Thanks for reposting the picture. The first one you posted my computer didn't recognize, but the repost is perfect. hmm. Hard to identify colors but I believe I saw blue or green, yellow red, and brown. Is that correct? In that order. I don't think that is the from your trucks dash. Do you have an overhead console? Does it work? It's a fairly low value resistor, as far as I can read. I am having a hard time reading the band colors.

 

Looks like a 10 or 20 ohm. Someone could have added that after the fact.

Can't really guess on that as to why it was added.

IF it was used on the cluster, there will be two standing solder mounds with nothing in the middle lol. You have to inspect it.

Or a wire, maybe a jumper hanging free.

Still, - could have came off your shoe. Is there solder on the ends?

 

Thanks guys, no overhead console -- the bands appear as dark blue, gray or light blue, burgundy, probably gray. It does not appear as any solder on the ends. I'm thinking both ends probably turned 90 degrees down toward the circuit board. I could post the pics of the circuit board but I think you'd probably not be able to see the detailing enough. I've sent pics to one repair facility, awaiting their reply if they can fix it. No wires hanging loose. Any chance it came from within the fuse box, like when I removed it and removed the GEM? Another poster on here shipped me his spare GEM so I was able to compare the two -- no resistors on either GEM

 

Your question about it being being from the fuse box, NO. Those are wired circuits without resistors etc. I have to agree with the question JBrew asked. Did you pick it up in your shoe from somewhere else? That kind of part laying on the floor, just isn't something you'd find from a regular system. It seems more like a part from another item that got misplaced into your truck. JMO, of course.

 

Heck, it's always possible. The timing is certainly bad though. And I don't normally deal with circuit boards. But then again, when I pulled the dash to do the heater core, a couple of dollars fell out. So anything is possible.

 

Oh, - it must be a dash resistor then.

 

Better than a shoe resistor.

 

UPDATE -- apparently it was a "shoe resistor".


Since I never felt comfortable that my problems were from a defective instrument cluster, I took the vehicle to a different Ford dealer about 70 miles drive one way.


They wanted to run some kind of cleaner through the system -- I guess where they run a special cleaner through it instead of gas. That alone made it run much better. They also told me to replace the spark plugs, plug wires, and air filter. I had replaced the plugs about 10k miles ago with Autolite platinum plugs, but I went ahead and replaced them with Motorcraft platinum ones -- I replaced the plug wires and even though the air filter looked good, I replaced it too.


It no longer has shifting problems, it no longer is kicking out codes, and my gas mileage went up 3.5 mpg.


In removing some of the spark plugs, I am now a believer that their spark plugs can back themselves out -- I found two or three that were too easy to remove.


But it's a good thing I went to the other dealer and got a second opinion.

 

Yea, that's pretty much old news with these engines. Never run Autolites (no-brainer, since this info is everywhere) and torque the plugs to the recommended newer spec, = 28' lbs.

Plugs backing out is your fault for not inquiring or lacking in research. You torqued incorrectly. Dealerships aren't the better resource, but glad you chose someone to listen to. In time , you'll eventually learn to trust forum members who strive in helping fellow members with keeping these trucks running at their best.

 

I posted the info so people know -- not so that someone can chastise me especially after THEY never led me in the right direction, and then act smug about how smart they are. The dealer is the only one that steered me correctly -- easier for them since they look at the vehicle, but your know it all attitude is not appreciated.


ps -- the autolites were put in BEFORE I joined this board. But I'll be sure to clear all my repairs through you from here out.