Is there a way of testing the cluster?

**Mechan1k** · 01-04-2006, 09:27 PM

Just wondering ... my fuel gauge has been giving me the ИИИИs lately.
It goes from Full to empty and back again (many times per day).
I have been doing extensive testing between the tanks and the loom which goes into the back of the cabin of the ute.

I have re-earthed the loom to make sure it is all working fine.

Another issue I have been having with the cluster is that the backlight on the odometer LCD display has beeing "half working" intermittently ... and now tonight the backlight has died altogether.

The fuel gauge is now showing empty with fuel light on (while the driver's side tank is just under half full and the passenger side tank is full).

The needle on the fuel gauge though lifts slightly when I turn the car on ... but stays within the red region of Empty.

Also when i had the intermittently backlight issue where one side would die ... I'd flick the casing of the cluster right in front of the odometer and the light would flick back on again .... it doesn't respond to this anymore.

Is it a case of get myself another cluster and plug it in and away I go (after getting my odometer reading setup correctly)??? Or can I test it another way.

How cheap do standard SII clusters go for????
And who does the odometer change ... Ford i presume???

Any help is appreciated.

SIKSIX · 01-04-2006, 09:38 PM

Personally if i had that problem i would take out the cluster and make sure the plug is in properly.
its pretty easy to remove it, just two screws on the top and then use the kilometer reset thingie to gently pull it out enough to get something in there.

**Mechan1k** · 01-04-2006, 09:46 PM

Did that yesterday as well .... I took the cluster out and reseated both plugs in the rear on the cluster. I turned the ignition to ON when I had the cluster out after reseating plugs and all worked ... even the damn fuel gauge.

Meh.

I used a screwdriver rubber handle from behind up under the fuse box to pop the cluster out with. ;)

SIKSIX · 01-04-2006, 09:55 PM

So have you got the bug fixed?

**Mechan1k** · 01-04-2006, 09:57 PM

Nope ... still have issues ... the gauge worked fine after I reseated plugs ... and re-earthed the loom along the chassis rail at the rear of the ute (where the tank gauge looms connect to the rest of the loom) .... it worked for about 10 km of driving ... then it started playing up again.

Now no backlight on the LCD ... I am not having fun with it.

I am thinking I'll try and look for a replacement cluster and see how that goes .... I guess I could test it before buying it ... if that's possible.

AWD Chaser · 03-04-2006, 07:19 AM

I would say that this may be releated to two seperate issues. Your fuel gauge problem may be related to the fuel sender. If it does say 0, it may just be a faulty sender unit.

With your IC lights, have you tried replacing the globes?

**Mechan1k** · 06-04-2006, 07:22 AM

Fuel senders are brand new ... and so are the floats in both the tanks.

The problem is my fuel guage goes to Full as well ... when it's not full ... and sits up there for ages ... then decides to go to empty again.
I haven't had a chance to pull the cluster again ... but will soon though.

Was kinda annoying ... especially when doing long distance work yesterday ... drove from Sydney to Inverell .... then Glen Innes ... then Armidale ... back to Tamworth ... then back home again in the one day.