Hello folks... a newbie here. I have searched here and google and every other source short of calling down to the local Ford service department to ask. I am swapping my dash cluster with a dakota digital custom dash in my '04 V6. However, there is SOMETHING keeping the car from starting with the new cluster installed, and I think it has to do with the fuel system. The passive security from what I read in the owners manual would start the car but stop after 15 seconds so I don;t think that is it. The car turns over(kinda like the old days when you'd have to pump the gas pedal to get some juice in there... *LOL* I miss those days sometimes), but does not seem to fire. The schematics I have are not very good when it comes to dash cluster components. I put the original cluster back in and it fires right up. Does ANYONE know if there is a circuit I have to jumper either directly or with a resistor to get the car going again or if there is an 04 mustang specific dash cluster schematic out there???
Thanks for any help!

 

it IS the PATS system (Passive Anti Theft System) it is built into the stock cluster. you have to tow it to the dealer and they have to reprogram the car. costs about 200 I think only option is to disable it which will also increase insurance, and make the car easier to be stolen

The PATS shuts off the either the fire or the fuel i don't remember which one but won't allow the car to start if certain parts have been tampered with.

 

I would say just get the PATS system removed but Im a little biased on that opinion.

 

Ahhh, well nuts. I suppose it is the fuel then. Rekin I'll have to check with the dealer then and see what they can do for me. I can drive the car down there, swap the dash in the lot (got it down to below 25 minutes with all the practice yesterday *LOL* ) so I'll see what they can do.
Thanks for the advice!!

 

Well well well... The Ford Dealer asked me to bring the car down so they could look at it. The electrician at the place said there's no way. The dash is not a Ford dash, in fact it is digital and mostly gauges, so the ford electronics ON the cluster that I need aren't there. That being the case they can't reprogram anything, since the cluster and car computer work together. I'm sure I could make a little control that simulates whatever the PATS is supposed to do. Be it a resistance, or a straight through switch even on a timer.

 

I think you have to remove the PATS system. There was just a debate about this.

 

the PATS system is controlled by micro controller chips and proprietary code.... GOOD LUCK!! lol but really if you want a digital dash your best bet will be to get Auto Meter digital gauges and sending units

or possibly the if your LUCKY get a digital dash from a Lincoln town car, MAYBE the two will be compatible.

 

Well, I MAY have found a solution. I opened up the gauge cluster I got back from Dakota Digital, and found there is enough room for the main board from the original cluster (Minus a few light bulbs). I THINK it may work, now I just have to find a few correct wires. My speed isn't getting the signal it needs so I may not have THAT on the right wire. I looked for the Tach wire and THOUGHT I had the right one, but apparently not. And my water temp gauge isn't working either. Volts and fuel are working fine though, so I got THAT going for me. *LOL*

Let me ask for help on these. The speedometer signal cable going to the cluster, is that one of the two wires that is twisted (I believe it goes to the 12 pin connector)? Or am I way off? Also the water temp wire I have tapped is red with a white stripe. And the Tach wire I tapped is white with a blue stripe (Oddly enough it is the same color scheme as the right turn signal wire). I found something out there in cyberspace about installing an aftermarket tach, and it suggested where to look to find this wire (a small connector box inside the engine compartment on the passenger side near the firewall). Popped the cover off there and found the place it told me to check and it turned out to be the wht/blu wire. Any other suggestions on where I should look??

I had downloaded a PDF with mustang siring diagrams, but it doesn't seem to jive with what I have. Wire colors are off and such.

I will say just getting the car running with this dash looks cool, hopefully I'll be able to post a few pics when I get it done.

 

Oh, and I forgot to say this, but THANK YOU for helpin me out with that. If nothin else it made me look harder for a solution.

 

ok well this idea intrigues me, normally for a new gauge cluster it has to be calibrated... HOWEVER being this is digital there should be no need of calibration to convert pulse signals to degrees of rotation for a servo, provided it uses the same style of pulses. SO! i have some other wire schematics that i need to "refind" lol i should have them later today and ill take a look for some signal wires and post them up.

for sure if you get this to work it'll be pretty awesome i would also suggest making a write up/guide because im sure other people would want to try it.