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Bullfrog
New User
Apr 17, 2008, 6:30 PM
Post #1 of 2
(1741 views)
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1990 Mercury Cougar
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Hello, I have just recently purchased a 1990 Mercury cougar in great shape... V6 engine, don't know the mileage, about average; not too high or low.
There is one problem, however. My car has one of those electrical (digital) gauge clusters, when I turn the car on the gauges work and sometimes they don't. I thought it might be the dash bulbs out, but they still light up fine when the gauges work. Then I thought of a loose wire, still they don't flicker, just when I turn the car on, they work or don't. I'll turn the car off and back on then they'll work. I just replaced the battery because the last one was bad. Any answers? Maybe a fuse? Couldn't be...
(This post was edited by Bullfrog on Apr 17, 2008, 6:31 PM)
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DanD
Veteran
/ Moderator
Apr 18, 2008, 4:18 AM
Post #2 of 2
(1731 views)
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Re: 1990 Mercury Cougar
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Most times when I hear this type of problem, with an electronic dash, it turns out to be the actual instrument cluster.
Because this is an intermittent problem you may have to play a bit of a cat & mouse game to verify the problem.
As in pulling the cluster out of the dash; leaving it connected electrically; then turning on the ignition, waiting for the dash too NOT light up.
It’s not likely going to be a fuse; if the dash did this once and stayed dark, then possibly but a fuse usually goes open and stays that way. Still doesn’t hurt to check; the 5Amp fuse for the cluster memory is in the underhood fuse block.
With the dash wiring harness accessable; (still plugged in to cluster) ignition ON (run position) and with the dash dark (showing the problem).
Test for power at connector B, terminal 7 (Light green/ purple wire) and terminal 9 (purple/orange wire) both should have battery voltage. Then test for ground at connector B terminal 8 (black/white wire) with an ohmmeter.
If you do not have power & ground on those terminals; follow the wires until you find the bad connection and repair as needed.
If there is power and ground; replace the instrument cluster.
It’s not as bad as it sounds doing this test; the connectors are usually marked A & B and numbered; just confirm that the wires colors are the proper ones in the connector you’re testing.
Have fun catching the mouse. LOL
Dan.
Canadian "EH"
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