Cluster problem and missfire #1 Cyclinder

[upstart42]

#1. My speed, tach, gages on the dash sticks in one place while driving. One day all gages started to bounce up and down after start up. Each time, I bump the dash and everything work fine. Have any suggestion what causes this? My ABS light has been on for a year after reading in the Forum, I'll be checking the sensor. I don' know if this has any effect on the gages.

#2. Checked engine light is on with a misfire on #1 cyclinder, code po301. I installed new plug , wires in July, gap is fine no burn spot on wires. Any suggestion on the reason the light is on. I read about cleaning the EGR port, not sure this will work. I'll be trying this the weekend. Year 1999

[osburnfamily]

Did u ever get an answer to your cluster problem? My 2003 Windstar has lost all its stick gauges in the dash. The lights/electrical all work, just not the tac, spedo, fuel & temp. I was wondering if it might be the inst. cluster myself before I send it in for repair.

I'd appreciate it if you let me know your solution! Thanks!

Matt O.
theosburnfamily@gmail.com

[upstart42]

I'm still looking for the answer for the gages. I checked the wheel sensor and the r/f,l/r was dirty. I cleaned both, and checked the rest, but the light is still on. I don't know how long it will take to go off. I read a few more thread, I didn't see where to unplug the wire to check the sensor. Haynes don't mention where the module is located. Maybe some one will see this and post the answer.

[Flyingjackal456]

check the fuses, the guages sometimes go crazy when fuses blow, if you find a fuse keeps blowing, then answer back and we'll fix that too

[osburnfamily]

Thanks for the reply. I had a chat with a ford dealership mechanic buddy of mine regarding my own gauge issue. He was able to shed a bit of light on the unit & how it works.
Apparrently there is a ground solder on the inst. cluster assembly unit that often will either get fried or "break" off. When that happens, all the gauges make "stick" or burry the tac & freeze the whole unit up.
The check engine light may & probably is a totally unrelated issue. Assuming you fix that, you may just need to reset the light using one of those diag reset utilities (like you can pickup at autozone).

Back to the gauges... If all the other instruments (lights/displays) on the panel (odo, door light, low fueld indicator light, etc...) are okay, and your AC & ABS are working--then it is almost a 100% that you need to replace the cluster.

On mine, if I bang (with my fist) on the top of the dash, it will jar the gauges to their correct position temporarily & then freeze again. This is what led my buddy to tell me about the ground fault on the circuit. It is literally on the top and to the back of cluster unit just under that dashboard panel. Me banging on it would temporarily re-complete the ground.

I'm getting mine replaced this week.

[Flyingjackal456]

oh, soldering that would've been fun....too bad let us know the bill and if it's fixed!

I used to have that same problem, only all of the guages were fine except the fuel guage, the fuel guage would get stuck at half way...and buy hitting the top of dash (with my fist) above the fuel guage, would make it bounce to the correct value.

[goon]

when you remove the cluster get yourself a 3x or better magni. glass and check all the soldier on the board. you are looking for dark color soldier or a cracked soldier if you see it resolder it. I have done lots from a dodge to a ford clusters.