HELP: Dash Gauges Lose Power but truck still runs: WITH VIDEO

young7.3 · May 5, 2021

Truck details...
07 F-350 Lariet. SCT tuner. No aftermarket radio or gauges.

The truck will be driving normal and without any notice all the dash gauges, lights, radio, digital display, all turn off and read zero. The door locks work but the windows don't. The airbag light is the only thing that stays on.

Video is below.

https://youtu.be/s1jaxTAJq4E

Has anyone else had this issue and if so, what was the solution? We are thinking it is a short in the ignition. Thanks in advance.

bismic · May 5, 2021

When that happens, turn on the headlights and see if that restores the function.

If so, it is the battery saver relay that is soldered into the circuit board of the HEC (Instrument Cluster)

bismic · May 5, 2021

The other possibility would be the accessory delay relay (which is in the fuse box)

6.0 Tech · May 5, 2021

Check alternator voltage output as well. If it’s overcharging it will start killing **** to save it. Like the radio and the cluster. Those could be damaged by 15-16v

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bismic · May 6, 2021

Nice post 6.0Tech.

My thoughts are that the same issues that plagued the FICMs could be at play here as well - ie poor soldering because of the lead-free solder used. Several circuit boards do not seem to do well in situations of high vibration or frequent "jarring" from poor road condition impact.

webb06 · May 6, 2021

Have the cluster rebuilt. There’s a place here local that has them shipped in all the time and repaired. It’s called auto tech rescue.

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bismic · May 6, 2021

For my fix, I've been living with the occasional trick of turning on the headlights for quite some time. Now I have a lazy door lock. One of these days I am gong to have to spend some money.

Good to know another option for cluster repair. CircuitBoardMedics (SC) was the only one I had heard much about.

I assume these are the guys:
https://www.autotechrescue.com/prod...ment-cluster-repair/ford-instrument-clusters/

They seem to be $85 dollars cheaper than CircuitBoardMedics.
https://circuitboardmedics.com/ford-instrument-cluster-repair/

Niteman9 · May 11, 2021

don't know if the 6.0's are the same as the 7.3's but my 2002 was doing the same thing. it was the instrument cluster fuse. The accessory delay relay in the cluster.

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bismic · May 11, 2021

He has had plenty of suggestions and was logged on earlier today.

Ball's in his court.

young7.3 · May 17, 2021

Sorry for the delay. This is my dad's truck and he doesn't drive it every day so it takes him a little bit to check stuff and report back.

He said the headlight trick didn't work.

I'll have him check the accessory delay relay, alternator output voltage, and instrument cluster fuse. Will report back with out findings. Thanks for the help and suggestions.

bismic · May 18, 2021

Relay 306 is the Delayed Accessory relay.

Relay 301 is the Trailer Battery Charge relay. Throw that one into the slot for Relay 306.

webb06 · May 18, 2021

bismic said:
For my fix, I've been living with the occasional trick of turning on the headlights for quite some time. Now I have a lazy door lock. One of these days I am gong to have to spend some money.

Good to know another option for cluster repair. CircuitBoardMedics (SC) was the only one I had heard much about.

I assume these are the guys:
https://www.autotechrescue.com/prod...ment-cluster-repair/ford-instrument-clusters/

They seem to be $85 dollars cheaper than CircuitBoardMedics.
https://circuitboardmedics.com/ford-instrument-cluster-repair/