Instrument Cluster Problem

Hank_1 · 05-03-2008, 04:03 PM

Car: 2001 AUII Futura Classic

Problem: Instruments intermittently dying on me. LCD trip meter in the centre bottom of view goes blank, rev counter, speedo, fuel and oil temp guages freeze in place. Problem lasts whilst I drive - the following morning they're ok again.

Rebel Ford Diagnosis: Car in today - they tell me there could be a dry joint or problem on the circuit board driving the gauges. New instrument cluster $750 + labour + resetting odometer?

Anybody got a more cost effective alternative? I'd really appreciate some help here.

**Professor Farnsworth** · 05-03-2008, 04:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hank_1

Car: 2001 AUII Futura Classic

Problem: Instruments intermittently dying on me. LCD trip meter in the centre bottom of view goes blank, rev counter, speedo, fuel and oil temp guages freeze in place. Problem lasts whilst I drive - the following morning they're ok again.

Rebel Ford Diagnosis: Car in today - they tell me there could be a dry joint or problem on the circuit board driving the gauges. New instrument cluster $750 + labour + resetting odometer?

Anybody got a more cost effective alternative? I'd really appreciate some help here.

i'm sure you could pick up a second hand instrument cluster from a wrecker for $150 or so. I know BA units go for this much so i'd imagine an AU wouldn't be too much different. As long as you don't mind it having a different KM reading.

Try contacting site sponsor FTG Autosalvage

Hank_1 · 05-03-2008, 04:40 PM

Thanks for the advice mate...this seems reasonable.

I found a reference to instructions on removing the cluster at http://www.aufalcon.com/aufalcon.htm , then looking under "workshop" for an article explaining how to remove the cluster. Unfortunately the weblink no longer works; I think the website address was changed.

Anybody got a new link to this article?

b2tf · 05-03-2008, 04:58 PM

Dont have a link but provided you're careful it is easy to do.

At the top of the cluster there's 2 plastic plugs, carefully prise these out and you'll see 2 philips head screws. Undo these, then carefully prise the cluster out, making sure you get the actual cluster and not just the plastic fascia in front of it.

The easiest way I've found is to pop out the fuel door/boot release buttons (they just pull out) from the dash, and then wedge a long screwdriver up behind the cluster and carefully prise it out that way. If you've never had it out before, it can be pretty firm and hard to get moving, but once you've got it on it's way, its a very simple process.

Obviously refitting is the reverse.

ronwest · 05-03-2008, 05:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hank_1

Anybody got a new link to this article?

Here it is:-
http://www.fordforums.com.au/vbporta...article&id=305

Hank_1 · 05-03-2008, 05:17 PM

Thanks for the quick help guys!

Can I simply use any AUII cluster?

HLC · 05-03-2008, 05:56 PM

yep. should be a straight swap.

**Uncle_Ken** · 06-03-2008, 10:12 AM

When you get it out check the cable conections, soem of the wires may be 'lose'. turn the keys to just before you start the engine, move the cable and see if any of the lights come on/off.

Uncle Ken

Hank_1 · 06-03-2008, 12:20 PM

Hey Uncle Ken,
Do you mean my problems may simply be related to a loose wire? (rather than a bum unit)

Since the problem is intermittent I guess the best time to do this is when it's not working?

Murphy's Law - it's been fine all the way home from the Ford Dealer and all the way to work today!

**Uncle_Ken** · 06-03-2008, 02:00 PM

I just know I thought my door locks had gone but having spent a weekend pulling of all the door trims checking and then replacing them I pulled out the cluster unpluged/pluged and hey presto all good. If you have a go leave the cluster out and drive around the block (carfully of course) and keep an eye on the cluster. If you are lucky it might just be a lose conection

UK

GK · 06-03-2008, 03:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Uncle_Ken

When you get it out check the cable conections, soem of the wires may be 'lose'. turn the keys to just before you start the engine, move the cable and see if any of the lights come on/off.

Uncle Ken

Good suggestion Ken, many a gremlin has been caused by a loose connection / plug.

GK

tickford90 · 06-03-2008, 03:24 PM

Hey guys,
My cluster has stuffed up too so i bought one from ebay and the seller was from a wrecker and had tested it and everything and it worked properly (according to them). But it doesnt' light up when the headlights are on, the right indicator doesn't display but it click and works, and the tacho jumps as it increases but is normal when decreasing. Does anyone know if it is just a fuse or something along those lines. I have pulled out and swapped the fuse in the fusbox below the steering wheel and unplugged the cluster and reconnected it too??? thanks guys look forward to your suggestions. P.S. everything works other than that

F6 R-Spec · 06-03-2008, 06:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tickford90

Hey guys,
My cluster has stuffed up too so i bought one from ebay and the seller was from a wrecker and had tested it and everything and it worked properly (according to them). But it doesnt' light up when the headlights are on, the right indicator doesn't display but it click and works, and the tacho jumps as it increases but is normal when decreasing. Does anyone know if it is just a fuse or something along those lines. I have pulled out and swapped the fuse in the fusbox below the steering wheel and unplugged the cluster and reconnected it too??? thanks guys look forward to your suggestions. P.S. everything works other than that

Check your globes there probably burnt out,
Also with sticky tach needles, you will find the needle base is touching the display facia, you might have to lift the clear plastic of and then with two screw drivers lightly lift the needle up a little, enough so it won't touch the facia.
This happened to mine only in warm weather, and after a 20min drive at night when the instrament light's where on, it heated the facia lightly warping it enough to make the needle stick.
cheers mick.

tickford90 · 07-03-2008, 12:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PURSUIT-250

Check your globes there probably burnt out,
Also with sticky tach needles, you will find the needle base is touching the display facia, you might have to lift the clear plastic of and then with two screw drivers lightly lift the needle up a little, enough so it won't touch the facia.
This happened to mine only in warm weather, and after a 20min drive at night when the instrament light's where on, it heated the facia lightly warping it enough to make the needle stick.
cheers mick.

Thanks for your advice but with the globes I have replaced the globes and still no good. Anyone else have some thoughts? Is there fuses in the cluster itself?

Hank_1 · 11-03-2008, 03:31 PM

It's now four days since the "problem" was diagnosed, and I've driven the car on three out of the four days doing about 200km....NO PROBLEMS?

"Knock on wood", it was a dodgy connection that got inadvertently "fixed" when the Ford guys pulled it out and stuck it back in!

GK · 11-03-2008, 03:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tickford90

Hey guys,
My cluster has stuffed up too so i bought one from ebay and the seller was from a wrecker and had tested it and everything and it worked properly (according to them). But it doesnt' light up when the headlights are on, the right indicator doesn't display but it click and works, and the tacho jumps as it increases but is normal when decreasing. Does anyone know if it is just a fuse or something along those lines. I have pulled out and swapped the fuse in the fusbox below the steering wheel and unplugged the cluster and reconnected it too??? thanks guys look forward to your suggestions. P.S. everything works other than that

Did you replace a low series cluster with an XR or High series item? If so, you'd have a few issues, one being the right indicator, the other being the abs light.

There are some wires that need cutting from the right plug and connecting to pins on the cluster. Pain of a job. I had mine working okay but the "new" cluster had a faulty temp gauge. I haven't got around to having another go at it.

GK

tickford90 · 12-03-2008, 11:06 AM

Oh yeah you read my mind!! I want to take it to an auto electrician but I just needed to know exactly what was wrong with it so they don't charge me an arm and a leg. Thanks for the input, I did swap the low series with the XR version. They only had the XR ones on ebay so yeah. Thanks for that, I'll get a professional to do it. Does anyone know of a good auto electrician on the Gold Coast???