Anyway to Activate Additional Indicators

[BradWhite]

While working on my 08 the other day my flashlight beam happened to flash across the radio info display on top of the dash. Wait a minute, what was that I just saw? A closer look revealed more LED displays in there that do not illuminate on my SE model. For instance, the lower left corner has a temperature reading, I'm assuming outside, that doesn't come on. Even the pic below, from Ford, doesn't show it.



Anyone ever played with this and tried to activate those extra indicators hiding in there?

[Sponsor]

[OCS12]

It's actually a really simple mod, but the parts are fairly expensive. What you need to do is start by removing the radio display. That's the part you need to save. You can now throw away the rest of the car. Buy a Fusion. Put the display in a Fusion. Done.

The extra LCD's are just so that screen can be recycled in other Ford models. I don't think you can do do anything to activate them.

[BradWhite]

Man and I thought my exhaust was an expensive mod! Yeah, I figured it's just the same radio display they throw in everything, hooking up what they want per model. So if that's true though, those displays are functional. So it should be just a matter of finding out what we need to make them work in other models.

I'll be playing but if anyone has the answer jump right in. Also if you know for sure this is impossible and I'm waisting my time even thinking about it, jump right in too.

It will just bug me as long as I have the car knowing those are in there and I can't use them!

[honhon]

i wish the 07's had something like that... and i really wanna see if the cluster from an 08 will fit in an 07... i love the new clusters...

[bdnld4482]

Originally Posted by OCS12

It's actually a really simple mod, but the parts are fairly expensive. What you need to do is start by removing the radio display. That's the part you need to save. You can now throw away the rest of the car. Buy a Fusion. Put the display in a Fusion. Done.

The extra LCD's are just so that screen can be recycled in other Ford models. I don't think you can do do anything to activate them.

this is the funniest thread ive read today. lol just throw away the car . ha ha ha lol

[CaysE]

With some wiring, a few parts and maybe some soldering, I'm sure it can be done. The SVTs have an ice indicator in the auxiliary gauge cluster that doesn't do anything in the US... but it works in the ST170 in Europe. I already bought the sensor; I just have to get an extra harness to cut up so I can wire it in.

[scrammer]

^^really? wow, never knew that. ill have to look at it today.
is it like in the F-Series? it tells you when there may be ice out? i never seen the point in that thing. its freezing outside...DUH! of course there is the possiblity of ice. for sure one of the most redundant IDIOT lights ever made

[CaysE]

It turns yellow at around 5C and red at 0C I believe.

[BradWhite]

OK, now you're getting my hopes up. Would you mind letting me know how that goes, if you remember. I took a close look the other day and what I found hiding in the 08 radio information display is;

on the left side (top to bottom):

88.8
fan symbol with increasing bars after it
"Zone" with a couple of boxes after it and "CAL" at the end

on the right side (top to bottom)

88.8
"EXT TEMP"
-188.8

These are all red LEDs, not the blue used for the radio info. I guess I'll need to do exactly what you did and figure out what each one is for and what vehicle (country) they are used in.

If anyone can I.D. them I'd love to hear from you. Let's see, I think I've figured out the fan speed and external temp, but don't know the vehicle yet.

[CaysE]

First I had to figure out what cars it did work on (ST170 in my case), and then get the wiring diagrams and part numbers from a Ford parts guy in Europe. I first cross-checked the part numbers with Steve (FORDSVTPARTS) and he managed to find a US part number for the sensor. All I really need now is a spare harness so I can add two pins to the connector that's on my aux gauge cluster harness.

Your first step is to find out what the part number is for your cluster and what other cars it's used on. Then find which of those cars uses the indicator you want to enable. Get the wiring diagrams for that car and go from there.