Fox T-Bird/Cougar Forums

Technical => Electrical Tech => Topic started by: mechanized on October 22, 2014, 11:13:47 AM

Title: '87 Cougar digital dash issue
Post by: mechanized on October 22, 2014, 11:13:47 AM
Hey All,

    Like the title says I have an issue. The instrument cluster is the full digital. On Saturday I had to change the heater core and when doing this I remove just enough to get to the heater box lid on the passenger side obviously. The instrument cluster was not messed with or disconnected at all. Now the tach side with the gauges is not working at all after reassembling. So, I pulled the cluster just to see if anything had been unplugged and everything looks secure. The speedo and trip side of the cluster work fine.  Any ideas or where to look???:dunno:

Thanks for looking!
Title: '87 Cougar digital dash issue
Post by: mcb82gt on October 22, 2014, 01:53:23 PM
Could have caught wiring in the center stack area,  I remember hearing about that after heater core change.  Dumb question, did you check the bulb itself for that side?
Title: '87 Cougar digital dash issue
Post by: jcassity on October 22, 2014, 02:39:06 PM
wow,, your experience is what I feared so I did this
http://www.foxtbirdcougarforums.com/showthread.php?34998-AND-NOW!!!!-It-s-a-1hour-or-less-heater-core&daysprune=100


finish extracting cluster to the point you can wiggle test the connector with the key on,, actually you will have to have the key on in order to have the column shifter DOWN.

after that and nothing on the wiggle test of the wiring into the connector or connector to the cluster yields any positive results.....
unplug the cluster and start looking for the wire or connector that came loose.

your saying the "Whole" side for tac is dark?
Title: '87 Cougar digital dash issue
Post by: jcassity on October 22, 2014, 02:40:44 PM
I have shop manuals that go much deeper into the electronic cluster for troubleshooting steps,, I never got around to scanning those up yet but, to be afraid to check out the 87evtm below in my signature
Title: '87 Cougar digital dash issue
Post by: mechanized on October 22, 2014, 03:23:51 PM
Quote from: mcb82gt;439522
Could have caught wiring in the center stack area,  I remember hearing about that after heater core change.  Dumb question, did you check the bulb itself for that side?


No, i didn't check the bulb. Think it could be that, it's like its totally dead....can't see anything. I thought that maybe you could barely see the read outs but not illuminated with a bad bulb.


Quote from: jcassity;439523
wow,, your experience is what I feared so I did this
http://www.foxtbirdcougarforums.com/showthread.php?34998-AND-NOW!!!!-It-s-a-1hour-or-less-heater-core&daysprune=100


finish extracting cluster to the point you can wiggle test the connector with the key on,, actually you will have to have the key on in order to have the column shifter DOWN.

after that and nothing on the wiggle test of the wiring into the connector or connector to the cluster yields any positive results.....
unplug the cluster and start looking for the wire or connector that came loose.

your saying the "Whole" side for tac is dark?


Wow, that was a good idea! My Dad did something similar to a '79 firebird he had years ago. The blower motor went out and to change it you have to pull the passenger side inner fender which is no fun!! So, he cut a hole in the inner fender big enough to remove the blower motor and made a sheet metal plate to cover the hole.

Yeah, totally dead and the warning chime keeps beeping too.

Thanks for the replies, going to dig a bit into it after work!
Title: '87 Cougar digital dash issue
Post by: mcb82gt on October 22, 2014, 05:52:30 PM
Burned out bulb will appear with no illumination, if you shine a light on the cluster you can still see the data below.
Title: '87 Cougar digital dash issue
Post by: mechanized on October 22, 2014, 07:40:58 PM
Ok, bulb it was! Picked up some 194 LED lights and made a significant difference! Thanks for the responses!
Title: '87 Cougar digital dash issue
Post by: mcb82gt on October 22, 2014, 10:22:23 PM
Glad it was easy fix.  There is a easy way to reset that service light under the speedo, if thats what it is.
Title: '87 Cougar digital dash issue
Post by: mechanized on October 22, 2014, 10:25:34 PM
Oh yeah? How do I go about doing that?
Title: '87 Cougar digital dash issue
Post by: mcb82gt on October 22, 2014, 10:31:46 PM
, I knew that was coming LOL.  Ill look it up and post it, I cant remember off the top of my head, but I know its easy.

Had to get my manual.  Press trip and trip reset at same time and hold till 3 beeps and light should go out.
Title: '87 Cougar digital dash issue
Post by: 88turbo on October 22, 2014, 10:39:14 PM
Hey buddy, I've been trying to get ahold of you. Check your PM's
Title: '87 Cougar digital dash issue
Post by: mechanized on October 22, 2014, 11:08:16 PM
Hey! How's it going? I'll check them.
Title: '87 Cougar digital dash issue
Post by: mechanized on October 23, 2014, 03:06:34 AM
Quote from: mcb82gt;439568
, I knew that was coming LOL.  Ill look it up and post it, I cant remember off the top of my head, but I know its easy.

Had to get my manual.  Press trip and trip reset at same time and hold till 3 beeps and light should go out.


Ok I'll give that a try tomorrow! Thanx!
Title: '87 Cougar digital dash issue
Post by: jcassity on October 23, 2014, 10:18:53 AM
its a service reminder, that's all.
learning that trick cost me a 12pack of beer from 7eleven to be hand delivered to the dealership tech, he said he would have the issue cleared before I got back and I bet him he would not.  that was in 1991 down in va beach.  I was pretty green to these cars then but had been driving them for a while by then.
Title: '87 Cougar digital dash issue
Post by: mechanized on October 24, 2014, 06:56:54 PM
Well I tried that and in less then 2 seconds it was gone!! Thanks for the tip; that light has been on for years!!
Title: '87 Cougar digital dash issue
Post by: V8Demon on October 25, 2014, 12:19:47 PM
Quote from: jcassity;439600
its a service reminder, that's all.
learning that trick cost me a 12pack of beer from 7eleven to be hand delivered to the dealership tech, he said he would have the issue cleared before I got back and I bet him he would not.  that was in 1991 down in va beach.  I was pretty green to these cars then but had been driving them for a while by then.

Lol.  You got played!!
Title: '87 Cougar digital dash issue
Post by: johnny on November 01, 2014, 12:57:10 PM
Does anyone.know.if a LSC HVAC digital Climate Control fit in my 1987 cougar xr7
Title: '87 Cougar digital dash issue
Post by: johnny on November 01, 2014, 12:58:30 PM
A lincoln mark vii digital climate controll i should say
Title: '87 Cougar digital dash issue
Post by: mechanized on November 01, 2014, 08:19:03 PM
I'm sure it will physically fit, not sure about the wiring though, that's a different matter for sure!!