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Instrument Clusters Going Crazy

  • Thread starter Thread starter Sun Dropsz
  • Start date Start date Jun 3, 2017

Sun Dropsz

New Member
Nov 25, 2016
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Huntsville, Alabama
Jun 3, 2017
#1
  • Jun 3, 2017
  • #1
I can't explain what is happening. So I just made a video to show you. I'm thinking about taking the dash off. I don't know where to start. I put them led bulbs in and as soon as I turned the ignition I seen smoke come from the cluster.
 

General karthief

wonder how much it would cost to ship you a pair
Mod Dude
Aug 25, 2016
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#2
  • Jun 3, 2017
  • #2
I am far from an expert but I believe the clusters are somewhat year specific, I know that a 87-88 cluster is not the same as a 93, someone will chime in to confirm, if I'm wrong they will chime in when they get done laughing at me.
You may be able to replace the printed circuit on your original
 
Last edited: Jun 3, 2017

Mustang5L5

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell
Mod Dude
Feb 18, 2001
43,161
17,854
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Massachusetts
Jun 4, 2017
#3
  • Jun 4, 2017
  • #3
The cluster wiring changed in 1990.

87-89 and 90-93 are the two different model clusters and aren't interchangeable without resplicing the wiring.

Cluster you show in the dash is an 87/89 unit.

I must admit i watched video with sound off so may have missed something
 

General karthief

wonder how much it would cost to ship you a pair
Mod Dude
Aug 25, 2016
27,827
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polk county florida
Jun 4, 2017
#4
  • Jun 4, 2017
  • #4
Boring commentary, swearing, the occasional reference to somebody's mother, the usual man stuff.
 

Sun Dropsz

New Member
Nov 25, 2016
22
2
3
Huntsville, Alabama
Jun 4, 2017
#5
  • Jun 4, 2017
  • #5
karthief said:
I am far from an expert but I believe the clusters are somewhat year specific, I know that a 87-88 cluster is not the same as a 93, someone will chime in to confirm, if I'm wrong they will chime in when they get done laughing at me.
You may be able to replace the printed circuit on your original
Click to expand...
A friend of mine gave the cluster to me and said try it it might work. It didn't. It's on eBay now for $75 dollars. The only thing that works on the original cluster is the oil pressure and the speedometer.
 

Sun Dropsz

New Member
Nov 25, 2016
22
2
3
Huntsville, Alabama
Jun 4, 2017
#6
  • Jun 4, 2017
  • #6
karthief said:
I am far from an expert but I believe the clusters are somewhat year specific, I know that a 87-88 cluster is not the same as a 93, someone will chime in to confirm, if I'm wrong they will chime in when they get done laughing at me.
You may be able to replace the printed circuit on your original
Click to expand...
A friend of mine gave the cluster to me and said try it it might work. It didn't. It's on eBay now for $75 dollars. The only thing that works on the original cluster is the oil pressure and the speedometer.
 

mikestang63

SN Certified Technician
Aug 27, 2012
11,606
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In the garage
Jun 4, 2017
#7
  • Jun 4, 2017
  • #7
wait- you are trying to sell to someone the same cluster that is smoking? Not cool
 

jrichker

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#8
  • Jun 4, 2017
  • #8
Take the cluster out and look for traces of bunt stuff. The most likely culprit is that one of the LEDs bulbs shorted or is installed incorrectly.

See http://www.stangnet.com/tech/cluster87-93.pdf for information on the cluster connections and wiring differences between model years. The clusters are interchangeable, but you have to do some trimming & move some wires.
You will need the Adobe Acrobat viewer which is also a free download – http://get.adobe.com/reader/
 

Sun Dropsz

New Member
Nov 25, 2016
22
2
3
Huntsville, Alabama
Jun 4, 2017
#9
  • Jun 4, 2017
  • #9
jrichker said:
Take the cluster out and look for traces of bunt stuff. The most likely culprit is that one of the LEDs bulbs shorted or is installed incorrectly.

See http://www.stangnet.com/tech/cluster87-93.pdf for information on the cluster connections and wiring differences between model years. The clusters are interchangeable, but you have to do some trimming & move some wires.
You will need the Adobe Acrobat viewer which is also a free download – http://get.adobe.com/reader/
Click to expand...
I'm just gonna buy a new 90-93 gt 140 cluster and hopefully that fixes my problem. I don't know if it will or not because when I roll the windows up and down. The RPM gauge and the temp gauge moves a little bit. So you think a new cluster would fix it ? Or do you think something else behind the dash got messed up?
 
Last edited: Jun 4, 2017

jrichker

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#10
  • Jun 5, 2017
  • #10
Sun Dropsz said:
I'm just gonna buy a new 90-93 gt 140 cluster and hopefully that fixes my problem. I don't know if it will or not because when I roll the windows up and down. The RPM gauge and the temp gauge moves a little bit. So you think a new cluster would fix it ? Or do you think something else behind the dash got messed up?
Click to expand...

The secondary power ground is between the back of the intake manifold and the driver's side firewall. It is often missing or loose. It supplies ground for the alternator, A/C compressor clutch and other electrical accessories such as the gauges. The clue to a bad ground here is that the temp gauge goes up as you add electrical load such as heater, lights and A/C.
 
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