2005 V6 Mustang
113K miles

Hey guys, I'm having some issues with my tachometer in my car. I know there is a very common issue that deals with the motors that turn the actual dials. My gas gauge is starting to act up and will get stuck, I think this is an issue with the turning motor inside the gauge.

Anyways, I bought the car a month ago and dont know anything about the history. When I bough it the tachometer did not work. The needle sits at the 6 O'clock position and never moves. The airbag light and the door ajar lights are also on.

Is this an electrical problem? Or is this an issue with the motor inside the gauge? Any help with fixing it? Ive disconnected the battery to try and "reset" the gauge but that did not fix anything.

Thanks guys!
-Michael

 

PS The car is an automatic and is missing the plastic that sits right below the shifter. Its hard to describe but its the "accordion" style long rectangular cover the is held right under the shifter. Mine is missing and I can look right down where the shifter goes into the car. Anyone know what this piece that Im missing is called?

Thanks

 

The part you are looking for is called a stepper motor, there is one for every gauge and to do the install on your own you would need to know how to solder and de-solder the motors on, I did it myself but had a family friend de-solder the parts at work. As far as the other stuff, I am not sure but to me it sounds like the car was in an accident if the airbag light is on.

 

I thought it might be a stepper motor. Im pretty sure the gas gauge is a stepper motor getting stuck It sometimes wont go all the way down when the car is off and will therefore go way too far up when the car gets turned on.

If the problem with the rpm gauge was the stepper motor then wouldnt it move erratically instead of not moving at all?

 

Depends, it can break and not move at all, mine would spin in circles and then just stop somewhere random.