Bulb went in my speedo cluster over the weekend , changed the bulb ( with correct one ) put it all back together , turned the ignition and lights on ... Pop 3 more go and the cluster bellows out smoke , appocoliptically cross !!!!! Are these clusters a common complaint ? I've sourced another cluster for £10 so not to drastic

 

Sounds like you might have shorted it out. Wrong bulb or not fitted properly etc.

Be warned though, it probably won't start with a different cluster in as the dash clocks are coded to the immobiliser.

 

never heard of them go like that before but there was a batch of bad ones from Ford (2003 sounds about right) which they would replace for £50 at he dealer at one time. This was a number of years ago when I discovered this though.

 

It's a bit odd as the warning light bulbs all work the needles etc all work normally but only the speed and fuel will illuminate revs and temp are in darkness , basically unless I pay through my arse to get one "coded" there's nothing I can do ?


Before this happened , There is a loose connection in the clocks somewhere anyways as the coil , and battery light flicker for a few days then nothing for weeks then it come back again, I've heard it is something to do with the green plastic sheet the circuit is printed on .

 

Seems to be mixed opinions on here having looked through related posts , some say straight swap others say may be issues with immobiliser :-/ would I get away with it if the clocks were out of an earlier model ?

 

Best way is just to try it, pretty sure it won't work though. If it doesn't work then maybe use a part out of the new clocks to get your originals working.

 

Mmmm :-/ think the only way I can do it if it does not work it pull the plastic circuit sheet out and fit to mine , without breaking the sheet .... Could be intresting :-/

Thanks all for your input

 

changed the clocks on many mk1 and mk1.5 models inc a st170 and none were coded, clusters are a common fault on these

 

Thanks for that bud , will see how it goes tonight , fingers crossed !

 

Well ..... New clocks in .... Driven the 7 mile back home .... Not issues what so ever , and I'm rid of the flickering coil light and battery light .... WINNING ! Thanks all for your input

 

Glad it worked! Did the mileage stay the same or did it change with the new clocks?

 

I was shiting it tbh given the mixed reviews of it working , no the new clocks are reading 92k although the old one was on 145k ( car does not look a high miler that's for sure ) , I'm not worried about it tbh , I have no intention of selling on so its fine as it is now I think about it I should of known it would of been fine as I drove it the other day with no clocks in at all , immobi would of cut in if it worked that way lol