NewKid wrote:Fault in system relating to instrument cluster - might have wiring fault? Any suggestions for how I can check this? Thanks!
The failure rate of the cluster instrument is usually associated with solder, which is used to solder elements on a printed circuit board. Today, lead-free solders have been used for over twenty years, as dictated by ecology. Unfortunately these new solders are not very resistant to time. This is the problem of all modern electronics.
The Transit instrument cluster most often has two types of errors.
The first is that the various indicators go out without any repeatability, they stop working, the liquid crystal displays show incorrect data or dashes, the tachometer and speedometer also work once, and sometimes not. Sometimes different indicators light up without sense, then they go out. You could say that the instrument cluster has a life of its own. The reason is the characteristic blooms of tin oxide on the PCB in the soldering points. They expand into adjacent circuits, create uncontrolled, unstable connections and the digital circuit goes crazy. It is necessary to disassemble the instrument cluster, remove the rear cover, and wash the circuit board with isopropyl alcohol. This can be purchased at the pharmacy.
The second type of damage is the same persistent operating error - for example, the speedometer and tachometer are turned off, the rest of the indicators work properly. And it's always the same. The cause is usually an error connecting the wiring harness with the instrument cluster, most often on the multi-pin plug. The socket pins soldered to the PCB are to blame. Greater talents are required here, one must have certain skills of an electronics and a watchmaker. After disassembling the instrument cluster, one has to remove all covers, skillfully disassemble the hands of the clocks, marking their initial position beforehand. Now we can remove the dial and use a suitable soldering iron to heat up the soldering pins of the socket. Then reassemble everything, putting the clock hands in the correct position.
These are the most common causes, but there are many more ...