Gauges Gone Wild!

[AvalonJohn]

Ok. I thought changing the relays was the answer, it's not. I've heard from others that after a while the instrament panel just wears out. So I guess my problem with the gauges is that the panel is old (160K) and needs to be replaced. Won't bother unless it fails inspection. If anyone has the problem and replace the panel and the problem is solved, please let us know for sure.

Thanks,

AJ

[reboot 48]

Hi,John,my 01 did the same thing,but seem like oniy on rainy day at the begining ,it star about a year ago.until three month ago I need to fix it,cause most of time I can't tell how fast I go,then I go to the scrap yard taking apart one, and I know the odometer reading will not be the same,but I want mine original 478,000 kms,so just take out the part that attach to the needle,the part that the needle push into,you have to completly take apart the cluster,4 of them,then on my windstar,do I change all 4? while I am thinking, notice that one of the 4,(the rpm needle doesn't rewind) speedometer does, so I change that one,put every thing back,drive for 10-20 min,NORMAL,except read about 200 rpm less,because when I put the NEW needle back was off,I can fix that correctly during emmision test.very happy to see rain,drive the van rightaway, all 4 needles normal.is now almost 4 months,still perfect.hope that was the problem.

[reboot 48]

Originally Posted by AvalonJohn

Ok. I thought changing the relays was the answer, it's not. I've heard from others that after a while the instrament panel just wears out. So I guess my problem with the gauges is that the panel is old (160K) and needs to be replaced. Won't bother unless it fails inspection. If anyone has the problem and replace the panel and the problem is solved, please let us know for sure.

Thanks,

AJ

Hi,John,my 01 did the same thing,but seem like oniy on rainy day at the begining ,it star about a year ago.until three month ago I need to fix it,cause most of time I can't tell how fast I go,then I go to the scrap yard taking apart one, and I know the odometer reading will not be the same,but I want mine original 478,000 kms,so just take out the part that attach to the needle,the part that the needle push into,you have to completly take apart the cluster,4 of them,then on my windstar,do I change all 4? while I am thinking, notice that one of the 4,(the rpm needle doesn't rewind) speedometer does, so I change that one,put every thing back,drive for 10-20 min,NORMAL,except read about 200 rpm less,because when I put the NEW needle back was off,I can fix that correctly during emmision test.very happy to see rain,drive the van rightaway, all 4 needles normal.is now almost 4 months,still perfect.hope that was the problem.

[1stboom]

Problem solved! I have a 2001 Windstar that first started with the tach needle pegging took dash apart and flipped it back. That lasted a while but reoccurred after a couple hundred miles. Did it twice more the last time it happened again within 50 miles. I then thought it must be in the cluster so went to the boneyard and got another cluster. Installed new cluster and after a short time tach acted up again then the speedo started to quit working. Did find if I pounded on the top of the dash it would return back to normal with the tach pegged. So thinking I may have gotten a bad cluster got another cluster and replaced it again. Same problems came back. One day when speedo quit I also noticed that the fuel and water temp gauges were not correct. It now lead me to believe maybe the ground was bad as all the gauges was affected. Take the dash apart once more looking for a ground wire. Needless to say couldn't find anything that looked like a ground. Started van up with the cluster loose and tried wiggling the wire harness with no luck to recreate problem. After reinstalled dash panel I saw at the side of the dash in the door jamb a bolt that secures that dash to the body. I tightened the bolts in both the driver and passenger doorjambs and for over 7,000 miles haven't had a problem since.

[transdr1]

I took 1stboom advice and tighten the two bolts with the torx heads on each side of the dash .... Open both front doors to see them .... So far my gauges have NOT went crazy maybe i'm taking to soon but i really think the problem is fixed .... Bad ground sounds like the problem, i think tighten the bolts grounds the dash ?

[transdr1]

P.S. I have a 1999 Windstar

[1stboom]

Mine still has been good for over two years. Let me know if yours stays fixed after a while.

[12Ounce]

Good info ... thanks.

[cornellmusic]

I wanted to chime in. I had the same problem with my 2000 windstar 3.8. A couple of wraps on the dash usually stops the episode.
I've had to drive it for a few weeks with a small water/coolant leak that gets the serpentine and all the belt components wet including the alternator. With the water all over under the hood it does it 3 or 4 times as much, yet the wrap on the dashboard still fixes it. I think the screws in the door jam are the ticket to properly grounding the dash where it's not trying to ground through other stuff. It worked for others, If I don't post again here, assume it worked for me as well.

Another thing to consider, A while back smoke came out of my vents on a few occasions and it smelled like candles. I'm not 100% sure and maybe someone can confirm. There was a recall that seemed to match the description I just gave, has anyone gotten the recall fixed on the little electronic climate control device in the vents that can burn up, yet you also have gauges gone wild going on? Just wondering if that part burning up could be damaging the ground and starting the whole thing off. The water causing it for me like the rain did for another contributor.
Thanks,
Shane

[smata67]

I had the same issue with the needle interfering with the shift position and gauges going nuts. I pulled the cluster and re-soldered the joints where the connector attaches to the cluster, this was suggested by someone on the internet, can't recall where that post was. Whether this did the trick or simply pulling out and re-inserting the connector was sufficient, but it has been 3 years now and the problem has not re-occurred. I have fixed CD players like this in the past, pulling out and re-inserting all the cables.