2005 GT gauges shows random

[shywaz]

Hi fellow Mustang owners!

I've tried to search the forum with no luck. So either my search skills are weak, or...
So anyway, bought 2005 GT with a manual gearbox back in September 2024, and because of personal reasons, the car has been sitting still since it was imported.
At the time, I've started the engine to see how it ran, and everything worked fine. Now after 6-7 months, I start the engine once again, and all gauges shows random. Tach at idle ~100rpm, coolant hot, battery high, oil low, etc. Even with the key out and everything switched off - needles don't go to rest/zero position, they move, but rest where they want.
So what happened? any simple way to fix it? i really don't wanna change stepper motors, or even cluster itself

For the record, I must say that in September car was started with jump cables, now it has a new battery.
From September till now car has had disconnected battery negative cable.
Also I get P1000 code, but this I believe is because of new battery and no driving so far.

 

[Dino Dino Bambino]

It does sound like the gauge stepper motors are acting up. Before you start replacing them (not a difficult task), try disconnecting the positive battery cable as well for at least 15 minutes. This might just "shake" the stepper motors back to their senses.

 

[86GT351]

Like mentioned, try the battery reset first. If needed the motors are not expensive.

(6) 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 Ford Mustang Speedometer Stepper Motors - NEW | eBay

Gauge Cluster Stepper Motors. 2005-2009 Ford Mustang. What is this item?.

www.ebay.com

 

[shywaz]

One motor fits all 6 gauges? I mean all 6 has the same part number?

 

[86GT351]

One motor fits all 6 gauges? I mean all 6 has the same part number?

Yes. They are all the same and interchangeable

 

[JC SSP]

This should be a sticky because sooner or later we are all going to have to replace these...

 

[86GT351]

Might be in here

Service Manual Guides

Starting this thread for folks to post instructional documents from the service manual. http://iihs.net/fsm/

s197forum.com

 

[DieHarder]

Hi fellow Mustang owners!

I've tried to search the forum with no luck. So either my search skills are weak, or...
So anyway, bought 2005 GT with a manual gearbox back in September 2024, and because of personal reasons, the car has been sitting still since it was imported.
At the time, I've started the engine to see how it ran, and everything worked fine. Now after 6-7 months, I start the engine once again, and all gauges shows random. Tach at idle ~100rpm, coolant hot, battery high, oil low, etc. Even with the key out and everything switched off - needles don't go to rest/zero position, they move, but rest where they want.
So what happened? any simple way to fix it? i really don't wanna change stepper motors, or even cluster itself

For the record, I must say that in September car was started with jump cables, now it has a new battery.
From September till now car has had disconnected battery negative cable.
Also I get P1000 code, but this I believe is because of new battery and no driving so far.

What do the battery cables look like? Any discoloration? Oxidization?

Since you had the battery negative disconnected all that time I'd suggest cleaning both battery cable connections and check battery voltage (with a VOM) across the terminals with the engine running. If less than 14.7 vdc the grounds likely need some work. Poor grounds will cause all kinds of electrical mayhem in these cars.

 

[shywaz]

Looked at how to remove instrument cluster, and it says "Prior to removal of the instrument cluster it is necessary to upload the instrument configuration information to the diagnostic tool"

Is it really necessary? What for?

 

[86GT351]

Looked at how to remove instrument cluster, and it says "Prior to removal of the instrument cluster it is necessary to upload the instrument configuration information to the diagnostic tool"

Is it really necessary? What for?

Ford suggests that due to cluster info stored in it. Sometimes it can get lost when removed.

 

[shywaz]

What do the battery cables look like? Any discoloration? Oxidization?

Since you had the battery negative disconnected all that time I'd suggest cleaning both battery cable connections and check battery voltage (with a VOM) across the terminals with the engine running. If less than 14.7 vdc the grounds likely need some work. Poor grounds will cause all kinds of electrical mayhem in these cars.

Will have another look with voltmeter.
Any particular grounding spots to look for? Or just only the battery terminals?

 

[DieHarder]

The primary grounds for the battery are the passenger strut tower and the other is bolted to the underside of the motor mount on the passenger side. There's also a third that is bolted to the firewall and connects to the engine around the back of the head (warning: it's a bitch to get to). Another thing you can do to determine the health of your grounds is check for voltage drops with a VOM. Place the negative lead on the case of the alternator and the positive lead on the passenger strut tower ground. If you read voltage the grounds need cleaning or you need to add an additional ground wire (~4 ga). Adding an additional ground won't hurt anything.

For more info see: https://www.s197forum.com/threads/f...tage-beware-the-all-important-grounds.139544/

 

[DieHarder]

Looked at how to remove instrument cluster, and it says "Prior to removal of the instrument cluster it is necessary to upload the instrument configuration information to the diagnostic tool"

Is it really necessary? What for?

Odd, never experienced any negative impacts removing/storing or reconnecting the instrument cluster. Even when I replaced it with a My Color 6-gauge version no ill effects. YMMV of course.

 

[86GT351]

 

[lwarrior1016]

What are the freaking odds. I read this thread on Friday, after never heard of the stepper motor issue. My car sits all weekend, I drive it to work today. Then on the way home, my tach starts going below zero at idle.

I shut the car down, keyed back on and let the gauges reset, then heard a small screech that sounded like a stripping gear behind the tach.

I think I need to replace the stepper motor. I need to stop reading this forum, it’s breaking my car. Lol

 

[86GT351]

What are the freaking odds. I read this thread on Friday, after never heard of the stepper motor issue. My car sits all weekend, I drive it to work today. Then on the way home, my tach starts going below zero at idle.

I shut the car down, keyed back on and let the gauges reset, then heard a small screech that sounded like a stripping gear behind the tach.

I think I need to replace the stepper motor. I need to stop reading this forum, it’s breaking my car. Lol

LOL. Maybe you should play the lottery then! We all get a percentage for the diagnosis

 

[Blue03Cobra]

Ford suggests that due to cluster info stored in it. Sometimes it can get lost when removed.

Maybe I'm just charmed, but I'm on my fourth gauge cluster (2008 GT), and other than a V6 Premium cluster that made the traction control inactive (apparently out of a car that didn't have TC), there have been no negative repercussions in swapping them out. Every time the ODO reflects the previous car's mileage and all the calculated values (MPG, Tripmeter, Miles to Empty, etc.) all immediately showed the previous car's data. Each also adapted to my car, once installed and the values recalculated, as I drove it.

 

[white95]

What are the odds of the SJB being part of the issue and the S197 water intrusion issue being a factor? Corroded points on a circuit board could be a factor.

 

[Chief Ironhorse]

Have you tried this? Discconnect the battery for 5- 10 minutes. reconnect the battery, Turn your ignition on but only the first click not to start or engage starter at all. leave it on for a few minutes. Turn off again. wait a minute and then start the car. just an idea. couldn't hurt, in this mode the car recognizes everything connected to the pc again or re-learns. if you ever change yout TB motor with the battery connected ( as i mistakenly did) you will have to do this and also move the throttle from closed to fully open for it to learn the travel in the throttle body.

 

[shywaz]

So it seems like my stepper motors needs replacing
Charge is good, grounds too, tried before mentioned procedures with no luck, so the only thing left is stepper motors, as code reader gives nothing too.

Anyway, changing stepper motor is pretty straight forward job, except how to put needles back in proper position? Any tips and tricks?