'98 Explorer Instrument Cluster Out

It just so happens my battery went dead (had to get it jumped twice) so I replaced it. The same day I put in a new Pioneer stereo. Now my instrument cluster panel does not light up and I'm assuming it is from the battery jumps and not the new stereo.....just a guess. I've plugged in new fuses on anything related to the instrument panel. The dome light works if I push up all the way on the dimmer switch. I haven't checked the fuses in the engine compartment. Do I need to? Any suggestions? Thanks.

I would buy this- http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1998-Ford-Explorer-Mountaineer-EVTM-Service-Manual_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ34221QQihZ009QQi temZ190014545926QQtcZphoto


If you have replaced fuse #11. The dimmer switch might be bad and or the dimmer relay.


Dr98

Do any of the other interior illumination items work and dim properly, such as the HVAC controls or the rear HVAC/radio controls? If those work fine, and the only illumination that doesn't work is the instrument cluster, then you may have a problem with the flex board or connection for the instrument cluster.

If none of the illumination works, then I would suggest you remove the illumination wire from the aftermarket stereo (assuming it's hooked up) and see if that changes things. Did you use a harness adapter to plug into the factory wiring, or cut and splice all the wires?

Did the battery go dead before or after you installed the aftermarket radio?

-Rod

Rod,

I didn't notice my instrument light cluster was out until the day after my battery went dead and the new stereo install. (Worked late that night.) So I can't say if was the battery or the new radio. The stereo came with a wiring harness and a stereo harness. After soldering the wiring harness to the stereo harness (and wrapping the connections in electrical tape) the harness snapped directly into one of the existing Ford stereo harnesses. (One of the existing Ford harnesses was not used after the new stereo install.)

Besides my instrument panel, I have no lights for my Heating/AC or cruise control lights on my steering wheel. I have not noticed or tried any or my rear seat functions (heating/Ac/stereo) but I'll give it a try. Someone mentioned the dimmer switch or the headlight switch. Before I go that route, I wanted to make sure I didn't miss anything obvious (like some fuse I didn't know about.) Thanks.

The dimmer switch would be high on the suspect list at this point, but you should certainly check the fuses and temporarily disconnect the "illumination" wire from your aftermarket stereo to see if either of those have an impact. If not, there is a procedure to test the dimmer switch.

The dimmer switch is a solid-state dimmer, so if for some reason you have a fault in the wiring for the aftermarket stereo, it may have damaged the dimmer. So, if you determine the dimmer switch is bad, you should verify the aftermarket stereo illumination circuit is connected properly before replacing the dimmer.

According to the factory service manual for your Explorer, the dimmer output to the factory stereo is a pulse-width modulated output rather than a straight DC output. I would suspect that your aftermarket deck is expecting a DC illumination input, and that may be causing a problem.

-Rod

Rod,

I discovered my problem prior to reading your post and I think you are right on! (I think your technical version matches my non-tech version.) .....After taking my dash apart (twenty something screws later), I went to O'reilly's to buy a new switch...they had to order. When I got home, I tried unplugging my new radio....and BANG....the instrument panel lights worked!!!! After calling the tech help line where I purchased the radio, I put two wires together which shouldn't be together...one or both having to do with dimmer control. After separating these two wires, all is now well.
Thanks for your help on this. I'm impressed that you diagnosed the problem despite the many possibilities it could have been. Thanks again.

You're welcome, and thank you for the follow-up!

-Rod