digital dash partially not working

Topic: digital dash partially not working (Read 1818 times) previous topic - next topic

digital dash partially not working

November 06, 2005, 01:53:41 AM

First of all, Hello to all. I'm new to the group and I just bought a 86 cougar 5.0 from my son,(will post pics. soon). The problem that I have is the fuel gauge is all that is working. (the speedometer and trip computer is not showing a display). My son said that when he bought the car it was just the opposite, and then he started having trouble with the speedometer sometimes going off. And then he said that finally the speedometer quit all together and then the fuel gauge started working. That is still the case. The whole thing does light up. Does this mean that I need to replace the whole thing? If so, what all years are the same on the 86? Are T-Birds the same?
Thanks,
Jeff.

digital dash partially not working

Reply #1 – November 06, 2005, 11:44:12 AM

you have a blown fuse. check owners manual or back of glovebox door for locations

or the display is going bad . mine lost the trip computer and speedo from a blown fuse

digital dash partially not working

Reply #2 – November 07, 2005, 12:53:46 PM

Welcome to the board!

First things first, check the bulbs. I would remove the cluster and replace all the bulbs with #194 incandescents. There are two bulbs above each gauge module. It's possible that you just can't see the gauges because they aren't being illuminated.

digital dash partially not working

Reply #3 – November 07, 2005, 01:21:14 PM

I agree with Sleeper T-Bird. If the backlighting is on, but not the digital readouts, then...in the immortal words of the movie "A Christmas Carol"

"Don't anybody move! A fuse is out!"

digital dash partially not working

Reply #4 – November 07, 2005, 02:16:18 PM

An easy way to tell if the gauge is working is to try and position the car so the sun is shining directly on them and see if you can see the display on the gauges. If so, then your problem is bulbs. If you're unable to see anything at all, though, then it is something else.

digital dash partially not working

Reply #5 – November 08, 2005, 12:55:27 AM

Thanks for all of the suggestions so far. I did check the owners manual, and the fuses that have anything to do with the dash/guages are all good. I dont seem to see any numbers at all, but like I mentioned before, the backlights do light up on everything.
With what my Son told me about the speedometer and trip computer sometimes not working,or flickering,it made me thing that something was loose,(wire?) or a bad circit board. That would be strictly a guess being I dont really know how the digital is set up.Also do you know if the dash bezel just pops straight off to remove? I'm going to get a service manual soon, but havent yet since I just got the car a few days ago.

digital dash partially not working

Reply #6 – November 08, 2005, 04:53:46 AM

check the ignition switch. Mine did that and then a couple of months later it wouldn't start. Play with the wires under the colum too. Its the switch, not the lock there are just a couple of screws that hold it on

digital dash partially not working

Reply #7 – November 08, 2005, 12:56:31 PM

The dash bezel has screws that hold it on. There are four across the top, two between the radio and instrument cluster bezels, two on each plate to the left and right of the steering column, and two more under those plates. Once you get all those screws out and pop out the plates, then the instrument cluster bezel will come off. After that, there are four torx head screws that hold the instrument cluster on. Take those off and then reach around behind the cluster and press each side of the two connectors and pull to unlock and unplug them.

Haystack may be onto something. The ignition switches on these cars are pr0ne to failure. Mine failed a few weeks ago and my instrument cluster did the same thing. Backlight was fine, but no display. I replaced the switch, which was an easy fix, and everything worked fine again. The switch is relatively cheap and would be a great thing to do anyway since a failing one is a fire risk.

digital dash partially not working

Reply #8 – November 08, 2005, 05:32:01 PM

Thanks, I'll look at the ignition switch in the next couple of days and reply!

digital dash partially not working

Reply #9 – November 09, 2005, 05:47:28 PM

Well I bought a new ignition switch and, (I feel like a dummy), but I cant figure out how to get the old one out. It looks like the two holes where it fastens on are not even bolts. it looks more like some type of rivets.? I have done ignition switches before but not this type. Also I thought while I had part of the dash apart anyway, I would take out the insturment panel and check the bulbs. I switched around the ones that are above the guages (since the fuel guage worked), to see what would happen. Well, now nothing lights up.? I can still tell that the fuel guage is working and still cant see the other guages on.
I guess that if it isnt the ignition switch, I must need a new guage cluster.?
How much does a good used guage cluster go for? And are they hard to find?

digital dash partially not working

Reply #10 – November 09, 2005, 05:53:48 PM

The ignition switch is held on by two tamper resisitant torx head screws. You have to have the torx bits with the hole in the middle to get the switch out. I have a set of those so it was a snap to get mine out. I'm not sure if there is another way to do it. Someone else may have an alternate solution, but I got my set of tamper proof torx bits pretty cheap.