Hi All,

I'm hoping someone can help me. Recently I've been having Instrument Cluster issues in my Mk2 Focus ST.

I've had it re-soldered, and if anything, that has made it worse, the car goes into limp every single time I fire the car up, my climate control won't even switch on at all, and the dash lights up like a Xmas tree. So before I take the dials somewhere else, or I commit to buying a new Instrument Cluster, I need to get some info from the car so I can program a new cluster, if it comes to that.

I downloaded ELM Config, and followed a guide on Youtube on what info I need to save, unfortunately when I select the GEM module, I can't even read it and I get the error message in the picture.

It's frustrating the hell out of me because the car isn't really drivable.

Any help will be greatly appreciated.

Thank you.

Use FORScan and a vLinker FS cable.  That old basic style ELM327 cable you have isn't suitable for programming.

Get your instrument cluster professionally repaired by @rd457

FORscan:

On 4/7/2024 at 8:59 PM, unofix said:

FORScan (for use with Windows Laptop) : https://forscan.org/download.html

It's what many Ford owners use including some Ford technicians.

• vLinker FS, cable for laptop: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Vgate-vLinker-Adapter-FORScan-MS-CAN/dp/B0952P4MLP

OR

• OBDLINK EX, cable for laptop: https://www.amazon.co.uk/OBDLINK-EX-FORScan-OBD-Adapter/dp/B081VQVD3F/ref=sr_1_5

For diagnostic use only:

• vLinker FD, for android phone: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Vgate-Bluetooth-vLinker-Scanner-Diagnostic/dp/B08H82WC8L
• vLinker FD+, for iPhone: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Vgate-Bluetooth-vLinker-Scanner-Diagnostic/dp/B08H8JHWP2

 

Search Tag:   FORScan123

 

Yeah dump the old elm based cable and get a decent one as above.

Do you have a multimeter? If so check the resistance of the two CAN buses. If 60 Ohms, they're good, otherwise something's up which could be interfering with communication, in which case one possibility is that the cluster repair was done badly.

OBDII connections.

Thank you very much for the information, I'll look into this when I get home from work. 

Thank you very much!

If they just reflowed the solder on the cluster then it won't be fixed.

Plus, they could've flowed the solder into another solder joint and caused a short

As mentioned, get the cluster properly repaired.

 

Hi all.

So, my cable arrived and I've got my laptop plugged in now, I've bought a fresh license for Forscan. 

Im looking in thr GEM module now, is there any other information I need to save, just in case I need to replace my dials? 

Thank you.

 

 

On 5/5/2025 at 9:14 PM, rd457 said:

Yeah dump the old elm based cable and get a decent one as above.

Do you have a multimeter? If so check the resistance of the two CAN buses. If 60 Ohms, they're good, otherwise something's up which could be interfering with communication, in which case one possibility is that the cluster repair was done badly.

Unfortunately, im useless with a multimeter so I wouldn't know how to test it properly.

Sorry mate.