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1987 - 1996 F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks 1987 - 1996 Ford F-150, F-250, F-350 and larger pickups - including the 1997 heavy-duty F250/F350+ trucks

while we are talking about speedometers

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Old Jan 20, 2009 | 09:51 AM
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while we are talking about speedometers

I have a 96 F-150 4X4 300 M50D and sometimes when im driving the odometer goes blank and the needle falls to zero. If I hit the dash it will pick up and work again, but it erases all the miles ive driven since i last started the truck. I took the cluster out and all the plugs look fine. I have had the truck for 7 years and it has done this since day one. My question is has anyone else with an electronic speedo had this problem? If so how did you fix it?

Thanks Steve
 
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Old Jan 20, 2009 | 11:11 AM
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Your truck has a black box called a PSOM, check it for loose connections.
 
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Old Jan 20, 2009 | 12:16 PM
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Is this posm under the dash need the cluster?
 
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Old Jan 20, 2009 | 01:37 PM
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The PSOM is actually attached to the speedometer itself, inside the cluster. When these go bad the display craps out or the needle starts to wobble around or won't track at all.

Only real solution is to replace the PSOM, but make sure you record the mileage your truck currently has. When you swap in another used piece, the odo will read as if your truck is the same one it came out of.

Essentially, you'll remove the entire speedo square and replace it. Junkyard clusters are around 40 bucks, and if you can find one for the same model year, this is a good time to add a factory tach if you don't already have one.
 
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Old Jan 20, 2009 | 01:55 PM
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actually I have allready swaped in the factory tach. I reused my speedo head because I wanted to keep the milage correct. The problem occured 2 to 3 years before that. Also my voltmeter stopped registering after i did the swap and ive heard some say theres did too. So long story short i have another speedo head and ill try that.
Thank you too much guys.
 
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Old Jan 20, 2009 | 03:59 PM
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No problem at all, hopefully the one you've got waiting it good to go.

My speedo is starting to wobble...I've got a spare PSOM ready, but I don't want to go from 109k to 221k suddenly.
 
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Old Jan 20, 2009 | 06:31 PM
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lol. I get to go from 214k to 144k. I bet the town office will have in cuffs the next time i go to register my truck.
 
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Old Jan 22, 2009 | 02:11 PM
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I know all the crooks are trying to take miles off their odometer but does anyone know how to add milage to thier odometer?
 
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Old Jan 22, 2009 | 02:28 PM
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Originally Posted by BigBlueOx
Also my voltmeter stopped registering after i did the swap
That means you have the wrong cluster, only a cluster from a '96 will work correctly in your truck, all others will produce various problems.
 
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Old Jan 22, 2009 | 02:37 PM
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the junk yard told me it was from a 96 lightning. But did they make lightnings in 96?
 
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Old Jan 22, 2009 | 05:11 PM
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I'm thinking lightnings were 93-95
 
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