Notices
1997 - 2003 F150 1997-2003 F150, 1997-1999 F250LD, 7700 & 2004 F150 Heritage
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by: Auxito

Instrument cluster

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Oct 7, 2009 | 06:20 PM
  #1  
f15097's Avatar
f15097
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 111
Likes: 0
Instrument cluster

I have an F 150 four wheel drive automatic truck with an analog (no electrical display) speedometer odometer with a tachometer.
My odometer quit working a few days ago and I have done a lot of searching on the internet. My question is wouldn’t my set up have a cable that drives the gears from the transmission. Quite a few posts on the net seem to imply that they are all electrical inputs that run the odometer. My other question is the anti theft system. It seems that there are posts warning about removing the cluster and repairing it. They mention that the truck doesn’t start afterward because of the anti-theft system won’t allow it because of the removal of the cluster. My last question concerns instructions for the removal of the cluster. Does anyone know of a site or link that my explain the procedure?
 
Reply
Old Oct 7, 2009 | 06:26 PM
  #2  
galaxie641's Avatar
galaxie641
Postmaster
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 4,517
Likes: 3
From: SE Wyoming
You don't have PATS so the cluster issue is moot. You have a Vehicle Speed sensor for the speedo/odo often referred to as the VSS. IIRC there is a change between the tranny tailshaft and the rear end for the location of the VSS I can't remember if ours is on the tranny or rear end.
 
Reply
Old Oct 7, 2009 | 07:07 PM
  #3  
redwood's Avatar
redwood
Elder User
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 747
Likes: 2
From: Pelahatchie, MS
If the speedometer is still working but the odometer has quit working, then the problem should be in the head (cluster). Does the odometer still show a reading or has the display quit working?
 
Reply
Old Oct 7, 2009 | 10:18 PM
  #4  
f15097's Avatar
f15097
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 111
Likes: 0
Instrument cluster

My odometer doesn't work but the speedometer does. The odometer is gear driven.
 
Reply
Old Oct 7, 2009 | 10:24 PM
  #5  
f15097's Avatar
f15097
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 111
Likes: 0
Insrument cluster

Thanks for your reply Galaxie641. I have a couple of more questions. If the odometer is not working but the Speedometer and tach are does that mean the gears of the odometer and trip are the problem and the Vss is working?
 
Reply
Old Oct 8, 2009 | 05:53 AM
  #6  
redwood's Avatar
redwood
Elder User
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 747
Likes: 2
From: Pelahatchie, MS
If the speedometer is working, then the VSS is working. If the odo is gear driven, and it has quit, then the problem should be the gear driving it, which should be driven off the speedo head. If the VSS had quit providing a signal, neither one of them would be working. The tachometer has nothing to do with the speedo/odo. It's measuring engine speed.
 
Reply
Old Oct 8, 2009 | 06:38 AM
  #7  
Shernius's Avatar
Shernius
Tuned
20 Year Member
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 392
Likes: 1
From: New Jersey
Isn’t this the bad or cold solder problem?
 
Reply
Old Oct 8, 2009 | 06:55 AM
  #8  
redwood's Avatar
redwood
Elder User
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 747
Likes: 2
From: Pelahatchie, MS
Apparently this odometer is an old school, all analog, non digital type. The cold solder problem is with the digital odo going blank...
 
Reply
FTE Stories

Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts

story-0

Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make

 Brett Foote
story-2

Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-3

Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?

 Brett Foote
story-6

2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-7

10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

Top 10 Ford Trucks Coming to Mecum Indy 2026

 Brett Foote
story-9

5 Best / 5 Worst Ford Truck Wheels of All Time

 Joe Kucinski
Old Oct 8, 2009 | 03:42 PM
  #9  
ddrumman2004's Avatar
ddrumman2004
Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,931
Likes: 1
From: N. Mississippi
Sounds like your cluster is like the one in my 97 Lariat. Mine has a analog odometer....not digital.
I had my cluster out back in the early spring I believe, to replace a burned out lamp. Wasn't hard to do provided you have some instruction.

I replaced all the lamps while I had it out and wouldn't you know it, the odometer quit working afterwards. So I pulled it back out and disconnected the main connector and shoved it back on and it worked after that.

Just be careful when removing the headlight switch, which to me, turned out to be the hardest part of the operation. Well, not really hard, just seemed like it.

All in all, it's not that hard to do.
 
Reply
Old Oct 8, 2009 | 08:43 PM
  #10  
steve(ill)'s Avatar
steve(ill)
Hotshot
20 Year Member
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 11,931
Likes: 180
my girls 98 mustang has a good speedo and no odometer. i pulled the cluster and there is a pair of gears that comes off the speedo and drives the old style odometer like they did 20 years ago. i bought a new set of gears on e-bay.
 
Reply
Old Oct 8, 2009 | 09:39 PM
  #11  
f15097's Avatar
f15097
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 111
Likes: 0
instrument cluster

http://www.odometergears.com/ford.html

This site shows a worm gear does that look like the correct gear? I think I need two gears because my trip indicator doesn't work either.[IMG]file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/FRANKH%7E1/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/moz-screenshot-4.png[/IMG]
 
Reply
Old Oct 9, 2009 | 03:24 PM
  #12  
ddrumman2004's Avatar
ddrumman2004
Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,931
Likes: 1
From: N. Mississippi
My trip meter quit working also when the speedometer quit.

I would check the connector to the back of the cluster first before suspecting the gears.
 
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Adakar
1997 - 2003 F150
1
May 1, 2014 08:04 PM
wminmi
1997 - 2003 F150
4
Oct 6, 2013 08:07 PM
AllaboutMPG
1997 - 2006 Expedition & Navigator
4
Jul 26, 2012 12:55 PM
SNIPER168308
Excursion - King of SUVs
3
Oct 1, 2011 06:37 PM




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:31 AM.

story-0
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

Slideshow: Top 10 Ford truck tragedies.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-18 19:34:33


VIEW MORE
story-1
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make

And it might be even better than that.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-18 19:26:42


VIEW MORE
story-2
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!

Slideshow: Does lowering an F-150 Lobo RUIN the ride quality?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-05-18 19:20:37


VIEW MORE
story-3
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home

Slideshow: Ford's bizarre fishing-themed Explorer concept has resurfaced after spending decades largely forgotten.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:07:46


VIEW MORE
story-4
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!

Slideshow: The 10 best Ford truck engines we miss the most.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 13:09:47


VIEW MORE
story-5
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?

Slideshow: first look at the 810 hp 2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road!

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-12 12:50:07


VIEW MORE
story-6
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!

Slideshow: Everything You Need to Know about the 2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package!

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-05-07 17:51:06


VIEW MORE
story-7
10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!

Slideshow: 10 most surprising Ford truck options/features in 2026.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-05 11:17:22


VIEW MORE
story-8
Top 10 Ford Trucks Coming to Mecum Indy 2026

Slideshow: Here are the top 10 Fords coming to Mecum Indy 2026.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-04 13:49:49


VIEW MORE
story-9
5 Best / 5 Worst Ford Truck Wheels of All Time

Slideshow: The 5 best and 5 worst Ford truck wheels of all time

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-29 16:49:01


VIEW MORE