Dash mileage not lighting up :-(

[davey80y]

hey,

got a annoying prob the mileage lcd display isn't lighting up anymore everything else is working fine (touch wood) is it just a matter of replacing a bulb? and is there a guide to getting to the back of the instruments anywhere??

cheers all

 

[XAF]

Afraid you can't change the bulb, you'll need a replacement cluster. If you go on eBay there are loads so just buy one with as close mileage to yours as possible as the mileage is stored in the cluster, not the ECU.

 

[davey80y]

dam will prob just live with it

 

[cf_orob]

is the mileage showing at all?

 

[davey80y]

yea its all perfect other than it doesn't light up with the rest of the dash

 

[cf_orob]

if mileage is just dull then just a bulb did mine last year

 

[Frank]

dam will prob just live with it

Put a £1 keyring torch on your door keys, not cars keys. Sorted.

If it's the actual black figures of the actual mileage LCD that have vanished (you get this happening on the clock) then that's a tiresome and fairly costly fix. Write a mileage with a very fine permanent marker pen (Eddings are good) and forget about it.

The actual mileage can be grabbed from the ECU with a code reader, which hopefully would be good enough for the MOT tester.

 

[davey80y]

no its just the lighting up part was wondering if it was just a bulb or if it was integrated in to the display is there a guide to swapping them anywhere failing that what bulb is it?

 

[XAF]

dam will prob just live with it

The actual mileage can be grabbed from the ECU with a code reader, which hopefully would be good enough for the MOT tester.

Sadly not, the mileage is stored in a chip in the cluster in 99on Puma's. Exactly the same happened to my cluster excepted it would flash on and off. New cluster fixed it but defaulted to mileage on th cluster. Next time the air bag light wouldn't light, so another secondhand cluster and again the mileage was that of the cluster not the car. When it went in for service I even asked Ford to read the ECU but they also said its in the cluster not ECU. New clusters are £15 or so and easy swap

 

[CherryVimto]

The light source behind the digital readout IS replaceable/changeable as I've done it before when I changed the dash lighting colours.

 

[davey80y]

any chance of a guide/list of parts needed to replace the light part?

 

[CherryVimto]

any chance of a guide/list of parts needed to replace the light part?

I can get some info for you tomorrow if you can wait that long...?

 

[davey80y]

ty been like it for the last month so not desperate

 

[XAF]

The light source behind the digital readout IS replaceable/changeable as I've done it before when I changed the dash lighting colours.

I stand by the mileage part, but awesome if too you can change the bulb, I couldn't figure it out, it all looked sealed. Cheers!

 

[Frank]

The actual mileage can be grabbed from the ECU with a code reader, which hopefully would be good enough for the MOT tester.

Sadly not, the mileage is stored in a chip in the cluster in 99on Puma's...

Yep, I figured it might be.

However, in this case, it's the bulb that's gone, not the LED display.

So, here, I really would go for the keyring torch approach. Mind you, I really hate hauling dashboards out and fiddling about in there, so I'm a bit biased.

 

[CherryVimto]

Sorry for taking so long....

There is a small grey bulb holder in the back of the dial unit:

image.

• CherryVimto
• Nov 20, 2015

I cant tell you what bulb it is though as I removed mine to fit a white LED instead. It is the same shape/style as a 501 but a LOT smaller!

 

[davey80y]

whey ty

although it fixed it self was driving along and it just started working again

 

[Catweasel]

whey ty

although it fixed it self was driving along and it just started working again

That's the best fix of all !

 

[YOG]

IIRC, it's a 286/T5 Wedge Bulb, Also available in coloured Led's:

Dash Mileage 286/T5 Wedge Bulb

• YOG
• Dec 1, 2015

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2-X-Lucas-Capless-Panel-Bulbs-LLB286-12v-1-2W-/291062548931?_trksid=p2141725.m3641.l6368" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.autobulbsdirect.co.uk/286-T5-LED-Dashboard-Bulbs-286LED.html?gclid=CPTrp5G3uskCFUi3GwodzogFIA" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;