Electrical Problems

[bobwool]

Originally Posted by chapgman

the instrument cluster needed to be replaced. that was about 2,000 miles ago and I think it is now occurring again with the new replaced cluster - as I pulled into my driveway the gauges together went up and then quickly dropped to zero

Us too! While driving the instrument panel would go dark and the guages would drop, and the engine would feel like it was stalling. Then the panel would come back to life and the engine would rev back to where it was. We had the instrument panel replaced a few months ago and all seemed well - until last week, when my wife experienced the same problem while driving in the rain. It hasn't happened since, though, and we need to convince the dealership that the problem has re-occurred.

This all come after trading in a Windstar for the Freestyle last summer due to continued electrical problems with the van that the dealer could never solve. The warranty was expiring and we took a hit on the trade-in (van wasn't paid off yet) just to avoid possible future out-of-pocket costs on the "lemon" van. After a good experience with a 2000 Ford Taurus, these last two cars have cemented my "No more Fords!" stance.

[CSXfan]

Did Ford charge to replace the cluster when the car past the 36k warranty, if so how much. I have purchased over 8 Fords and this will be the last if they charge me. They just don't get it........

[jasilveira]

Mine going in for the fourth instrument cluster
I am so done - CAN YOU SAY JUNK
Ford keeps producing cars like this - sell all your Ford Stock and get out while you can

[jlicon]

Yesterday my 2005 Ford Freestyle (aka the Mom Wagon) seemed to be possessed! I tried to start it with absolutely nothing from the engine. I removed the key and then the dash lights, headlights, domelight and all dials started flickering off and on. As I sat and watched the light show the rpms started to increase all without benefit of the engine being on or the key in the ignition. Then started this ominous ticking noise. Needless to say it's in the shop right now with what the service manager assures me is only a battery problem. I think he's full of it and after reading everyone's post here, now I'm sure of it. Grrr......I'm going to discuss with him all that I've read here on the forum. Thanks for getting the word out. I love my Freestyle, but after already having replaced the brakes at 13,500 miles and now this......I don't know what to expect next.

[jrl1964]

I am on third instrument cluster on the freestlye and still having problem with all gauges going to zero and stalling while driving down interstate. Not a good feeling. This is a lemon.

[sfrezin]

Originally Posted by jlicon

Yesterday my 2005 Ford Freestyle (aka the Mom Wagon) seemed to be possessed! I tried to start it with absolutely nothing from the engine. I removed the key and then the dash lights, headlights, domelight and all dials started flickering off and on. As I sat and watched the light show the rpms started to increase all without benefit of the engine being on or the key in the ignition. Then started this ominous ticking noise. Needless to say it's in the shop right now with what the service manager assures me is only a battery problem. I think he's full of it and after reading everyone's post here, now I'm sure of it. Grrr......I'm going to discuss with him all that I've read here on the forum. Thanks for getting the word out. I love my Freestyle, but after already having replaced the brakes at 13,500 miles and now this......I don't know what to expect next.

I've experienced a similar problem 3 times now. First time, at the end of the drive home, I parked the car and turned the engine off. The guages all moved up slightly then back down, then randomly up and down and all the while there was a ticking, knocking, almost percolating noise. Finally just stopped on its own. Second time, after fueling up, the gas guage remained at zero and it was making the ticking noise off and on. I was a block from the Ford dealer so drove in and the tech actually heard the noise and saw the gas guage at zero but only briefly as it didn't do it very long this time and then went back to normal. Twice since the gas guage has gone to zero and now the check engine light is on. Never any problems starting though.
I had the instrument cluster problem where the guages went crazy some time ago and had the cluster replaced. This is different - the guages are just dying, not going all over the place and the ticking sound is new - did not occur with the instrument cluster problem.

[scott001]

Our 2005 Freestyle Limited had some odd quirks. I first noticed this when the remote for an older (mid 1990's) Lincoln was used near the Freestyle; the headlights would flicker. Then there was a couple of occasions when the garage door opener (not the remote, the wired in-house button) would also cause the headlights to flicker. That was 6-12 months ago. Today the car lost its mind and all the lights were flickering (if you've read this thread, you know what I mean). A tow and a dealer-installed battery and we'll see what happens. My guess, nothing. I found out my dealer doesn't check service bulletins before they just jump into replacing batteries.

[Tommy10]

Does anyone have info on resolutions to problems similar to "jlicon"'s Aug. 07 post.
My '05 failed to start this morning. Heard clicking under dash, flahing Service light, CD player gone whacky etc. 44,000 mile so I'm out of warranty. Need help, Thanks

[pellicane]

We have a 2006 Freestyle that exhibited the guages dropping to zero then returning to normal, brake light and air bag lights flashing bells going off........The technical service bulletin said that there could be a bad (cold) soldier joint in the instrument cluster.

After removing the cluster, and disassembling, I found the problem!

A cold soldier joint on the "crystal" located next to the four sided processor chip on the printed circuit board. I scraped the leads to the crystal clean with a razor blade them re-soldiered them.

PROBLEM SOLVED: Total repair time less than one hour.........
{The crystal is a "metal" component that dissipates heat quicker than the rest of the components on the circuit board, so when the board goes into the soldier bath, the crystal cools the soldier too quickly and results in a poor soldier connection. Temperature changes and bumpy roads make the guages sweep.....}

Mark

[Hot Wheels]

Thats great to hear, mine went dead this week. Having just bought it im not ready to spend $500 on the repair. I took it out, found the loose joint and its working again, your right, less than an hour and 0$. Thanks for the heads up!