odometer light fix
Thread Starter
Paint it black
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,667
Likes: 20
From: washington dc
odometer light fix
so those with a 04+ know that the f150 should have a low fuel light but doesnt, and the chime isnt heard with the stereo on, but we have the lcd display, until the bulb goes out...then what?
well how to fix it:
remove the lower dash kick panel, 2 9/32 bolts, then pull out, then remove the dash cover, again 2 9/32 screws and pull out. remove the 2 electrical connectors, then the 4 9/32 screws that hold the cluster, remove the 7 or 9 8mm screws that hold the clear sheet on and change the bulb, install is reverse of removal.
this fixed mine...and now its bright green and awesome
well how to fix it:
remove the lower dash kick panel, 2 9/32 bolts, then pull out, then remove the dash cover, again 2 9/32 screws and pull out. remove the 2 electrical connectors, then the 4 9/32 screws that hold the cluster, remove the 7 or 9 8mm screws that hold the clear sheet on and change the bulb, install is reverse of removal.
this fixed mine...and now its bright green and awesome
Junior Member
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
From: Indy
Black Betty Saved Me!
I had my Odo lamp out, and couldn't have changed it out without BlackBetty's thread, thanks! Here's some more tips for the next guy:
1) Record your mileage. If something goes awry, and you have to buy a new cluster from Ford, they may be able to flash the original mileage to a new cluster.
2) Other threads recommend pulling the battery, to disable the airbag, which is probably a good idea, considering proximity to the bag and it's circuitry while working.
3) Tilt your steering wheel down before removing the upper dash panel.
4) Don't pull on the arched part of the upper dash panel, you'll find that it's screwed into the upper panel (I'm bettin' that something's going to break before the clips pull free).
5) Once you have removed the two screws holding the upper dash panel, reach to the front edge of the upper panel (reach toward the front of the truck), and pull the upper panel toward you with your fingertips, until it clears a few clips, and there's a few clips at the bottom, too.
6) The two cable plugs at the top of the cluster itself are removed by depressing a small area at the top of the plug (I used my ignition key to depress it), and swinging the light-gray-colored lever down (the clip on the right plug swings right and then down, the clip on the left plug swings left and then down).
7) Don't pull the cluster out yet! There are two plastic clips holding in the gearshift indicator in place. Remove the indicator by drawing these two clips toward each other, and the cluster will come free from the dash.
8) Changing the lamps:
Odo Lamp - Order and pick up the lamp before you pull your dash apart, so that you only have to pull it apart once. Autozone and NAPA claimed that they could not get these lamps, so I had to pick it up from Ford. I expected worse, they're only about $5, but they had to order it. The parts counter guy seemed to have difficulty in locating the lamp in his database, so it became relevant to know that this was a lamp with a "Gray" holder and not a "Black" holder. Who knew. Ford ordered the lamp without pre-payment, and took the oder over the phone.
9) The Spedo, Tach appear to take the lamps with the "Black" clips, and would be removed the same way (90 degree counter-clockwise twist).
10) Lamp clip removal proved difficult on my cluster, they're likely designed to twist out with finger pressure, but it took a good grip with a pair of hemostats to twist them out. Twist 90 degrees counter-clockwise, and pull out. MAKE SURE that the clip came out with the lamp and the two metal contacts. Mine came out in three pieces, and the small metal parts could easily have shorted something out if left in the cluster. The new one twisted in place with finger pressure.
11) DON'T Pull on the circuit board! I freaked the heck out of myself because after re-assembly, my Odo wasn't working! It appears that in my efforts to remove the stuck lamp holder, I had tweaked the circuit board in the back, and the Odo LCD pulled out of it's plug. Fortunately, it plugged back in without a problem, but I had to pull the cluster out to fix it.
12) Check the cluster out for insects, a well-placed blow gun in the gearshift indicator opening cleared a 10-year old mosquito for me, but by popping a few clips, the lens comes right off, and can be blown out. Don't wipe the inside of the lens, or you'll invariably end up with streaks.
13) Re-assembly is straight-forward, just don't forget to carefully insert the gearshift indicator before mounting the cluster.
1) Record your mileage. If something goes awry, and you have to buy a new cluster from Ford, they may be able to flash the original mileage to a new cluster.
2) Other threads recommend pulling the battery, to disable the airbag, which is probably a good idea, considering proximity to the bag and it's circuitry while working.
3) Tilt your steering wheel down before removing the upper dash panel.
4) Don't pull on the arched part of the upper dash panel, you'll find that it's screwed into the upper panel (I'm bettin' that something's going to break before the clips pull free).
5) Once you have removed the two screws holding the upper dash panel, reach to the front edge of the upper panel (reach toward the front of the truck), and pull the upper panel toward you with your fingertips, until it clears a few clips, and there's a few clips at the bottom, too.
6) The two cable plugs at the top of the cluster itself are removed by depressing a small area at the top of the plug (I used my ignition key to depress it), and swinging the light-gray-colored lever down (the clip on the right plug swings right and then down, the clip on the left plug swings left and then down).
7) Don't pull the cluster out yet! There are two plastic clips holding in the gearshift indicator in place. Remove the indicator by drawing these two clips toward each other, and the cluster will come free from the dash.
8) Changing the lamps:
Odo Lamp - Order and pick up the lamp before you pull your dash apart, so that you only have to pull it apart once. Autozone and NAPA claimed that they could not get these lamps, so I had to pick it up from Ford. I expected worse, they're only about $5, but they had to order it. The parts counter guy seemed to have difficulty in locating the lamp in his database, so it became relevant to know that this was a lamp with a "Gray" holder and not a "Black" holder. Who knew. Ford ordered the lamp without pre-payment, and took the oder over the phone.
9) The Spedo, Tach appear to take the lamps with the "Black" clips, and would be removed the same way (90 degree counter-clockwise twist).
10) Lamp clip removal proved difficult on my cluster, they're likely designed to twist out with finger pressure, but it took a good grip with a pair of hemostats to twist them out. Twist 90 degrees counter-clockwise, and pull out. MAKE SURE that the clip came out with the lamp and the two metal contacts. Mine came out in three pieces, and the small metal parts could easily have shorted something out if left in the cluster. The new one twisted in place with finger pressure.
11) DON'T Pull on the circuit board! I freaked the heck out of myself because after re-assembly, my Odo wasn't working! It appears that in my efforts to remove the stuck lamp holder, I had tweaked the circuit board in the back, and the Odo LCD pulled out of it's plug. Fortunately, it plugged back in without a problem, but I had to pull the cluster out to fix it.
12) Check the cluster out for insects, a well-placed blow gun in the gearshift indicator opening cleared a 10-year old mosquito for me, but by popping a few clips, the lens comes right off, and can be blown out. Don't wipe the inside of the lens, or you'll invariably end up with streaks.
13) Re-assembly is straight-forward, just don't forget to carefully insert the gearshift indicator before mounting the cluster.
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Thread Starter
Paint it black
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,667
Likes: 20
From: washington dc
Junior Member
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
From: Indy
Color Change
HIGHLY doubtful. The display appears to be one of the black on green styles of yesteryear, the lamp that Ford supplies is a white incandescent. A change to another colored lamp will likely yeild a unintended color, or a deeper shade of green.
As for the lamp number, I checked every possible automotive parts source, none were able to match it. The lamp has a special base, appears to be unique to Ford, so I'm confident that you're stuck with a dealer visit.
As for the lamp number, I checked every possible automotive parts source, none were able to match it. The lamp has a special base, appears to be unique to Ford, so I'm confident that you're stuck with a dealer visit.