Hello all. I have been reading this site for some time and thought that I would pick everyone's brain on an instrument cluster question. The PU is a 2006 F350 4X4 with 96,000 miles, manual trans and is bone stock. I bought the truck in May of this year and so far have has no major problems ( till I post this! ). RIght after I got the truck the oil pressure "gauge" decided to point straight down to the F on the fuel gauge. WHen you start the truck the gauge needle will move up to the Low on the oil gauge! I tore the gauge panel apart and moved the needle back to where it should be and it worked for a couple days and then went back to pointing straight down. Then about June the speedo decided to stick at 70 MPH for about three days! It went back to normal and seemed to be working well. It stuck again a couple weeks ago for about a day and then fixed itself. Took it to the local dealer and they checked for codes and found nothing. THeir solotuion was a new gauge cluster for $700! Well my question, is there a fix or buy a new one from Ford. Thank you all in advance and this is a great site!

 

My truck will do something similar. When the temp outside starts to drop, my speedo will stick at various spots. Seems like it has got to be 20 degrees or less outside before it will start happening. Once it heats up in the cab, it will start to work.

From what I have been able to find is there is some sort of issue with delamination on a few of the instrument clusters. Not really sure if this is accurate or not, but to cut to the chase, I haven't found any sort of solution short of replacing the cluster.

For what it's worth, $700 is robbery. I stopped by local ford dealer last winter and the cost for a new cluster (Lariat version) was $400 and some change. I laughed at them and walked out the door. I have a SCT Livewire or a Scangauge II that I can use (prefer the Scangauge II) or my GPS. I have checked the Scangauge reading w/ my GPS and they are usually dead on or 1 mph apart max.

I made a mount to put the scangauge beneath my rearview mirror and have found that even in the summer time my speedo will be right on one minute and then off by 5 mph a few minutes later, all with the cruise set. So don't trust that it is working correctly just because it is moving.

I don't know how involved it is to replace the cluster. Not sure if you have to program it with the correct mileage or if you just plug it in and go. Maybe someone else can chime in and answer that question. Check around on the internet for a better price on the cluster. Tousley ford out of Minnesota has good prices on parts. Or simply try a different ford dealer.

Good Luck!!
Matt

 

I'm pretty sure that you have to have them reprogrammed for the right mileage.

 

Been having alot fo problems wiht my cluster also. But more problems involved . Like speedo sticking or just not working at all or boucning around everywhere. When that happens the Turbo shuts off and will not gain any boost over about 7. The Odometer will also quit working when this happens. Took it to Ford and they could not find anything. It soon went back to working normal aain. Then started messing up again. Took it back to ford and only sulotion they had wa to replace the speedsensor in the rear end. That fixed it for about 5 mins. So they told me that if it happens again then it is something wrong with the rear end. NOT. Took it back to Ford once again while it was doing it. Showed a tech that if you tapped the stearing wheel the speedo would bounce around. He dug into it and still couldnt find the problem. SO now after a few months of this coming and going and just by slwoing going over everything I have found that under the fuse box on the left side fender well there is some connections ( clips ) I have found they come loose to a point that it effects the cluster sometimes. Onlt fix I can find it to wiggle them and push them back together again.

Also if it effects you Odometer and your over the warranty for everything lese but the Smog, 6.0 PS warranties. It ecomes a smog issue and has to be fixed by Ford. Well here in California it ahs to be anyways. As the Smog issues go to 100k.

Hope some of this helps. Check the conncetiuons under the fuse boxc

 

Thank's for all the info. I was pretty sure that it would be a new instrument cluster. Guess I will check around for a new one and at the same time check into some type of tuner/ scanner as I see from reading through several threads that one would be very handy! My only concern has been the oil gauge.

Soapy