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Topic: Blank Electronic Instrument Cluster (Read 1404 times) previous topic - next topic

Blank Electronic Instrument Cluster

I was driving my '87 the other day and my intrument cluster went blank.  It is still lit but nothing displays, there are no letters or numbers in any of the three sections.  It also does not beep when a button is pressed to scroll through the menu.  Does anyone know what may have caused this or how I could fix this?  Please help, thanks!

Blank Electronic Instrument Cluster

Reply #1 –
did you check the fuse, welcome to the board btw!
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

Blank Electronic Instrument Cluster

Reply #2 –
Hey the planets must have gotten in line.

 My dash did almost the same thing. The ctr and pass side sections
went out.

 I checked the fues and pulled the dash and checked the plug still
nothing?????




SCT Tuned by Me(Greg@SpeedyDyno.com)

E.T. 10.28 @ 136.5 MPH 1/4 mile: List of Mods; 351 EFI, AFR heads,AOD,Rousch 13in frt brakes,11in rear brakes, AirRide Tech air ride system, Sub frame connetors,2400 RPM stall, 3.50,BBK shorties,T62PT Turbos  air to air intercooled, Home built kit.
Car weights 3705lbs without driver:burnout:

Blank Electronic Instrument Cluster

Reply #3 –
Mine did the same thing about 2 years ago only 2 of the 3 i think though but it was a fuse. I thing my radio went out also. Is everything else working?
1986 Cougar LS

Blank Electronic Instrument Cluster

Reply #4 –
Next time it happens check your turn signals and heater. If neither work you need an ignition switch.
2015 Mustang GT Premium - 5.0, 6-speed, Guard Green - too much awesome for one car

1988 5.0 Thunderbird :birdsmily: SOLD SEPT 11 2010: TC front clip/hood ♣ Body & paint completed Oct 2007 ♣ 3.55 TC rear end and front brakes ♣ TC interior ♣ CHE rear control arms (adjustable lowers) ♣ 2001 Bullitt springs ♣ Energy suspension poly busings ♣ Kenne Brown subframe connectors ♣ CWE engine mounts ♣ Thundercat sequential turn signals ♣ Explorer overhead console (temp/compass display) ♣ 2.25" off-road dual exhaust ♣ T-5 transmission swap completed Jan 2009 ♣

Blank Electronic Instrument Cluster

Reply #5 –
My parts car '87 Sport, had no odometer display(was lit), otherwise it worked normally... It did make a "thud, clunk" when I tossed it in the trash can...

Blank Electronic Instrument Cluster

Reply #6 –
Mine did that too, right after a long-block installation at a dealership.  Somehow, mysteriously, with no engine in the car, the alternator died, the speedo/odo was fried, and the radio/cassette (original) was fried.  But, I did get two new battery clamps out of the deal.  (I think they connected the battery backward).
 
Methinks you may be looking at a replacement speedo/odo.  I grab 'em every time I find 'em in the yards 'cause they're drying up fast.
:birdsmily:
(X2) '86 Thunderbird, 3.8L CFI, C5 Tranny
 
'92 F-150, 5.0L EFI (SD), M5OD Tranny, 3.08 Dif
 
'70 VW Beetle, 1780cc, twin Solex 43's.

Blank Electronic Instrument Cluster

Reply #7 –
Quote from: morrison.344;236459
I was driving my '87 the other day and my intrument cluster went blank.  It is still lit but nothing displays, there are no letters or numbers in any of the three sections.  It also does not beep when a button is pressed to scroll through the menu.  Does anyone know what may have caused this or how I could fix this?  Please help, thanks!


Ok,,
Ill only share with you what i found when this happend to me.

There is a narrow section of flex print that travels into the speedo module along the bottom of the cluster.  this flex print conflicts your upper steering column cover if ***EVER*** removed in a slighly agressive manner.

There is a plastic / rubber  that encircles the upper half of the sterring column cover and it snags the speedo flex print.

I had a fully green lite display as well.  I discovered from bondocougar that the data / translation was along this path.

I took my dash apart and inspected the flex print for cracks.  I saw what i thought was a crack in the solder run along  the flex print.
I split the flex print lamination open to reveal the solder runs.

I used my meter to continuity check across the length of solder runs (i think there are 6 total in this narrow band of flex print).
I found a couple of runs that were open. 

I snipped the entire flex with my scissors and replaced with individual jumpers of cat5 26awg wire which i soldered on each end.

I submerged each end in clear silicone and layered the wires with a front and back layer of packing tap like duplicating flex print but with wires.

System operated after the repair.

the only way to know is to check.

The green display itself gets power from another path which is more protected and IIRC, is along the arear where your trip set/reset ect is located and to which it branches upward towards the speedo.

To troubleshoot without much work on your part which is what i did..........>
Remove front dash cover
remove steering wheel cover
turn on key
locate a flex print along the bottom of the instrument panel , it will only be about 1/2'' wide.
wiggle test it while watching for a display that tries to come on line.

for the longest time, the white coug did the intermittant thing and i would tap on the dash and it would come back.
I probably broke it long before and did not realize it or perhaps during my speedo mod,, dono but my repair solved the issue.


My thoughts,,,,,,,,,,,,,Everyone with this problem has a broken flex print along the bottom of the actual speedo module.