I was trying to fix my speedometer today and I took apart the dash. I removed the gauge cluster and unplugged all the wires. There was a little black tube that i did not disconnect. Then i plugged everything back in and took a test drive and the speedo still didn't work. But now I notice that the lights behind the gauges isn't working. The ones on the left are out, as well as the ones behind the temp and gas gauge on top.


The odometer is also no longer working (my mpg is going WAY up ;-) ) Could this show there is a problem in the computer. Shouldn't the computer know how fast im going to calculate my mileage or does the computer rely on the speedo to tell my mileage?

Is my gauge cluster junk? I tried looking for a new one yesterday at the junk yard and they're kindof hard to find.


Now back to that little black tube....



Here is where the tube begins. It ends at the cluster gauge under the speedo. As you can see there is a little red wire coming out of the beginning of the tube. The little wire connects to a lever of some sort.

I went on a second test drive and had my friend with a mirror watch that lever to see if it moved. He didn't think he could see it moving. Could this have something to do with the speedo?

Here are some more pictures of the tube from a bit farther out.





IM ABOUT TO KICK HENRY FORD'S BUTT!!!

 

Dude...isn't it obvious?

The little black tube is the gear shift indicator cable. It connects to the end of the gear shifter and pulls on the little orange indicator needle in the gauges that say "P R N D 2 1". It's simple to disconnect the next time you pull the gauges out. Simply slide the red "wire" off of the gear shifter lever as seen in this photo:



With the lever visible, set the parking brake and turn the key to "ON". Shift gears and watch the lever pull on the wire, which pulls on the indicator needle.

 

If your speedometer and odometer aren't working, they are either not receiving a signal, or the connectors/pins are loose and the signal isn't making it to the gauge. Do you have an ABS Light on? As for the gauge lighting, I must assume a fuse has blown, or your connectors are faulty in some way. Check the connectors at the back of the cluster. If they're okay, pull out the bulb housings and check them. (all 6 black bulb housings can be seen below)

 

Thanks!! I didn't even think of the gear shift indicator. Now I feel kindof stupid.

Im thinking that the connections are going bad. The all the lights worked before I removed all of the wires. There are 2 plugs on the back of the gauge cluster. One black, the other Grey. Where could I find out what each of those connectors control. If i could find out that, I may be able to figure out if both things run through one plug. I don't know but it might help me somehow.

 

You'll need a 2004 EVTM, which I don't have. Are you sure it's only two plugs? I think it's 3.

 

Well theres the 2 plugs and then the little black tube.

I think I may have a different gauge cluster. Maybe. When I went to the junk yard. I couldn't find any that looked like it. I checked 03 and 05 Rangers and 03-05 Explorers. They all had the same cluster. Mine only has a tach, speedo, gas, temp and a whole bunch of lights.

I could be wrong but i think im right (but im ussually wrong ;-) )

 

Mine is the same as this one:

http://www.ihumpedurcat.com/ranger/12/IMG_6286.JPG

 

2004+ clusters have 2 connectors and they are completely different from 2003-back. The 04+ cluster contains a microprocessor that keeps track of the odometer and runs the gauges and indicator lights based on inputs from various sensors around the truck. The 6 bulbs that provide gauge illumination are powered independently of the cluster computer.

 

So since it's a gauge AND light problem, we can rule out any processing issues, right? It's highly unlikely the cluster computer went out, in my opinion.

Are you sure you don't have oil pressure and a voltmeter?

 

04+ doesnt have the dummy oil pressure gauge or the voltmeter.

 

It doesnt have the oil press. or voltmeter. On my way to work today it wasnt working. Then on my way home it was WORKING!! Ill wait until tomorrow and see if it still works.

I dunno whats going on.

 

This further confirms my suspicion that it is a short or loose connector.

 

yeah it confirms my thoughts too. With my luck it wont be working again tomorrow morning. So i gotta goto the library and access All-Data and see if i can find out what each of those connectors control.