Hi everyone! This is my first post here. I just wish it was a more 'up' topic.

I have a 2009 ranger fx4. 4x4 automatic 4.0L.

Driving home from Gander last week (1.5 hour drive), about a third of the way home, something weird happened. With no warning, my cluster malfunctioned. The tach, temperature, and speedometer all went back to zero. Also the warning lights malfunctioned. Lights that normally would be off like the 4x4, 4x4 low range, abs, brake and temperature all came on. Lights that should have been on (cruise and fog lamps) went off.

The first thing I did was turn down the stereo so I could hear the engine. It was running normally with no noticeable lost in power. There was no smell of smoke so I continued on home with no other issues.

The next time I attempted to start the truck I got a no crank issue. I noticed when I turned the ignition on the check engine light did not come on. Just two lights came on: the seat belt and abs, I think.

The first thing I thought of, since I use the truck snowploughing, was a connector came loose from the cluster. This was not the case. I checked fuses and relays for the pcm and ignition and they were fine.

I called a couple mechanics and both said wiring. I was thinking computer seeing how everything went at the same time. I removed the computer and got the part number. I decided to listen to the mechanics and went with a wiring issue. Not wanting to take on a wiring issue myself I had it towed to the local garage. They've been working on it since Monday afternoon with no solution.

What do you think? What would cause this to happen and what is the solution?

 

Google: Ford Ranger Instrument Cluster Self-Diagnostic Mode

See if there are any "codes" that come up, this is also called Instrument Cluster Engineering Mode

The newer dashboards use a built-in microprocessor so "second computer", it does "talk" with the PCM(main computer), but this micro-processor controls all the gauges on it's own, as you will see in the Test mode.

What you described is what happens when engine is off, truck is stopped(assuming no speedo MPH) and key is On, all the gauges showed low(0) and all the lights associated with key on, engine off, came on.

But engine remained running, and running fine from your description, so I would think PCM is fine, but micro-processor should be looked at.

 

Thanks. Yes, the engine ran fine until I shut it off by my door. Then I got the no crank issue. I'll pass this info on to the mechanic. I hope this is it.