***Cluster bad or is it the connector?-05 F350

[98stratusryder]

05 F350 CCLB dually

Problem is that all of a sudden while driving, the radio, cluster, and windows all stopped working. It's been doing it a lot more often. Over the weekend a buddy and I were getting ready to unscrew the cluster, he tapped the blue plug(connects to the cluster) and everything went back on and shortly when back out.
So, now that I think I've pinpointed the problem I have a couple questions.

1. Anyone have a wiring diagram of the blue plug or where I can get one?
2. Is there a way to test the cluster?

Thanks guys, any help is appreciated b/c this is driving me nuts! Chris....,

[bboteler]

Not sure but if you need a replacement cluster let me know, I replaced mine with a lariat, my xlt cluster is for sale.

[98stratusryder]

^^^ Thanks I'll let you know, what happens.

[mx185sw]

I have been chasing a similar issue with my truck... first started with the display not lighting up for the AC controls... determined when that happens, if I turn on the headlights, you hear a click and the AC control panel lights up. This happens only about 4 or 5 times a year (been doing it for about 3 years now)... just recently, my dash blanks out, no display and no gauges work. Pulled whole dash apart and determined that one of plugs on the BACK of the fuse box was stressed just enough that the spade connectors loosened up... a simple tweak of the spade connectors in the plug so it fit tight again corrected the problem. Also I read somewhere that the shifter cable rub the wire harness at the just below the dash... you would have to remove the upper and lower steering column covers and ignition lock cylinder to get to the rub point

[mx185sw]

here is the wiring for the 05 dash. http://s1049.photobucket.com/albums/s388/mx185sw/Truck/

[Zmann]

search GEM module

[mx185sw]

Here is the pic of the fuse panel.. the left most connector is the one i found to have loose connection.. 4 10mm bolts and the fuse panel pulls out far enough to wiggle test for loose connection
[IMG][/IMG]

[98stratusryder]

Thanks guys, I'll check it out today.

[6oh stroker]

Im having this EXACT same issue!!!!! what have you determened?????

[!!!PainTrain!!!]

Just thought I would update this thread with my own experience.

I was having the same issues as the OP. My truck is a 2005 XLT SC/SB with the 6.0. I have a little over 100K miles on the clock. Started out losing the radio while driving. This slowly progressed into losing the entire instrument cluster, losing power windows, and eventually my truck would just shut off by itself.

I took it to my Ford dealer (Keystone Ford in Chambersburg,PA) and they had it fixed in a day. They said it was actually fairly common. On the back of the instrument panel, there is a relay. If this relay goes bad, it will cause all of these issues. The only thing to do is replace the instrument cluster. He said it had nothing to do with the "GEM" or the Smart Junction Box (Fuse panel).

I've put a little over a thousand miles on my truck since getting it back and it runs like a charm, no issues what so ever.