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From 1996 F-150, F-250, F-350, Bronco, F-Super Duty Motorhome Chassis Workshop Manual
Same for your year
"The tachometer is an electrically operated gauge that indicates engine speed in rpm. In vehicles with gasoline engines, the tachometer receives its voltage pulses from the ignition coil when the engine is running..."
.....
PINPOINT TEST L:
TACHOMETER INOPERATIVE, ERRATIC,
WRONG INDICATION, GASOLINE ENGINE
L1 CHECK FUSE
Check fuse.
Is fuse blown?
Yes REPLACE fuse. If fuse blows again, CHECK for short in circuit.
No
GO to
L2.
L2 CHECK WIRING
Check for loose wiring connections in engine compartment or at instrument cluster.
Are connections loose?
Yes SECURE loose connections.
No GO to L3
L3 CHECK INSTRUMENT CLUSTER PRINTED CIRCUIT
Inspect instrument cluster printed circuit for damage, poor connections, or open circuits.
Is instrument cluster printed circuit open or damaged?
Yes REPLACE instrument cluster.
No GO to L4.
L4 MAKE RESISTANCE/VOLTAGE CHECKS
CAUTION: Before checking the continuity of any circuit, make sure there is no voltage present in the circuit prior to switching the test equipment to the resistance function to avoid damage to equipment. Refer to the equipment user's manual for additional information.
Remove instrument cluster and make resistance and voltage checks (using Rotunda 88 Digital
Multimeter 105-00053 or equivalent) at 14401 wiring harness connector as follows:
Check Pin No. 3 (Connector 1) resistance to chassis ground — should read 1 ohm or less.
Check Pin No. 10 (Connector 1) resistance to chassis ground — should read 1 ohm or less, if vehicle has 8-cylinder engine. Open circuit if 6-cylinder engine.
Check Pin No. 9 (Connector 1) resistance to negative terminal of ignition coil should be 1 ohm or less.
Instrument Cluster Connector C1 Pin Diagram Attached
Pin Number Circuit Circuit Function
1 904 (LG/R) Charge Indicator Lamp
2 932 (GY/W) High Beam Indicator Input
3 57 (BK) Ground
4 450 (DG/LG) Fasten Belt Indicator Input
5 29 (Y/W) Fuel Level Input (with Tachometer)
6 19 (LB/R) Instrument Cluster Illumination Input
7 57 (BK) Ground
8 2 (W/LB) Right Turn Input
9 648 (W/PK) Tachometer Input Signal
10 398 (BK/Y) Tachometer Ground (for 8 Cylinder)
11 784 (LB/BK) Low Range Indicator Input
12 210 (LB) 4x4 Indicator Input
13 640 (R/Y) Power Supply in RUN and START
14 16 (R/LG) Charge Indicator Input
CAUTION: Make sure multimeter is in the voltage function and not in the resistance function to avoid damage to multimeter
Connect battery. Key to RUN. Check for +12 volts at Pin No. 13 (Connector 1). Turn ignition OFF. Disconnect battery.
Are resistances/voltages within specifications?
Yes Condition is not in tachometer. SERVICE wiring.
No REPLACE tachometer.
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Cluster Removal in 92- 96; miesk5 NOTE, Electronic modules, such as instrument clusters, powertrain controls and sound systems are sensitive to static electricity and can be damaged by static discharges which are below the levels that you can hear "snap'' or detect on your skin. A detectable snap or shock of static electricity is in the 3,000 volt range. Some of these modules can be damaged by a charge of as little as 100 volts. The following are some basic safeguards to avoid static electrical damage: Leave the replacement module in its original packing until you are ready to install it. Avoid touching the module connector pins. Avoid placing the module on a non-conductive surface. Use a commercially available static protection kit. These kits contain such things as grounding cords and conductive mats.
FYI, in case you haven't pulled the cluster out yet;
If you have the E4OD; start it, move shifter to Low or 1 and turn it off; so cluster can be removed ezier later.
pry the two trim panels from each side of the steering column - Remove the screws that are under these panels
Remove head light knob. pull da knob out, use a small screwdriver to press the release tab outwards & keep pressure on tab while you pull the knob off
Pull on the dash piece and it should pop right off.
pry back the clip and pull the connector from the back of the switch.
dash piece should now be free and can be set aside.
Remove the 4 screws that hold the entire cluster in (not the 7 screws that hold the clear face on).
Tip the cluster out being careful not to scratch the face.
Unplug the connectors on the back of the cluster
W/ an auto transmission you will need to disconnect the indicator cable from the shifter
I managed to lift the gauge cluster up and tilted it to disconnect the connector to PSOM, and other gauges...
And, Re; "... This is the plastic housing that the little wire loop runs through. The black thumbwheel is threaded around the plastic housing. By spinning the thumbwheel, the housing will back down and out (with the wire loop). You want to spin the housing all the way down and clear... Be gentle with it; I used a small phillips screwdriver to un-hook it; didn't need to spin it;
If the cable sheath is white, it's probably about to break no matter how careful you are. If it's black with mesh reinforcement, you almost can't break it..."
Shift Indicator Adjustment in 92-96 Source: by Jack Oft "...I always unhook the cable (shifting to L or 1 makes it easier), then spin the wheel. You can't really get to the indicator end to unhook it - I do it at the shifter (wheel) end. There's nothing inherently wrong with removing the wheel assy. But when you're trying to pull the cluster, it's easier to feed the bare cable end back around the column & thru the wiring harness..."
Shift Indicator Cable
"Got a new one from Ford, about 20 bucks, and the quality of this one is much better, the cable is protected much better, and the spring of course, has spring to it "
pic by Chris A
1. Remove the four screws from the lower steering column shroud. Remove the lower steering column shroud.
2. Rotate transmission range selector lever clockwise until it bottoms out in first gear.
3. Rotate transmission range selector lever counterclockwise three detents (overdrive position).
4. Hang a three pound weight on the transmission range selector lever.
5. Center pointer in the middle of D if equipped with C6 transmission, or (D) if equipped with E4OD transmission, by rotating the thumbwheel located on right-hand side of steering column actuator housing.
As usual, when I pulled my cluster out, our diggie cam took a hike south.
now you can replace any bulbs.
..,
Similarities, Mounting, & Removal info & pics;
"...The PSOM, lens, blackout ring, terminal clips, shifter plates, bulbs & holders are interchangeable between cases.
87-96 gauges are only held in by their terminal clips, except the speedo.
80-91 speedos are held in by 2 screws; 92-97 PSOMs are held captive by the surrounding gauge faces. 80-86 use the same case for tach & non-tach, with a blank face for non-tach. 80-86 gauges are held in by stamped nuts on threaded studs. The fuel, oil, & temperature gauge bodies are identical & interchangeable by prying the needle off & removing the 2 screws holding the body to the face plate. To reinstall the needle, the gauge must be powered & have a known signal applied (usually the minimum) before stabbing the needle so it points to the proper reading. The screws are 5.5mm (7/32") hex with T15. Note that both cases have a molded socket for an anti-slosh module (low fuel light, which was never installed at the factory) and both film circuits have 4 traces for the socket..."
Instrument Cluster & Bezel '92-96 (& '97 over 8500GVWR)
Removal:
1) Remove the headlight knob (3) and trim strips (4&5).
Headlight Knob Catch
This knob's collar was broken away, allowing a better view of the catch. To release the knob from the shaft, use a pick in the slot provided to press the catch rearward (toward the knob) as you pull the knob rearward. To install, align the triangle socket with the shaft and press the knob onto the shaft fully.
2) Remove 2 screws behind trim strips.
3) Pull bezel, unseating 3 clips along top edge.
4) Disconnect fuel tank switch (F-series only), rear window switch (Bronco only), ESOF switch, &/or diesel warning lights as necessary.
5) Tilt steering wheel down and shift to 1 as necessary to withdraw bezel from instrument panel.
It's common for these screw holes to shatter, but this is a quick, easy, cheap, & effective repair, even BEFORE they break through. Repairing the ESOF switch was a little more difficult, and the Rear Window was a nightmare.