HOW-TO-> fix 03-04 SVT Cobra Gauge lights

Bowsman

New Member
Joined
Sep 30, 2013
Messages
1
Location
Atlanta GA
I am new to this site as I just purchased my first Mustang so bare with me but I would like to thank everyone in advance for their comments.

I have a 2003 cobra and the back gauge lights do not work. From reading previous posts I took everyones advice and went to speedhuts web site and ordered the inverter. Well looking back at this forum I realize that I ordered the -03 inverter for a single gauge instead of the -04 inverter for multiple gauges.
Well I tried the inverter and wired it up and it did not work.

Now I am wondering if I should throw another 20 bucks at it and order the correct inverter or if I should cut my losses and send the gauges in to be repaired.

Anybody know if the -03 inverter is a different output than the -04?
 

Alexlopez

Member
Established Member
Joined
Jul 4, 2013
Messages
44
Location
Apple Valley, CA
Here's what I did with the original inverter.
Broke off the front piece and used the rest to hold the replacement inside of it.
A94633AB-8397-4D8E-82DD-D07FFC114E4B-15991-00000B557C398C9A_zpsdc2ead35.jpg
 
Last edited:

Mysticobra

Member
Established Member
Joined
Oct 30, 2003
Messages
340
Location
Québec Canada
Again, here is another satisfied customer. It's been two years since my cluster panel lighting went off.

With your detailed explanations, I was able to fix my cluster panel lighting. It did not work the first time I put together all the layers and inserted it in the dash. I disassembled the layers and proceed to do a test on the bench with just the electroluminescent part of the panel (without the main circuit board layer) and a 12V source. It did light up to my relief. I re-assembled everything and re-plug in the car and there you go.

I live in Canada and the only small negative thing is that for a part worth $10, they charge $25 of S&H. If you include the custom charges and traxes, the job is costing $55 which is still cheap to have almost as new cluster panel.

Thanks for the very good write up Caveeagle. Now my car can sleep at ease for the winter.

Here it is glowing better than new:

1421137_10201511211039722_499861195_o.jpg
 

caveeagle

Currently Decompressing
Established Member
Joined
Oct 6, 2011
Messages
631
Location
High Springs, FL
Here's what I did with the original inverter.
Broke off the front piece and used the rest to hold the replacement inside of it.
A94633AB-8397-4D8E-82DD-D07FFC114E4B-15991-00000B557C398C9A_zpsdc2ead35.jpg

I like this approach! Whats the year & build date of your cobra? The stock inverter in my (late build '04) is white. I am just curious about when Ford changed the inverter type or supplier.
 

Alexlopez

Member
Established Member
Joined
Jul 4, 2013
Messages
44
Location
Apple Valley, CA
Mine was built August of 02.
I noticed that when I was looking at this guide I stopped and thought it had already been fixed but it was stock. Nothing had been done before.
Do these inverters come faulty sometimes?
I fixed mine, then they went out again the next day :(
 

caveeagle

Currently Decompressing
Established Member
Joined
Oct 6, 2011
Messages
631
Location
High Springs, FL
Mine was built August of 02.
I noticed that when I was looking at this guide I stopped and thought it had already been fixed but it was stock. Nothing had been done before.

Its a very common failure on the 03/04 cobras. Are you the original owner? Are you sure this is the original cluster for your car? Maybe its a dealer replacement part?? I personally have never seen a black stock inverter. Buts its not too hard to beleive ford may have had more than one source for this part.

Do these inverters come faulty sometimes?

Never heard of one failing on a super low mileage car. So I suspect the inverter just has a 'burn out' factor.

I fixed mine, then they went out again the next day :(

Was it the speedhut inverter that burnt out (next day)?? ....please explain..
 

Alexlopez

Member
Established Member
Joined
Jul 4, 2013
Messages
44
Location
Apple Valley, CA
Its a very common failure on the 03/04 cobras. Are you the original owner? Are you sure this is the original cluster for your car? Maybe its a dealer replacement part?? I personally have never seen a black stock inverter. Buts its not too hard to beleive ford may have had more than one source for this part.



Never heard of one failing on a super low mileage car. So I suspect the inverter just has a 'burn out' factor.



Was it the speedhut inverter that burnt out (next day)?? ....please explain..

Yep, the speedhut inverter is the one that went out again. I ordered another one already so imma swap it out again an hope for the best.
I have no clue if my cluster was ever replaced but I'm considering just buying another at this point.
 

03sm3341

Active Member
Established Member
Joined
Jan 3, 2008
Messages
2,080
Location
Indianapolis IN
Yep, the speedhut inverter is the one that went out again. I ordered another one already so imma swap it out again an hope for the best.
I have no clue if my cluster was ever replaced but I'm considering just buying another at this point.

I have seen black OE inverters. The ones ive seen where in 2003 cars the 2004's ive seen are whiteish. I had a speedhut inverter go out on me. I upgraded to the bigger unit on my car that DOES NOT fit in the cluster. I ran its wires into the cluster and the inverter is mounted inside my dash. It also changes color from blue to green.

After my first speedhut unit went out I bought a used OE cluster for $250 and stole it's inverter. It worked 2 weeks........I was pissed. $250 bucks is alot of speedhut inverters.
 

Alexlopez

Member
Established Member
Joined
Jul 4, 2013
Messages
44
Location
Apple Valley, CA
I have seen black OE inverters. The ones ive seen where in 2003 cars the 2004's ive seen are whiteish. I had a speedhut inverter go out on me. I upgraded to the bigger unit on my car that DOES NOT fit in the cluster. I ran its wires into the cluster and the inverter is mounted inside my dash. It also changes color from blue to green.

After my first speedhut unit went out I bought a used OE cluster for $250 and stole it's inverter. It worked 2 weeks........I was pissed. $250 bucks is alot of speedhut inverters.

Would you happen to have the link to the part from speedhut that you ended up using?
I'd appreciate it.
 

Gkstang

New Member
Established Member
Joined
Jul 18, 2013
Messages
16
Location
Teneessee
Thanks

I have been dealing with non-working gauge ligts (intermittently) on my cobra for the last 6-8 months. Sometimes they would work for a few hours or days and sometimes they would not work at all. I even left the car with the local ford dealer for a few days, thinking that surely they would know how to fix them. No luck and a lot of frustration..

The fused were all good and the light switch proved to be working fine. A few threads on here suggested that the 'inverter' might be the problem. I was reluctant to beleive this since the issue was intermittent and thought it was more likely to be a 'ground' issue. I went through the wiring as much as possible and did not find any bas grounds or connections. A fellow poster here, helped out with the part# inverters he has used from Speedhut.

So last weekend I swapped out the aftermarket inverter and my lights are working great!! They seem to be just as bright and look as close to stock as I would expect. I thought I would post some pics of the process, since I had a difficult time finding a good source for a gauge tear-down last weekend.
Big thanks to cave eagle fixed my instrument cluster and saved a ton of money. You the man
 

Nate14120

Active Member
Established Member
Joined
Nov 1, 2006
Messages
233
Location
Iowa
Just wanted to say thanks. Been dark around 4 years...I don't drive at night much.

I pulled the circuit off the old inverter and used the case to hold it down. Awesome idea from an earlier post.
 

hex99CobraConv

Member
Established Member
Joined
Jun 30, 2011
Messages
422
Location
Granite Fall, NC
My 2003 10th Anniverdary cobra cluster isn't lighting up recently after being intermitant the last few years and I'm wondering the longevity of the speedhut inverter fix as I've heard some feedback about it possibly damaging the cluster since it's not the exact replacement part? Something about over ballast amperage...

Have you guys that have done this seen a permenant fix without any failures?

Speedhut told me today they didn't endorse using their invertor, but that's what they have if I want to order it....

Any reasons I shouldn't follow this procedure?

Thanks guys!



Rick
 

Users who are viewing this thread



Top