Instrument Cluster problems/replacement?
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 3
Likes: 2
Instrument Cluster problems/replacement?
Hi,
First post - please be gentle. Looking for advice on resolving the problem and seeing if there is any hope of warranty claim.
2010 F150 FX4 Screw purchased in Dec 2010 - no mods 80,000km ~50,000miles.
I started getting intermittent warnings for skid control, abs, ebrake in August.
Took the truck to the Ford dealer to read codes, $80 later "no codes were stored"
Drove away from dealer and immediately got more warning lights - straight back to Ford and attached the code reader without turning off the vehicle.
The reader was displaying U* codes at the rate of 1 every 5 seconds - the codes were coming from a variety of sensors.
Turned off the vehicle, restarted - no codes stored.
At this point the tech said he had not seen anything like this and would have to research the problem.
Fast forward 4 weeks after a business trip that left the truck sitting and 600 mile drive to attend a funeral.
During the drive, the dashboard lit up like a Las Vegas billboard. It constantly showed problems, then would 'reset' with the speedo and other gauges going to 0, then back to normal for a few minutes.
A couple of times the wrench symbol was displayed and the truck would go into limp mode - pull over, turn off the vehicle, back on and the wrench was gone and the drive continued...
Another trip to a Ford dealer while in town for the funeral and similar code issues for another $200.
The diagnosis from the tech is now that the Instrument Cluster is the problem and needs replacement (no guarantees though, the BCM is also a potential candidate)
The tech cleaned up connections to the BCM during this visit. (this did not make a difference)
The 600 mile drive home after the funeral was similar to the drive up, I did learn that a 'love tap' to the top of the dash will cause the Instrument Cluster to reset
so...now that I am home, I want to get this fixed up and am looking for the best path for the least $
Thanks in advance for any ideas/suggestions.
First post - please be gentle. Looking for advice on resolving the problem and seeing if there is any hope of warranty claim.
2010 F150 FX4 Screw purchased in Dec 2010 - no mods 80,000km ~50,000miles.
I started getting intermittent warnings for skid control, abs, ebrake in August.
Took the truck to the Ford dealer to read codes, $80 later "no codes were stored"
Drove away from dealer and immediately got more warning lights - straight back to Ford and attached the code reader without turning off the vehicle.
The reader was displaying U* codes at the rate of 1 every 5 seconds - the codes were coming from a variety of sensors.
Turned off the vehicle, restarted - no codes stored.
At this point the tech said he had not seen anything like this and would have to research the problem.
Fast forward 4 weeks after a business trip that left the truck sitting and 600 mile drive to attend a funeral.
During the drive, the dashboard lit up like a Las Vegas billboard. It constantly showed problems, then would 'reset' with the speedo and other gauges going to 0, then back to normal for a few minutes.
A couple of times the wrench symbol was displayed and the truck would go into limp mode - pull over, turn off the vehicle, back on and the wrench was gone and the drive continued...
Another trip to a Ford dealer while in town for the funeral and similar code issues for another $200.
The diagnosis from the tech is now that the Instrument Cluster is the problem and needs replacement (no guarantees though, the BCM is also a potential candidate)
The tech cleaned up connections to the BCM during this visit. (this did not make a difference)
The 600 mile drive home after the funeral was similar to the drive up, I did learn that a 'love tap' to the top of the dash will cause the Instrument Cluster to reset
so...now that I am home, I want to get this fixed up and am looking for the best path for the least $
Thanks in advance for any ideas/suggestions.
5 Year Member
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 87
Likes: 11
I work for a cluster Manuf and I see this kind of problem on other OEM's. Its communication issues. I suspect caused by poor wiring connectors. I wouldn't do the BCM, I think it won't solve your issue. I would try disconneting the cluster and leave it unconnected for a period of time and reconnect it. I would do this with the battery unhooked. And also check the cluster connector and make sure the oins are all ok.
Ford Customer Service
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 379
Likes: 39
From: Oakville, ON
Hi,
First post - please be gentle. Looking for advice on resolving the problem and seeing if there is any hope of warranty claim.
2010 F150 FX4 Screw purchased in Dec 2010 - no mods 80,000km ~50,000miles.
I started getting intermittent warnings for skid control, abs, ebrake in August.
Took the truck to the Ford dealer to read codes, $80 later "no codes were stored"
Drove away from dealer and immediately got more warning lights - straight back to Ford and attached the code reader without turning off the vehicle.
The reader was displaying U* codes at the rate of 1 every 5 seconds - the codes were coming from a variety of sensors.
Turned off the vehicle, restarted - no codes stored.
At this point the tech said he had not seen anything like this and would have to research the problem.
Fast forward 4 weeks after a business trip that left the truck sitting and 600 mile drive to attend a funeral.
During the drive, the dashboard lit up like a Las Vegas billboard. It constantly showed problems, then would 'reset' with the speedo and other gauges going to 0, then back to normal for a few minutes.
A couple of times the wrench symbol was displayed and the truck would go into limp mode - pull over, turn off the vehicle, back on and the wrench was gone and the drive continued...
Another trip to a Ford dealer while in town for the funeral and similar code issues for another $200.
The diagnosis from the tech is now that the Instrument Cluster is the problem and needs replacement (no guarantees though, the BCM is also a potential candidate)
The tech cleaned up connections to the BCM during this visit. (this did not make a difference)
The 600 mile drive home after the funeral was similar to the drive up, I did learn that a 'love tap' to the top of the dash will cause the Instrument Cluster to reset
so...now that I am home, I want to get this fixed up and am looking for the best path for the least $
Thanks in advance for any ideas/suggestions.
First post - please be gentle. Looking for advice on resolving the problem and seeing if there is any hope of warranty claim.
2010 F150 FX4 Screw purchased in Dec 2010 - no mods 80,000km ~50,000miles.
I started getting intermittent warnings for skid control, abs, ebrake in August.
Took the truck to the Ford dealer to read codes, $80 later "no codes were stored"
Drove away from dealer and immediately got more warning lights - straight back to Ford and attached the code reader without turning off the vehicle.
The reader was displaying U* codes at the rate of 1 every 5 seconds - the codes were coming from a variety of sensors.
Turned off the vehicle, restarted - no codes stored.
At this point the tech said he had not seen anything like this and would have to research the problem.
Fast forward 4 weeks after a business trip that left the truck sitting and 600 mile drive to attend a funeral.
During the drive, the dashboard lit up like a Las Vegas billboard. It constantly showed problems, then would 'reset' with the speedo and other gauges going to 0, then back to normal for a few minutes.
A couple of times the wrench symbol was displayed and the truck would go into limp mode - pull over, turn off the vehicle, back on and the wrench was gone and the drive continued...
Another trip to a Ford dealer while in town for the funeral and similar code issues for another $200.
The diagnosis from the tech is now that the Instrument Cluster is the problem and needs replacement (no guarantees though, the BCM is also a potential candidate)
The tech cleaned up connections to the BCM during this visit. (this did not make a difference)
The 600 mile drive home after the funeral was similar to the drive up, I did learn that a 'love tap' to the top of the dash will cause the Instrument Cluster to reset
so...now that I am home, I want to get this fixed up and am looking for the best path for the least $
Thanks in advance for any ideas/suggestions.
I'm happy to look into options for you. Please PM me your VIN, servicing dealer, full name, and best daytime phone number; I'll get the ball rolling for you.
Bianca
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 3
Likes: 2
Interim Update
keeping a bit of a log here for anyone else that has similar problems.
A picture of the instrument cluster while on the road at 100kph is attached.
Customer case opened with Ford of Canada, appointment booked with dealership for Oct 24th. Ford has been helpful and easy to talk with by phone and on this forum.
Current quote is 2 hrs labour +$700 for a new cluster.
Will see what happens.
(wishing I had bought the extended warranty now...)
A picture of the instrument cluster while on the road at 100kph is attached.
Customer case opened with Ford of Canada, appointment booked with dealership for Oct 24th. Ford has been helpful and easy to talk with by phone and on this forum.
Current quote is 2 hrs labour +$700 for a new cluster.
Will see what happens.
(wishing I had bought the extended warranty now...)
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 3
Likes: 2
final update
A final update for anyone else encountering this.
The problem ended up being a 'cracked' circuit board for the Instrument Cluster.
The crack was near the connector (sorry - no pics)
Ended up with a replacement circuit board installed and everything seems to be back to normal.
Total cost to me was around $1000 for investigation and replacement with 5 visits to 2 dealerships.
...onward.
The problem ended up being a 'cracked' circuit board for the Instrument Cluster.
The crack was near the connector (sorry - no pics)
Ended up with a replacement circuit board installed and everything seems to be back to normal.
Total cost to me was around $1000 for investigation and replacement with 5 visits to 2 dealerships.
...onward.
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Junior Member
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 4
Likes: 3
I know this thread is dead but i thought i'd share my experience. I had the same issue with my gauge cluster after doing some research I came across automotivecircuitsolutions.com and for $100 they rebuilt my cluster. Its been about a month now without cluster problems. I highly recommend them they saved me hundreds of dollars.
