2003 Grand Marquis Digital Gauge Flicker

[tony1679]

Panther gurus, help! What could cause the digital gauges to flicker? I've spent quite a bit of time on Google, no luck. Let me clarify: the entire gauge panel flickers (and by flicker I mean there is a random and frequent bright/dim flicker). No other malfunctions, no other problems. This doesn't seem to be a voltage issue because the random flicker is constant (idle, light/heavy throttle, light/heavy power use). Alternator seems fine, no starting/running issues. FWIW, I'm not experiencing any headlight issues...

Any ideas?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Kuato]

Connections, or the dimmer switch for the dash lights is going bad.

First thing I'd try is to change the brightness of the dash lights to a setting far from what you usually use. If the flicker goes away that's your issue. If not, time to check the connections and wiring behind the dash.

 

[Colt45ws]

Have you had the alternator checked? If a diode has gone open in it, you will get flicker from that. It will be tied to engine speed.
If its good, then its probably internal to the cluster. The Ford diagnostic for illumination on the digi cluster is literally
1. Check for Voltage on the illumination pin of the cluster connector
2. If voltage is present, replace cluster
Unfortunately Ive never even seen one IRL let alone taken one apart. The Ford book puts in several places (to make sure you know) that the digi cluster is non-repairable, but Im sure someone with suitable electronic knowledge could at least have a go at repairing it.

 

[OneEyeJack]

Check all your ground connections too, even ones under the hood that might carry a heavier load. Try some temporary connections. Maybe use a wire with some alligator clips.

This scheme worked to fix the dash light flicker on a Crown Vic when a temporary connection was made from the a/c compressor housing to the negative side of the battery. When the temporary connection was removed and the mechanical connections were cleaned up the problem was gone. This was done at a facility that maintains police vehicles and was done at lunch time with several mechanics participating. I think they were embarrassed that this one vehicle kept coming back for the same problem and they did not want to replace the whole cluster.

It was also discovered that the problem was fixed when the a/c was disconnected from the system. The problem here was that it was summer and the a/c was always on even when the vehicle was parked and left running while the officers were out doing what every the do.

 

[tony1679]

Well, thanks for the input. I drove it again today and noticed a few things. ***Please note that I can not truly confirm any of this, these are just observations.*** And yes, some of these contradict my OP.

When driving during the day and my lights are not on (I never use the auto mode, I always turn on/off manually), I do not notice a flicker. Once it is dark and my lights are on it does flicker. The headlights themselves don't seem to flicker or dim at all. Another thing I notice is that the flicker seems to happen more while driving, much less while idling in park. In fact, it only flickered one time while idling (5+ minutes). Revving the engine various speeds seems to have no effect. I also tried changing the display brightness, but it didn't seem to have any effect either.

Does this eliminate anything or paint a better picture? Thanks for the help.

 

[Superflop]

There is a connector in the top right of the instrument cluster
It gets weak/loose on the ic side and causes the lighting issue. Eventually it will go out all together. You can smack the dash on the right side above the top right edge of the ic and they come back/brighten. Annoys the [censored] out of the officers at work as they need to be able to read the odo to pump fuel.
Even though you said it's not. A similar issue with headlights would almost guaranteed be the light control module fyi.

 

[tony1679]

^Thanks for the help. I will try this, but I have to ask: is there a more 'proper' way of fixing it? I'm assuming some of the dash has to come apart. But I have to fix a blend door and/or actuator problem, so the dash is coming out anyway...

 

[Colt45ws]

When it flickers is the cluster going out completely or is it like switching between day/night mode or...?

 

[Superflop]

Afaik you have to replace the instrument cluster. The mileage iirc is not stored In the ic so the replacement will display correct mileage. You could try cleaning the contacts. Use a normal pink eraser from a new pencil to clean these contacts and wipe or spray and residue off with contact cleaner. BTW when removing this cluster be very careful at the bottom center of the cluster is a tiny wire that runs from your gear indicator on your cluster to your shift linkagem if you aren't careful when removing the cluster and disconnect this wire (at the shift linkage) it will easily break.

 

[Colt45ws]

Originally Posted By: Superflop
Afaik you have to replace the instrument cluster. The mileage iirc is not stored In the ic so the replacement will display correct mileage. You could try cleaning the contacts. Use a normal pink eraser from a new pencil to clean these contacts and wipe or spray and residue off with contact cleaner. BTW when removing this cluster be very careful at the bottom center of the cluster is a tiny wire that runs from your gear indicator on your cluster to your shift linkagem if you aren't careful when removing the cluster and disconnect this wire (at the shift linkage) it will easily break.

Your thinking of the later 2005+ clusters which are on the CANbus. He has the old school all-digital cluster.
http://s154.photobucket.com/user/1997GPSE/media/2000GPGT/IMG_6010.jpg.html
Unfortunately the mileage is stored on the cluster. A Ford dealer can reprogram it, but obviously they would have to do the swap to verify mileage.
Here is a thread how to access and remove the cluster.
http://www.crownvic.net/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=1206416#Post1206416
Would be worth to make sure no loose connections, ect.

 

[tony1679]

Originally Posted By: Colt45ws
When it flickers is the cluster going out completely or is it like switching between day/night mode or...?
No, when it flickers, it alternates between bright and dim, NEVER going out completely. I'm curious if the day/night sensor is going bad. I'll have to figure out where/how to replace it.
Originally Posted By: Colt45ws

Your thinking of the later 2005+ clusters which are on the CANbus. He has the old school all-digital cluster.
http://s154.photobucket.com/user/1997GPSE/media/2000GPGT/IMG_6010.jpg.html
Unfortunately the mileage is stored on the cluster. A Ford dealer can reprogram it, but obviously they would have to do the swap to verify mileage.
Here is a thread how to access and remove the cluster.
http://www.crownvic.net/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=1206416#Post1206416
Would be worth to make sure no loose connections, ect.
Yes, the link is the correct cluster. If you are correct, (which I have no reason to doubt) then I will leave it until there is a real problem. It's not THAT serious. I just thought it could have been a somewhat simple fix. But I still feel the daylight sensor (correct name?) could be a culprit. Thanks.

 

[Colt45ws]

If it was the light sensor (its on the front most panel on the dash, next to the blinking PATS theft light. It has a little dome on it.) it would trip your headlamps off and on since the LCM actually is what handles that sensor and only if the headlamps are in "Auto" mode. But it buffers anyway. There is a delay for the lamps to be tripped on by the sensor and a delay for them to trip off.
I would at least Pull the cluster and check the wiring. It sounds like the Illumination wire is not making good contact. The fact it mostly happens while driving would make me think that was the case. It could be that its something internal to the cluster, as well. Such as a crack in the solder at the connector to board interface. I would like to take one of these apart and have a look. If it is something like a cracked dry solder joint this will spread to other functions as all the connectors were soldered at the same time with same solder, etc.

Im 99% certain the wire in question is C220b, Pin 13, Circuit 19 (Light Blue/Red). Thats the feed that dims the radio and climate control head and what have you.
But it could be C220c, Pin 3, Circuit 484 (Orange/Black).

 

[Colt45ws]

Oops post, cant delete.