As you can see from the number of my posts, I have a lot of annoying little problems with my '03 4X4, and a dog that needs beaten more often. My odometer intermittently goes out-- keeps counting miles but display goes dark. Then when it feels like it, it will come back on again. This bothers the crap out of me and the dog on long trips. Mechanic says it is a common problem with the display/readout deal-- They will remove it and send it off someplace to be fixed, it will take a week and cost me $300.....Do I beat the mechanic instead of my dog?

 

I got the same problem with mine it's digital and the fuse is fine.. Not sure what it is

 

It's a bad solder point in your dash cluster. There is a how-to guide on here somewhere on how to fix it, although if you're not comfortable with a soldering iron, I would send it off.

EDIT: Found the thread. https://www.f150online.com/forums/ar...er-repair.html

 

Been a while since I thought about it or looked at this thread, but odometer still driving me nuts. Went like 2 months without going off, I got all hopeful, and now it is off 50% of the time. I've been studying the thread and my Haynes. Gonna try it. I'll let you know how it goes.

k9dr

 

If you need soldering practice, try it out on your overhead console display. That may need the work eventually, anyway.

 

I just got a new iron from radio shack today. Got used to it again by replacing the crimp-on butt connectors on my aftermarket stereo adapter with solder connections. I'll be taking my odometer out tomorrow as well and doing it myself.

 

my more recent thread with better pictures
https://www.f150online.com/forums/ar...r-99-03-a.html

 

Wow. Thanks, Patman. I think I would have failed without the additional stuff you made available. I didn't realize the center bezel had to come out to get the instrument cluster out. The thread says it is held only by 4 clips, just pull and it comes out. I'm a little skeered. Do I just put tape on a screwdriver and put under the edge of the bezel and pry up a little bit? Exactly how do I "pull out?"

Thanks

 

you talking about the steering wheel surround? just grab the top edge with your finger nails and pull straight towards yourself....

 

No, I'm talking about the center bezel-- the deal with the stereo and HVAC controls and so forth in it. The Raptor thread you posted the link for makes it look like the center bezel needs to come out in order to get the instrument cluster out, which surprised me....I thought you just took headlight switch and steering column surround off, and that gave you access to all screws necessary.

This is the picture from his thread about changing LEDs for instrument cluster. He starts with center bezel and winds up with a s^%$load of the dash out:



k9dr

 

OK, nevermind on the center bezel. I'm in there already. I'll let you know later if it was truly necessary.

More immediately, I have Screwed The Pooch on the headlight switch removal. As you can see, I got the switch out, but in the process I have busted the faceplate clean off of it:





So, now I've got a two-part question:

1) Why? I watched the video and carefully followed the procedure. It didn't release any "catch." As far as I can see looking this thing over and manipulating the ****, there is no "catch" that can be released by turning the ****, any way you want to do it. What holds the switch in (extremely firmly, I might add) are three leaf-springs. They are not affected in any way by turning the **** or going through the procedure.





Now, when I look on eBay for replacements ($50, I might add again), I figure out there are different types. Mine is the type that appears to have been in '97-03 Expeditions. Looking at pictures, the F150 switch bodies don't appear to have the leaf-springs. Maybe they are held in by this "catch" that can be released by manipulating the ****. But that leaves me with a question, how in HELL do you remove my kind of switch without breaking it? The only way I got mine out was by prying harder and harder (after repeatedly and carefully going through the **** procedure) until bezel/faceplate popped off, then just grabbing hold of the guts (lost temper and swearing by then, knowing that doom was nigh) and overpowering the springs. So, if I get another one of these and pop it in, how does it come out without breaking the faceplate off of the sonofabitch?

2) I didn't completely destroy the switch. Still works and I can get the faceplate back on pretty firmly, just needs a little "help" to keep it from tilting up when I pull the **** out for "foglights."




What kind of very strong glue/adhesive works on this plastic? Would save me $50 (leading back to my first question, how to get it out next time without destroying it?)

Thanks for following my Compleat Mechanical Idiot odyssey, and helping if you can.

I swear to God I am going to learn to work on my truck, or die trying. Judging from this episode, it does not look like it is going to save me any money, but it might give me a modicum of self-respect.....

k9dr

 

The plastic on my headlight **** itself that holds it on the shaft broke about 6 years ago - I used gel-type superglue to put it back together and it's still holding.

 

Superglue works wonders for plastic

Sorry I forgot to talk about the headlight switch, there are two different types, looks like you have the newer style.

Yes you are correct the dash bubble doesn't have to come off to get the cluster out, but it makes it muchh easier

 

Superglue it is, then.

OK, so how do you get the newer type of switch out? Curiosity is killing me, here. I can't figure out how you would do it without the exact same result I got......Bust the faceplate off prying against the strong-*** springs. There's nothing else to pry against except the faceplate edge.


k9dr

 

Evidently the propriety police have come to F150 Online? I see something weird has happened in the thread and the words "ay ess ess" and "kay enn oo bbee" have been redacted and replaced with asterisks. Thats a pretty low threshold for propriety. We better watch our durn language.

k9dr