lastmanstanding Posted May 21, 2015 Share Posted May 21, 2015 I own a 2011 Ford F-150 5.0, FX 4X4. Bought new. Have a problem with the instrument cluster. In between the tach and the speedometer is what they call The Basic Message Center. Mine quit. This tells you the miles on the truck and so many other things I don't have room here to name all of them. Truck only has 25,000 miles on it, dealer check mileage for me. Fuse is good. Disconnected battery to reset. Nothing worked........ Dealer has no clue. Replacement is around $600. Warranty is up on the truck, but at 25,000 miles............ I'm sure you known where I'm going with this. So many features are dependent on this "Message Center" that you need it to work. Things like this shouldn't break. Anyone have this problem before or heard of this? If not, how difficult is it to remove and re-install instrument cluster. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akirby Posted May 21, 2015 Share Posted May 21, 2015 The dealer has to transfer the mileage and configuration from the old one to the new one and program it to the PCM. Not a DIY job unfortunately. FWIW this is the first failure of this type that I remember hearing about. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pioneer Posted May 21, 2015 Share Posted May 21, 2015 I don't think the dealer can program the mileage. I think they order it from Ford with the mileage number already programed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lastmanstanding Posted May 21, 2015 Author Share Posted May 21, 2015 The dealer has to transfer the mileage and configuration from the old one to the new one and program it to the PCM. Not a DIY job unfortunately. FWIW this is the first failure of this type that I remember hearing about. The dealers I took it to said the same thing. To bad it's not a DIY project. I'd give it a shot........ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akirby Posted May 21, 2015 Share Posted May 21, 2015 My understanding is the dealer downloads the mileage and other info from the old cluster and uploads it to the new cluster with their IDS. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fordtech1 Posted May 22, 2015 Share Posted May 22, 2015 The mileage is not programmable with ids. The mileage is set when it is ordered. The ids sets what options are enabled in the cluster like parking aid, and autolock etc.. One dumb question and I have seen this before. If you toggle the screen with the info button, after so many presses you will get a blank screen. Press again and it comes back. Have you made sure that is not it. It was common enough a SSM was issued about it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lastmanstanding Posted May 22, 2015 Author Share Posted May 22, 2015 The mileage is not programmable with ids. The mileage is set when it is ordered. The ids sets what options are enabled in the cluster like parking aid, and autolock etc.. One dumb question and I have seen this before. If you toggle the screen with the info button, after so many presses you will get a blank screen. Press again and it comes back. Have you made sure that is not it. It was common enough a SSM was issued about it. Which one is info button? This is what my steering wheel looks like.............http://www.f150forum.com/f38/2009-2010-f-150-steering-wheel-vs-2011-2012-a-172957/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fordtech1 Posted May 23, 2015 Share Posted May 23, 2015 (edited) OK I misunderstood. You have the higher level cluster. When you said basic messenger center, I was thinking the cluster that is just two line message center with the three buttons over radio, info, setup, reset. Looks like you will need a cluster. A option that will save you a trip to dealer is to have your cluster sent out for repair. Most will repair and send it back and no programming has been changed. I would do that. I have done that with some GM clusters. Edited May 23, 2015 by fordtech1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lastmanstanding Posted May 23, 2015 Author Share Posted May 23, 2015 OK I misunderstood. You have the higher level cluster. When you said basic messenger center, I was thinking the cluster that is just two line message center with the three buttons over radio, info, setup, reset. Looks like you will need a cluster. A option that will save you a trip to dealer is to have your cluster sent out for repair. Most will repair and send it back and no programming has been changed. I would do that. I have done that with some GM clusters. Yea, that was my mistake. Reading out of the owners manual I got one confused with the other. So how does that work? Do I take it to the dealer, they pull it out, send it to whoever for repair, and they reinstall when it comes back? What is the turn-around on something like that, I'm sure I can't drive it without the cluster. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fordtech1 Posted May 23, 2015 Share Posted May 23, 2015 Yes you won't be able to drive it. Google ford instrument cluster repair and contact a couple of those companies and make sure they can fix your cluster. Removal is easy just a few 7mm screws. I'm sure there is a you tube video. I personally would do it all myself and would save you a bunch of money. Another option is to ask the dealer for assistance since the truck is out on time not miles. They may provide after warranty assistance. If not, you can call ford customer service and see if they will help. You will probably have to pay for half if they do offer assistance. You have a better chance if you purchased it new at that dealer and you get service work done there also. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lastmanstanding Posted May 23, 2015 Author Share Posted May 23, 2015 Yes you won't be able to drive it. Google ford instrument cluster repair and contact a couple of those companies and make sure they can fix your cluster. Removal is easy just a few 7mm screws. I'm sure there is a you tube video. I personally would do it all myself and would save you a bunch of money. Another option is to ask the dealer for assistance since the truck is out on time not miles. They may provide after warranty assistance. If not, you can call ford customer service and see if they will help. You will probably have to pay for half if they do offer assistance. You have a better chance if you purchased it new at that dealer and you get service work done there also. Thanks for all the info......... I'll be looking at video's and for someone to repair or replace after taken out. You've been very helpful......... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lastmanstanding Posted May 30, 2015 Author Share Posted May 30, 2015 Ford agreed to pay 60% of the bill, which is well over $700.............. fordtech1.........Thanks again for your help on this.......... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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