Hello, I have a 2003 F150 XL with a 4.2 liter V6 engine and 5 speed manual transmission. I experience loss of the illuminated odometer during trips. This is annoying and prevents me from accurately estimating my gas milage. The odometer will magically light up after an unspecified amount of time. It does not appear to be as much of an issue at night. Sometimes if you tap the instrument panel with your finger, it will light up again. Does anyone know how to fix this random problem? The LED lights are bright green when they are working properly. Any help would be appreciated.

 

It's a very common problem in f150s of these years. To fix it you have to pull out the gauges and re solder the odometer connections, 30 minute fix if you know what your doing.

 

I have this same problem on my 1999 F150 XLT 5.4L RWD. I didn't know much about it at the time. And I'm learning as I go. I took it to an automotive electrical shop. They sent my cluster to some outside source(can't remember the name), an when they called me, they said that it would be a $620 fix approximately. Thankfully I didn't have it done. I need to see about doing this or getting this done!

 

Do the gauges come out easily? I know how to solder. You would use silver solder to reconnect the odometer? If the gauges can be removed easily, I think that I can do this repair.

 

You have to take all of the upper dash panels on the drivers side off then the whole cluster can be unbolted. There's a video on YouTube somewhere ill see if I can find it

 

Here's the video

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sourc...SApfGlPnjZFU_w

 

^ I just watched that one and was going to post it here

He did a good job of documenting the process. I'm hoping to fix mine in the next week or so. It's the best video I've seen on the subject. There is a lot of to do, but it's not too intense or difficult.

 

2thousand5.4 and everyone.

Thank you for all your help. Everything you said makes perfect sense. When the AC is on and the truck cabin is cold, you have lights. In the winter when it is cold outside, you have lights. At night it gets colder and the connection is ok.

The problem is when you are on the road and it is hot and not running AC. Then the solder connection fails.

I will watch video and let you know how it goes.

 

No problem! Hopefully everything goes smoothly. I havnt watch the video in awhile but if I remember right the guy didn't take off the top dash panel. I find it a whole lot easier to take off the top one . It's just a few more bolts. With it off the cluster come out and goes back in a lot easier.

 

Great video! He did a great job! Mine should be slightly easier because I have a manual transmission and no gear selector in the cluster.

Thanks again.

Dale