Ford -F150 question

[milehighbear]

This is just a general question not on my Festiva, but for my ford truck because their are so many smart car and truck people here. My odometer is digital and when i first start it in morning, the readings show up, complete mileage and mileage from last fill up. But if i stop, turn it off, then start again, it comes on, then goes off and wont come on again until it cools way down, or i drive it for long trip like 25 or more miles. Any takes on this. And if im not suppose to post this, let me know.

[festivaWES]

Just a venture but i would say that your cluster is going out. There are no cables just wires on the back of it.

[milehighbear]

Ty for that info. I guess i can live with it. Just wondering if maybe something was getting to warm that i should look for. I know its not a festiva, but its still a ford, i like fords.

[MONSOON]

I bet FB71 knows the answer.

[FB71]

I sure do! But, so did Wes! He's correct, the PSOM (Progammable Speedometer Odometer Module) is dying. Classic symptoms. Only cure is a replacement, or it might possibly be repairable by an automotive radio repair shop.

[milehighbear]

well, i also joined a Ford Forum and asked the question and two people told me theres did the same thing and even sent me a link to go to showing pictures and what is happening is there are a couple of places on the back of speedometer board that the machine that was doing the welds had a defect and was not soldering the joints like it was suppose to and i need to pull the board out and look at them with a magnifying glass and you can see the bad soldering job. They sent me pictures and everything on what to look for. They are just like people on this site and very helpful. So ill have to pull dash apart some and they showed me pictures also where all screws are and what to take apart. I also thank you guys because it could also be what you are saying. I wont know for sure until i pull it apart. So thanks again festivawes, monsoon and FB71 you guys are always there when someone needs something.

[lasvegascop]

Milehighbear....I would go w/ FB71's opinion, depends on the year of your truck, there are resistors, capacitors and IC's that fail all the time...I'm not sure a quick re-soldering will fix the issue? I hope it does my friend...

wish ya good luck...(really)

[milehighbear]

yea, im keeping their thread just in case. Gonna be a while before i take the cluster out anyway, getting too cold here in denver to work on the truck at moment. I can get my festiva in my garage but not my truck so i can live with it not working right for now. My speedometer works great, its just the digital odometer reading thats not working. It will only take me about half hour or so to find out if one of solder joints are bad but gotta wait for a warm spell to do it. They say it costs about 350.00 for new cluster so half hour of looking aint gonna hurt me none., ty ski

[lasvegascop]

try a junk yard....believe it or not, when I got a new cluster for my Festiva (w/ tach) the mileage on it was 200 miles off! I was so lucky....117,000 miles and it was off by 200 miles...wow! So you never know???

What year is your truck?

[milehighbear]

my truck is a 2001 F-150 supercab

[FB71]

well, i also joined a Ford Forum and asked the question and two people told me theres did the same thing and even sent me a link to go to showing pictures and what is happening is there are a couple of places on the back of speedometer board that the machine that was doing the welds had a defect and was not soldering the joints like it was suppose to and i need to pull the board out and look at them with a magnifying glass and you can see the bad soldering job. They sent me pictures and everything on what to look for. They are just like people on this site and very helpful. So ill have to pull dash apart some and they showed me pictures also where all screws are and what to take apart. I also thank you guys because it could also be what you are saying. I wont know for sure until i pull it apart. So thanks again festivawes, monsoon and FB71 you guys are always there when someone needs something.

that's what the primary cause was, cold solder joints. Can't hurt it to resolder the joints. Use a 30W pencil-tip iron. Don't stay on the joint any longer than needed to whet the joint, to avoid overheating the components.

[milehighbear]

thanks Jim for info on pencil tip iron. The guys told me also to use one and not a soldering gun. Have a good day sir