I have a 97 f150 long bed xlt.when I touch the passenger compartment fuse block the instrument cluster goes dead.anyone have any suggestions or similar problems,maybe can shed some light on it?and where can I find the layout for the fuse panel(which fuse does what?).thanks in advance.
Joe

 

Ignition on or off? I had that same fuse go bad 5 weeks ago. Not one problem until last week. Changed the 5a fuse again. Then on Friday, all hell broke loose. I decided to check all connections on that circuit. It was a bad OD on off wire. It was grounding out on the steering column.

One way to find out is to disconnect the wire connector. There is a small connector that is vertical and to the left of the column. With that disconnected it will eliminate the switch. If it still does it, then it could be autolamps if you have that or the cluster itself.

Good luck,

Mike

 

ignition is on and truck is running.

 

It sure sounds like the shift lever. It took me awhile, but I isolated the lever by observing what/when the gauges all failed.

Try disconnecting the OD on of wire to see if the fuse continues to blow.

Mike

 

it isn't blowing fuses Mike.let Me elaborate more
.when I touch the fuse panel the gauges drop to zero,but when I wiggle it a little they coma back on and the door chime will make a little noise also.very weird actually.
thanks
Joe