim switch, but that is the first thing I check when it happens, and usually, that is not it.

Just happened about fifteen minutes ago when I came home.

Sometimes turning the engine off and then back on helps, but not every time.

Anyone with a solution? Haven't seen a TSB either.

 

I have precisely the same problem. Digital odo dims almost all the way, regardless of whether lights are on or off, and seems to almost go out entirely. Then abruptly pops back up to full brightness, only to go out again. Totally random.

I had my '99 F250LD in for service back in February, and asked my dealer to look into the problem. Although the service manager did observe the odometer go out while I was sitting there in the service bay getting the ticket written up, they couldn't get it to fail while they had diagnostic equipment hooked up. The dealer does, however, have it written up in the service record, so that when I take it back in, regardless of the warranty situation at the time, it should get taken care of.

I'll have another opportunity to take the truck in later in the year (ordinarily I can't go without it for several days at a time), and I'll have them look at it again. As soon as I find out something, I'll post it to the board.

All the best. Tony.

1999 F250LD Supercab
4x4, 5.4L, auto.
54K miles.

 

Okay, folks -- for those seeing this problem --

I just got my '99 F250LD 4x4 back from the dealership. It had been exhibiting this problem with the fluorescent display of the odometer winking in and out, dimming, going out entirely, and coming back on at its leisure. The dealership had to replace the instrument cluster, which was a special-order part. Got it back yesterday, and the odometer is clear, bright, and flicker-free.

Y'all stay safe!

Tony.

 

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 26-Sep-02 AT 05:37 PM (EST)]just a note on ODO's that go out .. the LCD display of the cluster can be changed independant of the entire cluster. It is mounted to a small board held in by two torx screws with a ribbion cable that runs to the main PCB of the cluster. I would suspect that LCD's from other fords could be scavanged to fill your need without cluster replacement.

The ODO recorded miles does not reside on this board it resides on the main PCB.

I have just replaced my cluster on my 2000xlt with a harley davidson cluster bought on ebay for 165.00 and did the following

(1) installed new cluster with its respective main PCB(printed circuit board) truck did not start due to rap module security. ODO at zero miles

(2) dismantled my orginal cluster to find where the rap info was stored replaced new main PCB with my orginal PCB. truck started and my miles reported correctly.

two conclusions drawn cluster can be replaced by backyard mechanic provided you use your main PCB. does not have to go to the dealer.

ODO display should be able to be swapped our without changing the cluster( had mine out of cluster)also could be a loose or dirty connection on the ribbion cable.

anyone with a faulty ODO display may want to remove cluster from truck, dismantle the cluster (uses small torx srcews) and clean the connectors (electronic contact cleaner)where the ribbion cable plugs to the pcb and see if that clears problem before replacing LCD or cluster

 

So it sounds like it's much easier than I thought it would be to swap out my instrument cluster for one with a tach.

How difficult is it to swap out the PCBs? Do they just unplug, or do you need to desolder? And is the PCB hard to find?

Thanks!

Mark Salvetti
Saugus, MA
2001 F150SC, 4.2L/5-spd

 

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 28-Sep-02 AT 00:49 AM (EST)]unscrew the rear plastic cover, unplug the ribbion cable to the ODO, and then pry the the PCB away for the cluster guage pins. (pulls apart by hand. Now the question would be now is there a standard main PCB or did ford produce two- one for tach and one for no tach. I would tend to believe only one is made If anyone has teirs apart right now mabye a pix post would help to compare boards.. PS. this Main PCB is not hard to find it is the size of the cluster

 

Thanks!

Mark Salvetti