[williape]

Having problems with my instrument cluster. Wait to start light doesn't come on all the time. Tach isn't working. Temp and Oil gauge barely go up. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif Speed O and mileage indicator work. Instrument cluster lights work. I have checked all fuses and they are good. Not sure where to go from there.

 

[williape]

UPDATE: Left work today and the gauges were still acting as described above. Drove about 50 yards and the ABS light came on and all the other gauges started working. When I got home and turn the truck off all was fine. Turn the key back on, wait to start light came on and truck started like normal. Except the ABS light is on, checked brake fluid and it is full. Any help with the gremlins in my gauge/instrument cluster would be greatly appreciated. Don't want to take it to Ford.

 

[danjreed]

I don't know why, but I have a perverse love of chasing Gremlins.

It looks like to get this one you're going to have to go inside the dash a ways.
Here (link to diagram) you can see on the left side of the right hand page the schematic of the warning lights & such.
There are 4 connectors on the instrument panel. 1 is for the diesel only lights such as WTS, WIF, etc. C is just for the speedo & odometer. The other two (A and B) are split in really wierd ways between the rest of the gauge & indicator functions. You probably should check these connectors to make sure they're making a good connection to the cluster.

The next time it acts up, try 4hi, 4low, high beams, and turn signals. This should help figure out what's up if cleaning the connectors doesn't help.

 

[williape]

Thanks for the information Cowboy_Dan. I will dive into this tomorrow night after work. I will try 4hi, 4low, high beams, and turn signals if it messes up.

Thanks

 

[Garbage_Mechanic]

Yea, I had one like that. I R&R'd the cluster and took it apart to clean the dust out of it. When I got it back together the tach didn't work. By the time I made time to tear it apart agian, it started working again by itself. Still working 3 yrs later???? You have no idea how many of these type of isses I see in the fleet.

 

[williape]

Didn't get a chance to clean the connectors last night. On my way to work today the same thing happened with the instrument cluster not working right. I did what Cowboy_Dan suggested; turned the hi-beams on (that worked, indicator came on) and put the truck in 4H and 4 Low (neither indicator came on). Also noticed that even though most of the gauges and lights on the cluster aren't working the speed odometer works. Not sure if this changes what Cowboy_Dan suggested as far as clean the connectors or not.

 

[danjreed]

If you notice from my diagram I posted earlier, the high beams indicator uses a different ground (Connector A, Pin 3) than the rest of the indicators on that connector. So that side of the connector is OK, at least right then.
Now, pin A11 is the Low range indicator, A12 is the 4x4 indicator, A13 is the ground on connector A for everything except high beams and Seatbelt indicator. A14 is the supply for the charge indicator.
The Speedo & odometer is on a completely seperate connector and circuit, so the fact that it was working doesn't tell us much other than that connector is OK.
It sounds to me like the high numbered side of the A connector is loose, maybe corroded or just plain dirty. Make sure your gauge and security wiring isn't pulling it loose.

 

[williape]

Just got done taking the instrument cluster out and cleaning all three connectors on the back. While I had it out I inspected the wires and everything else I could reach/think of, all looked good. Connections on the three connectors did look a little dirty. Put it all back together and all seems good, so far. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif Again, thanks for the help and I will post again if it starts acting up.