Instrument Cluster Staying Lit Up

[jeebowhite]

OK, so I have had this problem since the day I bought the car. It never really bothered me, and I couldnt be bothered to find the issue, so I left it.

A week or so ago, I was sat in my car on the phone. Engine off, just sat there in the unlocked car, all of a sudden, the screen went off :| first time in the year (where the battery wasnt dead!) the screen went off. So I will be repeating the test today. The issue appears to be that when I lock the car, the screen stays lit up like the festive tree, but if I leave it unlocked, it all appears to be fine!

So, I know that I have a general CANBUS communication error (D900) on the car, and I believe that it might be related to this. The question is, when I lock the car, other than the immobiliser activating on the instrument cluster, what else does the cluster do that would possibly cause this?

I am posting it here, as I know there are Focus owners with the same issue! I havent got time at the moment to take the instrument cluster out, but I think I will be taking it out at some point and checking the wiring harness for any obvious damage!

Anyone got any thoughts?

[jeebowhite]

OK so I went out at lunch for another phone call....

Sat in the car, closed the doors, left it unlocked. 15 minutes later, cluster goes out - result!

... So I single locked the car... Cluster light stayed out... thats good, I guess!

... So I unlock the car, and then single lock the car with me inside... 15 minutes later, cluster goes out... Right?

.... So I unlock the car, open the door, close the door, double lock the car with me inside... 15 minutes later, cluster goes out! WTF? :S

All of a sudden the lights started going out! So I got out the car and I have double locked it. When I go out to the car tonight I will check if its still lights out or lights on! Its weird that the lights went out as normally it doesnt... But then I can guarantee over the next 24 hours, it will be back to its old tricks.

I really cant think what about locking the car would keep the lights of the cluster on!?

[Dazbo85]

Where do you live I need a few bits lol

[jeebowhite]

lol, other side of the QE2 ;)

Well, I went back out and as expected, the light stayed on... what the chuff! lol

[Dazbo85]

I'm baffled to be honest hope you sort it soon mate

[jeebowhite]

probably wont be sorted for many many many moons!

[gregers]

software update maybe??

[jeebowhite]

maybe, but I am not bothered if its leaving the light on a bit longer, I aint paying Ford fee's to plug it in lol

[Nathan_M]

I always thought when you lock it it sets a timer that disables all the lighting and dash until it's unlocked again, I know as a man it's hard but what does the manual say in regards to the dash lights?

Sent from my LT30p using Ford OC mobile app

[Ffoxy]

Got to be worth a squirt of silicone lube spray into the ignition barrel? I'm thinking maybe a single tumbler is sticking making the system think the key is still in? Had this on my Hyundai i30 but that caused the remote central locking to stop working... Has to be worth a try...

[jeebowhite]

could well be worth a squirter. wondering if electrical contact cleaner might benefit as I have that in the boot.

sent using the Ford OC app for android.

[Nathan_M]

Must be worth a squirt?

[jeebowhite]

Got nothing to lose by it! as long as it doesnt duff up the immobiliser ring around it then I should be fine!

[CG123]

Appreciate this is a very old thread but can see so many issues with the same thing. My dashboard on my 09 plate fiesta keeps randomly lighting up after its been locked. I double lock and it goes off then I check on it half out later and it’s back on. Did you ever get to the bottom of what it was?