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Instrument cluster completely shut down

Tiny
NADIAAK
  • MEMBER
  • 2005 MERCURY MONTEGO
  • 3 CYL
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 120,000 MILES
Hello All,
I need urgent help and answer.
I have purchased a Mercury Montego before 40 days. When I purchased it, I saw a warning saying Oil Life is low. I tried to reset it several times but whenever I start the car again it comes back. I have changed the oil but the error keeps coming. This was the only problem I had. After 20 days I got a device from my insurance company which I can plug and get 5% discount on my fees. The car was working fine for few days. After that the instrument cluster shut down completely no lights or gas gauge but the car is working fine. A/C, Radio, cranks fine and even the lights are working fine. I took it to a maintenance place who said he wants 85$ per hour to diagnose the problem and since I'm a student I couldn't really do it. However, he took like a light indicator and touched each fuse on a part which I believe is the computer and all of them were working except one which had number 15 and he changed and still not working.
I have decided to contact another tech and on my way the car made a strange beeping sound. Turn it off and on again and everything started working fine. The tech took like a scanner and connected to the computer and he told me he can see two errors P2067 and P0467. He said he thinks the instrument cluster is bad and need to be changed.
Knowing so less about cars, I was thinking what if the computers is not working fine and the instrument cluster is ok, how do you know? Does the computer control A/C Radio?
I think for now I will just keep driving the car until this happens again.
Please advice as soon as possible.
Thanks for everyone who participate on this website.
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Sunday, November 2nd, 2014 AT 6:58 AM

3 Replies

Tiny
CARADIODOC
  • MECHANIC
  • 33,871 POSTS
My first concern is the blown fuse and what circuit it is for. Manufacturers will often tie two circuits together because you'll notice one but maybe not the other one when it's dead. The horn and radio would be a typical example. If there was a short circuit and that fuse blew, you'd never know the horn wouldn't work until you needed it, but you will notice the radio is not working. The same might be true of your instrument cluster. You noticed that, but there might be something else that blew the fuse, and the instrument cluster has part of its circuitry tied to that same fuse.

P0467 - Purge Flow Sensor Circuit Low Input

This code refers to a sensor in the fuel vapor recovery system. It is very doubtful this is related to the instrument cluster problem. The vapor recovery system is emissions-related. The system is likely doing what it is supposed to do. It's just the sensor circuit keeping tabs on it that has the problem. The instrument cluster is a safety system. I don't have much good to say about car designers, but I doubt they would use the instrument cluster to get your attention for something relatively trivial.

P2067 - Fuel Level Sensor "B" Circuit Low

The same is true for this code. My suspicion is both of these codes were set because they involve things that are related to that fuse, but not necessarily the cause of it blowing. If I was working on your car, I'd start by looking for the cause of that fuse blowing. If I'm lucky, fixing that will restore the instrument cluster's operation.
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Sunday, November 2nd, 2014 AT 11:23 PM
Tiny
NADIAAK
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
Thanks a lot for your reply.
I feel I'm understand a bit about cars now. I appreciate it.
The fuse which I have mentioned early on, the right side of it is not working. When the mechanic changed still the problem was there.
Yes, the instrument cluster started working perfectly fine when I was driving it to the 2nd Mechanic. It gave all the right alerts, like when I push the break.
He took a device to scan it and got these two errors.
After reading what u have said, when I purchased the car it had an error which can't be reset (oil life is low), knowing that I have changed the oil. 1-Do you think the oil sensor is connected to the fuse which set the other errors I'm getting?
I'm thinking I will drive the car again until it acts funny and maybe then the mechanic can check it.2- What do you advice?
Does changing the fuse if it was the problem cost much?
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Monday, November 3rd, 2014 AT 5:10 AM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 47,536 POSTS
These cars had a problem with the BCM which entail all of the problems you have described. I would get a used one and plug it in to see what happens. Here is the location.

Removal and Installation

CAUTION:
If the smart junction box (SJB) is dropped, damage to the internal components may occur. A new SJB must be installed.
Prior to the removal of the module, it is necessary to upload module configuration information to the appropriate diagnostic equipment. This information needs to be downloaded into the new module once installed.
Electronic modules are sensitive to static electrical charges. If exposed to these charges, damage may result.
Disconnect the battery.
Remove the steering column cover.
Disconnect the SJB electrical connectors.
Remove the 3 nuts and the SJB.
To install, tighten to 3 Nm (27 lb-in).
To install, reverse the removal procedure.

Please let us know what happens.

Cheers, Ken
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Wednesday, August 23rd, 2017 AT 8:43 PM

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