The Instrument cluster is the cluster of gauges on your F150 that displays information like speed, fuel level, and engine temperature.
Sometimes this cluster will fail to work properly on an f150 due to several factors.
In this article, I am going to talk about the main reasons why your F150 instrument cluster might not be working and how to fix the problem based on my personal experience.
What Causes an Instrument Cluster to Stop Working on a Ford F150?
Instrument clusters can malfunction for a number of reasons. here are the common causes of an instrument cluster not working on an F150:
Loose Battery Terminal Connection
The most common cause I found for an instrument cluster not working on a Ford F150 is a loose connection between the battery terminal and the vehicle’s battery.
Sometimes, you can see that the connection isn’t tight enough by looking at it; however, there are other times when this problem goes unnoticed until something else happens.
Dirty Battery Terminals
Another common cause for an instrument cluster not working is a dirty or corroded battery terminal.
Sometimes, you may notice that your vehicle’s battery terminals are covered with a black residue which is usually caused by corrosion.
When this happens, the electrical connection between the battery and its terminals becomes weaker over time and causes a lot of issues with your F150’s electronics including the instrumental cluster.
Blown Fuse
The F29 fuse is responsible for supplying power to the instrument cluster and other electrical components in your F150.
If this fuse blows, you will notice that the instrument cluster and/or other electrical components won’t work.
The main causes of blown fuses are:
- A short circuit in your F150 electrical system
- Loose or corroded battery terminals cause a bad connection to the battery
It is common for this fuse to blow up on an f150 pick-up, especially if you have a lot of aftermarket electronics installed.
Bad Wiring Harness
The final reason why your instrument cluster may not work is because of a bad wiring harness.
If the wiring harness is damaged or faulty, it won’t be able to send power to your instrument cluster and other electrical components.
The wiring harness near the shift lever can become damaged from wear and tear over time. If a wire is cut or broken, this may cause your F150 instrument cluster to malfunction.
How to Fix an F150 Instrument Cluster that is not Working?
If your F150 instrument cluster is not working, there are several things that you can do to fix it.
1. Disconnect and Reconnect Battery Terminals
The first thing I recommend you do is to disconnect the battery terminals and wait for about 30-60 seconds.
This will clear all electrical connections in your F150, including the connection to your instrument cluster.
You can then reconnect the battery terminal and turn on your F150 so that it can reset itself.
Also, make sure the terminals are clean and free from any corrosion.
In most cases, this will do the trick and your instrument cluster will start working again.
2. Check and Replace Fuse
If disconnecting and reconnecting the battery terminals doesn’t work, it’s time to check and replace fuse f29.
This is a fuse that controls the power supply for your instrument cluster and many other electrical functions in your F150.
If this fuse goes out, then you won’t be able to use any of these functions until you replace it with a new one.
3. Wiring Harness
In some cases, it’s possible that the wiring harness for your instrument cluster has become damaged or frayed.
This can cause a short circuit, which will result in your cluster failing to work properly.
If you think this is the case with your F150, then you need to either have the problem fixed by a professional or replace the wiring harness entirely.
How to Reset an F150 Instrument Cluster
In order to reset the instrument cluster on a Ford F150, you can follow these steps:
First, insert the key into the ignition and turn it clockwise to either position 0 or 1.
Next, locate the SEL or RESET knob or button, situated on the instrument panel near the fuel gauge.
Press and hold down the SEL or RESET knob or button until the instrument cluster lights come on and then release it.
This should successfully reset the instrument cluster on your Ford F150.