Hi guys. 98 f150 xlt. I just replaced the cluster lights with leds, and when I tried to test them out the truck won't start and its makeing a bunch of weird noises and the lights won't even work. I'm at a total loss,

 

I know this is a silly question, BUT, did you plug all three harness plugs back in? They can be hard as heck to get fully locked in. I had my dash out just the other day (98), and replaced my 194's with LED's. I had to change 2 bulbs around to make all 5 lights work, but it was easy enough to reach by pulling the cluster forward and have all 3 plugs inserted. Of course you have to remove the shift indicator from the cluster, but that is just a simple clip in.

 

I believe so when I tried to see if they were working the first time the abs light was pulsing and there was a strange poping sound, that has since stopped but there has been other stuff like the dome light flashing and a poping sound when I try to turn on the headlights

 

Did you get into the steering column at all?

 

I'd pull the surround off again and release the shift indicator and pull the cluster to see if everything is still connected. Like i said, they can pop off if they aren't fully inserted. If they are connected, you may have popped a fuse in the system somewhere. You'd have to check your fuses. They are shown in your owners manual. Otherwise, in our 97-98's there isn't a lot that is capable of making those noises. It's a full analog system with rotating wheels and gears and motor.

 

Yep, they can be a PITA to lock back in. Enough of a PITA that I remember having to pull it back out to re-seat the connectors. And that was many years ago lol.

 

Yep problem was I was a dummy and let the battery die. Works fine now, never seen a vehicle act that way with a dead battery before though in my defense. Thank you guys I appreciate the help