Ford F150 Instrument Cluster Not Working (with Fix!)

You know when it comes to driving it is pretty important that you know how fast you are driving and whether your engine may be about to overheat. I think most people would agree with this but just imagine if you suddenly couldn’t see your speed.

When it comes to older vehicles we had those speedometers that had a physical dial that you could watch rise and fall as you sped up or slowed down. In modern vehicles like the latest Ford F150 models these have been replaced with digital representations.

Don’t get me wrong these are very cool and techy but if all your gauges are part of a digital cluster and that cluster breaks down you are in trouble. You can’t see your speed, how much gas you have, the engine temperature and other important information relating to how your truck is operating.

In this post we are going to take a closer look at the Ford F150 instrument cluster and some of the reasons that it may stop working. We will also discuss some potential fixes that will save you a trip to the dealership or mechanic.

Why Is Your Ford F150 Instrument Cluster Not Working?

You’ve gotten into your truck, started it up and everything’s fine except you have no instrument cluster. It didn’t light up and now you can’t go anywhere because you have no way of tracking your speed. This can be caused by a number of issues but we will take a look at the most commonly reported issues and how you can fix the problem.

It should be noted certain gauges on the instrument cluster may fail to work because of a sensor failure connected to that system. It would necessarily be an issue with the cluster so the fix would need to be directed at the sensor and system in question.

What Are The Symptoms of a Bad Instrument Cluster?

As mentioned the issue with the instrument cluster on your Ford f150 might be a more localized issue so it is important to look at the specific symptoms of the problem. This way you can more easily discover the underlying issue and of course the potential fix that is needed.

A common sign that your instrument cluster is experiencing a problem might be that the speedometer goes dark or has illumination issues. You may also notice that the odometer is no longer giving you a reading on miles traveled.

You may receive warning icons on the display telling you there is a specific issue with the instrument cluster. Other indications could include random flickering of various displayed gauges or clearly incorrect readings. As an example if you just filled up the gas tank and it still reads empty.

How to Reset the Ford F150 Instrument Cluster

Some of these issues may simply be an annoying glitch which of course is a very common issue that all Ford F150 owners will likely experience. There isn’t really a problem to fix, the system may just need a reset to clear out the glitch.

This is thankfully an easy problem to solve and requires a simple reset. The process for this is outlined below.

• Place your key into your Ford F150s ignition and hold in place
• Turn the key to the 0 or I position. The 0 means it is locked and the I means accessory which makes them the reset positions
• Press and hold the SEL/RESET knob. This can be found on the right side of the steering wheel in the middle of where the speedometer gauge displays
• Hold for a count of 10 seconds and release this should reset the system and hopefully your display will be functioning again

What to Do if The Issue Is a Faulty Wiring Harness

The issue with the instrument cluster may be connected to a loose or faulty wire in the wiring harness. This harness is found around the shifter lever but consult your user manual for instructions on how to access this as it can vary based on model years.

Once you have located the wiring harness perform a visual inspection to look for scorched, worn, broken or loose wires. If something looks obviously damaged you will want to have this replaced without delay. Generally speaking you might want an expert on this especially if your truck is still under warranty.

It should be noted that at times the issue may be the fault of a sensor rather than the wiring or even a voltage regulator. This means you may need to dig deeper to get to the reason for your faulty instrument cluster issues.

A Few Important Notes on Wiring Issues

• I mentioned the voltage regulator, this is a part that helps the correct flow of current in the circuit and if this fails it usually indicates there is a broken wire
• Wiring issues can cause your instrument cluster to incorrectly display the maximum reading on the gauges. If your speedometer is maxed out and you are idling in the driveway there’s clearly an issue and it’s probably wiring related
• Wiring can cause dim instrument cluster displays or make the gauges appear hazy
• Wiring is not an easy fix by any means unless you happen to be an expert in wiring trucks this is probably best left to the professionals to fix. If you make a mistake you might cause far more expensive issues

It Might Be a Simple Blown Fuse

Fuses are great little devices for regulating the flow of current around a circuit but a power surge can so easily cause one to blow. Our home fusing is designed with circuit breakers that protect the fuses from these surges so you need only flip a switch back on to get the power flowing again.

This is not the case in our cars however despite the fact that there are some circuit breakers in cars they do not protect all the fuses and they can and often do eventually burn out. You should therefore familiarize yourself with where the fuse box is located on your Ford F150 and which fuses pertain to the instrument cluster.

The location and specific fuse number may vary depending on the model year so always make sure you know what you are looking at. Commonly the fuse for the instrument cluster is .29 but do make sure to double check this before moving forward with the fix.

This can be a simple fix as you only need a new fuse which must match the old one, some needle nose pliers and a can do attitude.

• Locate and open the fuse box panel
• Locate the correct fuse it may be visibly burned out or even slit down the middle
• To remove the old fuse use the needle nose pliers as it may be broken and come away in two parts rather than one
• Replace the old fuse with an identical new one and close up the fuse box

It should be noted that in some of the older Ford F150 models the failure of one fuse may also cause some other fuses to blow as well. This is why you also might want to check the other fuses for signs of damage or burnout.

Running certain systems at the same time can actually cause blown fuses so be aware of this if you experience repeated issues with the same fuse.

Bad Connection on The Circuit Board

A commonly reported issue is related to the odometer disappearing from the instrument cluster display. This may not seem like a big deal in the grand scheme of things as it’s not vital to know how far the truck has traveled but it can be a big issue eventually.

The reason for this fault is often that one of the soldered connections in the circuit board has broken or is poorly made. This can be a costly fix for what it is depending on how you go about the repair. Detaching the fuse panel and taking it to a specialist might cost $150 but that could be doubled if you can’t detach the panel.

Now although we always suggest getting an expert to deal with electrical repairs we do understand that sometimes money is an issue at times. So we will give you a walk through of how you can potentially fox this solder issue yourself.

Opening the Circuit Panel

Locate the circuit panel, it should be on one side of the steering column, and you may need to use your owner manual to find this. Behind the panel you will find the circuit board which will be held in place with 7mm screws.

You will need to unscrew these screws and keep them safe ready for reattachment later. Be sure to be delicate taking the circuit board out as you do not want to cause further damage.

Detach the Wiring Harness

Take out the steering wheel to expose the circuit harness and remove the bolts holding it in place. The next step will be to remove the circuit board. Unbolt the 7mm nut drivers that are attached to the instrument panel. There are four of them once this is done you can gently remove the harness.

Locate the Bad Solder Joint

Open up the circuit board by removing the screws that hold on the white cover. This will allow you to inspect the solder flow and locate any damaged joints. You may need a magnifying glass to get a better look at the damaged joints.

Use a Soldering Pencil to Fix the Joint

Once you have located the issue use a soldering pencil to repair the broken joint. You may want to watch a video on using this pencil and perhaps practice before tackling the circuit board. Once fixed you can reconnect everything back up in the reverse order you took it all apart.

Can I Fix the Issues Myself?

When it comes to a blown fuse or an issue that just requires a reset then the average truck owner should definitely be able to handle these repairs. If the problem is more technical it may be something that should be left to professionals.

Those with electrical experience may feel confident taking on the challenge of fixing wiring or repairing solder issues and that is all well and good. If you do not have these skills it is perhaps something you should leave well alone.

Spending money to have someone else do the repair may not seem appealing but if you were to get something wrong it could end up costing you far more in the long run. There’s no shame in admitting you can’t do something and getting help.

Conclusion

The instrument cluster on the Ford F150 is an impressive looking hi-tech addition to your truck but it does suffer from occasional problems. This is something that we rely on for many diagnostic tools regarding our truck so when it breaks down we could be facing issues.

It is an expensive piece of technology to fix or replace and may run upwards of $1100 so it’s best to avoid messing around with it if we do not know what we are doing. We might think we can fix a wire but if this backfires we may need to replace the whole system.

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