My speedo and odometer stopped working today....check my fuses, found a 10amp fuse that was bad, so I replaced it. I started the truck and it blew again.....what could be causing this?

 

I also smell a faint burning odor coming from the dash, very faint though

 

Sounds like you may have exposed copper on one of your wires.

 

I guess its a short in the cluster somewhere.....all the other gauges work though

 

Remove the cluster and check the wiring, you've got a short circuit somewhere. Also check and make sure that fuse is the correct amperage for that slot, but the burning smell indicates a short somewhere. Good luck, I HATE electrical problems!

 

Thanks man, when I get a chance this weekend, I'm gonna take it apart. Any advice to taking the dash apart?

 

Just be very gentle and go slow, the old plastic snaps very easily. First you'll need to remove the headlight **** by sticking a small piece of metal into the notch on the bottom of the ****, bend the metal tab back and the **** will slide off.

To remove the cluster trim you'll remove the two trim pieces on either side of the steering column with something flat (I use a knife on the bottom side of the trim pieces so if I do scratch them it won't be seen), then remove the torx screws underneath. After that the cluster trim will pop off, it is held in by little clips, the ones at the top of cluster are prone to breaking so be extra gentle up there. I've never needed to take mine apart any further than that but I'm assuming there are wiring harnesses that you'll have to disconnect underneath before you pull the cluster out. There is a writeup for swapping the the cluster out on this site, I'm sure it goes into detail about where you need to disconnect wires for removing this piece of trim. Good luck, let us know what you find out.

ON EDIT: Found the writeup, I forgot to mention you'll need to disconnect the fuel tank selector switch. My truck only has 1 tank so I've never had to deal with it. Heres the link:

https://www.ford-trucks.com/article/...Or_Bronco.html

 

Thanks Chris....that should help alot.....also I just noticed the OD light on the shifter is blinking...wasn't doing it before. I guess it is related to my problem.

 

A blinking overdrive light is supposed to mean that transmission is in "limp" mode. This is where it will not go past 2nd gear and it increases the line pressure in the transmission. You will know if it is in limp mode because you'll get out on the street and the truck will rev up to about 3 or 4000 rpms before shifting to 2nd, and when it does it will KICK!

This is a safety feature for the transmission as it does it when it senses something is wrong, so as not to damage anything. Check the fuse for you dome light, I believe that is the one that also controls the transmission and if that fuse is fried then the tranny will enter limp mode. Good luck!

 

No, the trans shifts fine, I looked at the fuse panel cover, it said something about Automatic trans shift interlock is on the same fuse as the speedo

 

Would this fuse being blown cause a drain on the battery....because my battery is acting like it is low, and its getting worse every day

 

A blown fuse could not create a drain on the battery. A fuse is just basically a piece of wire in a circuit that fries itself to break the circuit if the amperage builds higher than expected. This is to prevent damage to any components or wiring. If your battery is draining then I suspect you have a short circuit. Get that dash off!

 

Thanks again Chris. I'll get to it....I had a death in the family yesterday...haven't had much time lately. I'll let you know how I make out.

 

Sorry to hear it man Family comes before your truck of course, don't let her take seniority over loved ones, as much as you might want to Good luck with the truck.

 

The previous owner or whoever put in my aftermarket alarm.....I had to reposition the wires for it......something was shorting in that circuit, it was hooked to the same one as the speedo.....there were no other broken or burnt wires......the fuse holds now and everything works ok again.