Odometer display out

[mjae69]

My alternator went out in my 00 Cougar and drained the battery. I had the battery replaced about 2 weeks ago. When the battery was replaced, the displays for the clock and odometer went haywire. It only showed some broken charcters where the odometer should be, nothing on the clock/mpg/trip odometer side.

When the positive terminal was disconnected and reconnected it came back up, but would go back to screwy when the car was restarted the next morning.

I had the altenator replaced by pep boys today (had to wait for the irs refund to pay for it) and now the 2 LED sections won't show anything at all. All the guages work and the lights on the dash and the dimmer for the dash all work. The 2 little boxes are the only things not workng. I asked the mechanics before I left the shop and they said they had no clue why or what to do about it.

I also had them do a full tune-up, coolant flush, and fuel injector cleaning today also. Not sure if any of that may be an issue... but figured Ithrow it out there just in case. In the tune up they run a diagnostic check (yes, my check engine light was on) but said it didn't give them any codes.

I got home and have looked through the manual listing for the fuses and don't see one that would be for just that display.

Does anyone have any idea what could be causing this? Is it posibily just a fuse, or is it possible that when the battery/alt went out that it took out that also????

Any thoughts or assistance is GREATLY appreciated!!!!!!

Mel

[cougar4life]

Honestly I know you've already asked this question on NECO so really don't expect to get much of an answer here. NECO is the best forum for 99-02 cougar info. Only a hand full of people post in this section of this forum and I think a few of them are members of NECO anyway.

[KyleBRU]

I noticed my 99 did the same thing after i washed it while it was cold. The digital gauges would get all messed up and come back on a few days later.