FORD THUNDERBIRD | INSTRUMENT CLUSTER | NO BACK LIGHT | HOW TO TEST

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[@jeremyah78]

Super clear! Great process! And PS, your video style has gotten very appealing. Great to watch, Mario! Of course, the education is and has always been A-1! ✌️

[@doriwebb2515]

Removing the FEM is not trivial. A video on that removal process would be helpful. Also, a video on your diagnostic of the FEM to locate the wonky transistor would be very helpful, too. Keep up the good work. Excellent information.

[@jodyjoiner3192]

Great Video Mario! Which transistor was it?

[@juanlazar8945]

What happens is that there are two types of mechanics, those who change parts until they find the fault and those who do not believe anything and check things twice until we change something, you are the second type, the best

[@mikeybears23]

It's so tough to even find people that take pride in their professions and in business, as well as giving the customer choices and doing the right thing while saving prob couple grand.. bravo brother.

[@evanlangley9130]

Just simply awesome dude seriously. Explained in a way that we actually comprehend. Nice work sir!

[@alanqtrmaine8175]

As a master certified tech on German and British cars. I would love to see more circuit board repairs. You have inspired me to try harder and do more

[@TheForeman805]

One of my big pet peeves about the automotive industry. I can call on any piece of electronic equipment in my house (stereo, appliances, etc) and get a board diagram no problem, with most of it being readily available on the web. Every other industry on the planet has access to PC board level schematics but we're left reverse engineering it all. It's going to be more and more of a roadblock as time goes on and these modules are no longer available. Good on you for diving in and calling Mouser / Digikey instead of Ford...

[@edwardboers1993]

Good work... nice video Seeing you work on this car brings back memories of the period I spent working at a Lincoln Mercury dealer... back in the early 2000's

[@ecurepair]

Good Job. Those tbirds are a mess. Consistent failure on ecu and fems. Fems usually repairable like what you did but the ecu's are usually toast. Never been able to get those repaired when the trans go out on them.

[@michaelharris1895]

well done young tech, I retired from the vocation in the mid 80s but still stay interested.

[@yiannakosautomotivekeys2380]

*Dam Mario. You didn't film the most important part!!! I love the way you approached the whole diagnosis. Great video.*

[@anthonymontoya3471]

That was great my 2003 third has the same problem. Can you recommend a good shop I’ve taken to the dealer and they wanted to replace the cluster and didn’t let them. Your video and diagnosis makes more sense Thank you

[@petar443]

WHAT A REPAIR. You saved this customer headaches and money ! First thing - FEM is GEM. Oh man. This is what having the necessary experience is. How could i know that. Regular Joe could go down the rabbit hole from here. Another thing - Maic Salazar is telling in his videos - repairing automotive computers is a discipline of pcb repair. Like automotive electrical is discipline of automotive repair. So there's a lot of techniques required. Salazar lab is awesome with all the simulators and specialty equipment. Did you used backtracking method from the pin supplying power to the bulbs to find the faulty transistor? Man i don't know buck about repairing ECMs but i always enjoy yours and Salazars videos. Thanks. Keep making them.

[@stephenmoxley3004]

Wow...another great diagnostic case study, Mario. The fact that you could repair that GEM module is simply amazing. Keep up the great work!.

[@mikedaugharty5544]

Great diagnostic job there Mario you did good you gotta show the process of how do you narrow down the transistor in the ECM

[@danielrobertharrison7827]

I'm a mechanic from u.k who would love to get into diagnostics this video really helped as my guess would have been cluster gear sh8ft bulbs. Along with the ones on steering wheel

[@timothycooney986]

I can't add any more to the accolades you've received other than bravo. Systematic approach to troubleshooting is vital for identifying source of problems.

[@fredsalter1915]

Great job, Mario!!!

[@Hernandez530]

TOP notch diag. And repair 👍

[@jyao5409]

Wow that work principal for a 2002... must be some electrical/electronic engineering. I just can’t believe there are so many layers involved to dim a cluster

[@jgeorges3061]

MARIO, AWESOME thought process wiring diagram to the rescue and please show the process how u got to call the transistor was bad and the method to repair with the new one as always great info thanks for sharing.

[@JoseSilveira-newhandleforYT]

Great diagnostic and very satisfying repair - a transistor is much cheaper than a FEM. This also made me miss the old wirewound rheostats going direct to the cluster bulbs 🙂

[@BigDogDiagnostics]

Nice clean diagnostic process! Love it, thanks for sharing!

[@nanook5875]

Good job! I am having my FEM, rebuilt as we speak. This is my second T-bird, with the same issue. The 2005 Had it but the Ford dealer ended up burning up my car! So they had to buy it back. Now I have a 2002 and the FEM, went out on this one. What makes them go out anyway? It seems like an ongoing problem with T-birds. Even the guy at the autoparts store said his went out too..

[@juanlazar8945]

I have Colleagues who prefer to change for another, thus saving themselves the trouble of looking for electrical diagrams and doing three hours of tests. Of course, we have other similar cars, we only repair the same brand and we have similar cars here. Greetings and good luck

[@shaffere33]

Nice work Mario!

[@HUBONEN]

Mario this was nice🤘 More videos from fixing modules! Thank you 😎

[@bnewton239]

great video, too bad we missed the transistor testing. maybe next time. thanks.

[@gezdipz5425]

That what I like to see component level repair,keep up the great content 👌

[@bartscave]

Awesome diagnosis and fix Mario!! Thanks for putting these videos out, they really help.

[@djosbun]

Really well done, Mario!!

[@martinwinkler7634]

Kicking ass & taking no prisoners! Nice job Mario. Now go fix my Jaguar cluster!

[@SuperMarioDiagnostics]

I'm on it 🫡

[@akaitv6606]

Well done bro , that actually a common issue in multiple ic

[@rickcarlyle4914]

Awesome job, that is what a good tech does. Great video and excellent information.

[@ibrahimwaheed987]

Your work flow is great .super Mario

[@edwardrodriguez8753]

I have the exact same color, year and model car with exact same issue. This video made it super easy to diagnose, GODSEND!

[@SuperMarioDiagnostics]

Nice, glad it helped

[@VoltageDropDiagnostics]

Top notch video, mario!

[@bugged120]

Well done. You are a clever man!!!!

[@gregjones8501]

Thanks for another great video Mario! Gems like this keep us lil guys flourishing in the field! ✊🏾

[@bugzie-a1769]

Well done Mario

[@fredsalter1915]

FIRST! edit: and watched ALL ads....

[@jayleonard871]

Great video. My 2000 Ford Thunderbird is experiencing the exact same problem that you’ve identified here. Mine had occurred just after I got it back from the dealer for replacing a bad coil in my ignition. In doing that repair could they have sent a transient up the line that smoked the transistor In my FEM or am I running into a common problem with this?

[@jayleonard871]

Sorry 2004 thunderbird

[@RPM4544]

FANTASTIC! Have one with the same issue and followed your testing down to the forward power module as well. You video is exceptional.

[@johngaignat6794]

Awesome video. My 2003 Thunderbird is doing this same thing. I also had no headlights, no front hazard lights. Drivers door lock won't work. Drivers window won't go up, and the top won't go up. The oil light stays on. Brand new battery. The drivers window and top are intermittent in working. The top and drivers window are both down. Passenger window and lock are OK. HELP

[@mikechiodetti4482]

Like you said, "Test Don't Guess!" Good one Mario. What was the cost of the transistor?

[@stevereed1557]

Thanks for great info

[@RoofLiberty8]

If I send you my '02 Thunderbird module, can you diagnose and repair for me? I'm having the exact same issue.

[@SuperMarioDiagnostics]

Email me at [e-mail]

[@shaunblakemore7150]

Great job 👍

[@lupopina3616]

Functional test on GEM/IPC could be an option as well?

[@jackiemay9471]

thank you mario i really appreciate you making all the videos. could you hint at the saving over new GEM to time taken and parts to repair original GEM that repair would make ivan PHAD and luis LM auto repares proud

[@mohammadbenattia9102]

just great, love the channel

[@jakemartin4305]

Service info to the rescue lol altho i would have love to see you work through that issue with that info but hay if you have the proper tools you should use them great fix as always sir 👏👏👍

[@ahwee77329]

top notch diag-

[@dennisharvey4499]

Thanks

[@JoeTravaglia-ny6sy]

Great vid i’mhaving the same issue. Any footage on actually changing the resister? Type of resister/name or part number. I’m on long island. Where are you located. Thanks

[@raphaelndubane6431]

Excellent video Sir as always, and how did you up your electronics game.

[@exmotorsports]

Great stuff once again Brother...Sorry I haven't been commenting as much lately. Regardless tho, I am still watching all the videos. Generally been watching from the big screen while I'm working. I do need to reach out to ya soon. Just not at 3am your time tho. Lol Cheers Buddy. Talk soon

[@anthonymontoya3471]

Where are you located.? I have the same problem with my 2003 Thunderbird

[@SuperMarioDiagnostics]

Ft. Lauderdale fl. I get them sent in for repairs all the time. Email me at [e-mail] if you’re interested

[@jeffgillen3559]

Mario, it appears my ‘03 Tbird is experiencing he exact same lighting problem. The last comment was about obtaining more transistors…have you and how do connect up to get mine tested and fixed. Do you have to solder in the transistor? And has always been the same one? Great job, wish the repair was also shown.

[@brucehoover3782]

I have the same issue on my 2002 Bird. Do you have a video or instructions on how to repair the module?

[@carguytroy]

Having the same issue now with one now. Which transistor did you replace, if you don't mind me asking?

[@michaeldunford5728]

I have an 04 T-bird with the same symptoms. Do you repair these boxes?.

[@callmemom6936]

Where are you located? I have the same vehicle, exact same issue. Do you offer video conferencing? Thank you!

[@SuperMarioDiagnostics]

Hi, I’m in FL Feel free to email me at [e-mail]

[@davidbrindle2339]

could you supply the transistor part number and where to buy it. Thank you!

[@joelarnold353]

I have the same problem on my 2002 tbird! As a retired electro mechanical engineer this is a great video. What is the system you are using to view the codes and display the wiring diagrams. I was looking at a Ford Wiring Manual for my car but the system you use looks more intuitive. Is it running on a laptop or tablet? Thanks for a great repair lesson.

[@SuperMarioDiagnostics]

I use Alldata Works on pc, laptop, tablets, and phones

[@michaeldunford5728]

If you remove the module for repair, will the car still run?

[@MikeMackey-p3y]

which transistor was it i am having exact same issue thanks

[@TriTran-vf8sc]

I have the same problem. Do you know where to get the transistor??

[@SuperMarioDiagnostics]

Yes, digikey

[@TriTran-vf8sc]

@@SuperMarioDiagnostics do you know which of the transistor is defective?

[@jeancinquambre6897]

Hey Mario i have a 2003 tbird ,with same issue ,can you tell me where you purchased the transistor and what the part number is ,please ?Thank you for a great video❤🙋‍♂️😅

[@jeancinquambre6897]

2002 sorry ..👏👏🙋‍♂️

[@stevereed1557]

Great info. Thanks

[@haczyk84]

Why not put pwm controller in "potentiometer" housing, like it was in old good times... It appears there is still lot of analog wire to dim all those leds.

[@jonathansirimarco6215]

Eres el número uno 🧞‍♂️ ☝️ 👏👏👏🚙

[@DanielJones-e7t]

Mario what’s your location…? I have a 2005 without dash lights, gearshift lights and steering wheel lights.

[@paulwallace9644]

great video thanks

[@aymenmohamed1134]

👍🏻

[@RolandMartinez-g7m]

Where r u located

[@ismarmeskovic]

👍👍👍

[@TomNguyen-n3k]

How much to replace the whole thing ?

[@thomasdeuerling8436]

Very good I apprerciate it

[@martinarrieta248]

Grasias

[@jodyjoiner3192]

Thanks!

[@SuperMarioDiagnostics]

Thanks Jody!

[@jodyjoiner3192]

@@SuperMarioDiagnostics which transistor was bad?

[@azjeepguy83]

I spent over 500 bucks mailing my FEM to someone to fix this same problem

[@kesando84]

How is the repair holding up? Do you mind sharing who you sent it to?

[@SuperMarioDiagnostics]

I also repair mail ins Feel free to email me at [e-mail]

[@azjeepguy83]

@@kesando84 still holding up, he charged 250 or so. Found him on all the forums for tbirds

[@russneese1004]

Hey Mario… I have that problem with my 2003 T-Bird! Where are you located?

[@SuperMarioDiagnostics]

Ft. Lauderdale fl

[@russneese1004]

Do you know anyone in the Southern California area that knows what you know?

[@SuperMarioDiagnostics]

No but i do get them shipped to me and i repair them Feel free to email me at [e-mail]

[@nickayivor8432]

My Mentor Super Mario Diagnostics 👍 PRODIGY Super Mario Diagnostics From Nick Ayivor from London England UK 🇬🇧 Good Morning 🙏 🌄 07:39am

[@SergioGonzalez-gp5ih]

Hey, Super mario, i have the same problems there any way i can sent u the ecm to u see if u can getvit fix

[@SuperMarioDiagnostics]

Sure, email me at [e-mail]

[@SergioGonzalez-gp5ih]

Hey brother I sent u a email never got a response 😢

[@butchforte3560]

9:38

[@hoaxs1939]

I have encountered this exact same problem and I wanted to bust open the GEM and attempt a repair. Never got around to it as I wanted to have a GEM sourced before trying and then 2020 happened 🫠