Symptom Chart

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2004 Mercury Monterey and 2004 Ford Freestar. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

SYMPTOM CHART

Condition	Possible Sources	Action
No communication with the instrument cluster	Circuitry. Standard corporate protocol (SCP) communication network. Instrument cluster.	Go To PINPOINT TEST G: NO COMMUNICATION WITH THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER .
No communication with the smart junction box (SJB)	Circuitry. SJB.	REFER to MODULE COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK to continue diagnosis of the communication network.
Incorrect fuel gauge indication	Fuel tank. Circuitry. Smart junction box (SJB). Fuel level sender. Fuel pump module. Instrument cluster.	Go To PINPOINT TEST H: INCORRECT FUEL GAUGE INDICATION .
Incorrect temperature gauge indication	Circuitry. Powertrain control module (PCM). Engine coolant temperature (ECT) sender. Instrument cluster.	Go To PINPOINT TEST I: INCORRECT TEMPERATURE GAUGE INDICATION .
The low fuel level warning indicator is never/always on	Instrument cluster.	Go To PINPOINT TEST J: THE LOW FUEL WARNING INDICATOR IS NEVER/ALWAYS ON .
The speedometer/odometer is inoperative	Circuitry. Anti-lock brake system (ABS) module. Instrument cluster.	Go To PINPOINT TEST K: THE SPEEDOMETER/ODOMETER IS INOPERATIVE .
The tachometer is inoperative	Circuitry. Powertrain control module (PCM). Instrument cluster.	Go To PINPOINT TEST L: THE TACHOMETER IS INOPERATIVE .
The door ajar indicator is inoperative (chime is operative)/does not operate correctly	Circuitry. Smart junction box (SJB). Instrument cluster.	Go To PINPOINT TEST M: THE DOOR AJAR INDICATOR IS INOPERATIVE (CHIME IS OPERATIVE/DOES NOT OPERATE CORRECTLY) .
The safety belt warning indicator is inoperative (chime is operative)/does not operate correctly	Circuitry. Safety belt switch (part of buckle end). Restraint control module (RCM). Instrument cluster.	Go To PINPOINT TEST N: THE SAFETY BELT WARNING INDICATOR IS INOPERATIVE (CHIME IS OPERATIVE/DOES NOT OPERATE CORRECTLY) .
The low oil pressure indicator is never/always on	Circuitry. Engine oil pressure. Oil pressure switch. Smart junction box (SJB). Instrument cluster.	Go To PINPOINT TEST O: THE LOW OIL PRESSURE WARNING INDICATOR IS NEVER/ALWAYS ON .
The charging system warning indicator is never on	Circuitry. Generator. Powertrain control module (PCM). Instrument cluster.	Go To PINPOINT TEST P: THE CHARGING SYSTEM WARNING INDICATOR IS NEVER ON .
The charging system warning indicator is always on	Circuitry. Generator. Powertrain control module (PCM). Instrument cluster.	Refer to BATTERY & CHARGING SYSTEM to continue diagnosis of the charging system.
The brake warning indicator is never/always on	Circuitry. Low brake fluid level. Low brake pressure. Parking brake warning indicator switch. Brake fluid level switch. Anti-lock brake system (ABS). Smart junction box (SJB). Instrument cluster.	Go To PINPOINT TEST Q: THE BRAKE WARNING INDICATOR IS NEVER/ALWAYS ON .
The high beam indicator is never/always on	Circuitry. Multifunction switch. Smart junction box (SJB). Instrument cluster.	Go To PINPOINT TEST R: THE HIGH BEAM INDICATOR IS NEVER/ALWAYS ON .
The turn/hazard indicator is never/always on	Circuitry. Multifunction switch. Hazard flasher switch. Instrument cluster.	Go To PINPOINT TEST S: THE TURN/HAZARD INDICATOR IS NEVER/ALWAYS ON .
The low washer fluid level indicator is never/always on	Circuitry. Low washer fluid level switch. Smart junction box (SJB). Instrument cluster.	Go To PINPOINT TEST T: THE LOW WASHER FLUID INDICATOR IS NEVER/ALWAYS ON .
The anti-lock brake system (ABS) warning indicator is never/always on	Circuitry. ABS. Instrument cluster.	Go To PINPOINT TEST U: THE ABS WARNING INDICATOR IS NEVER/ALWAYS ON .
The traction control warning indicators are never/always on	Circuitry. Anti-lock brake system (ABS)/traction control (TC) module. Traction control off switch. Instrument cluster.	Go To PINPOINT TEST V: THE TRAC ACTIVE OR TRAC OFF CONTROL INDICATORS ARE NEVER/ALWAYS ON .
The CHECK FUEL CAP indicator is never on	Instrument cluster. Powertrain control module (PCM).	Go To PINPOINT TEST W: THE CHECK FUEL CAP INDICATOR IS NEVER ON .
The malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicator is never/always on	Circuitry. Powertrain control module (PCM). Instrument cluster.	Go To PINPOINT TEST X: THE MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP (MIL) IS NEVER/ALWAYS ON .
The transmission malfunction indicator is never/always on	Powertrain control module (PCM). Instrument cluster.	Go To PINPOINT TEST Y: THE TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTION INDICATOR IS NEVER/ALWAYS ON .
The low tire warning indicator is never on	Circuitry. Anti-lock brake system (ABS). Instrument cluster.	Go To PINPOINT TEST Z: THE LOW TIRE WARNING INDICATOR IS NEVER ON .
The low tire warning indicator is always on	Circuitry. Anti-lock brake system (ABS). Instrument cluster.	REFER to SUSPENSION SYSTEM to continue diagnosis of the low tire warning system.
The speed control indicator is never on	Circuitry. Speed control actuator. Instrument cluster.	Go To PINPOINT TEST AA: THE SPEED CONTROL INDICATOR IS NEVER ON .
The speed control indicator is always on	Speed control actuator. Instrument cluster.	Refer to SPEED CONTROL to continue diagnosis of the cruise control system.
The air bag warning indicator is never/always on	Circuitry. Restraint control module (RCM). Instrument cluster.	Go To PINPOINT TEST AB: THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR IS NEVER/ALWAYS ON .
The lamp out indicator is never/always on	Circuitry. Smart junction box (SJB). Instrument cluster.	Go To PINPOINT TEST AC: THE LAMP OUT INDICATOR IS NEVER/ALWAYS ON .
The integrated circuit display is inoperative	Instrument cluster.	INSTALL a new instrument cluster. REFER to INSTRUMENT CLUSTER . TEST the system for normal operation.
The instrument cluster is inoperative	Circuitry. Instrument cluster.	Go To PINPOINT TEST AD: THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER IS INOPERATIVE .
The message center is not operating correctly	Instrument cluster. Message center switch.	Go To PINPOINT TEST AE: THE MESSAGE CENTER DOES NOT OPERATE CORRECTLY .
The message center display is blank	Instrument cluster.	INSTALL a new instrument cluster. Refer to INSTRUMENT CLUSTER . TEST the system for normal operation.
The distance to empty, average fuel economy is inoperative	Circuitry. Instrument cluster. Powertrain control module (PCM). Anti-lock brake system (ABS)	CHECK the operation of the speedometer, odometer and the fuel gauge. If the speedometer, odometer and fuel gauge operate correctly, INSTALL a new instrument cluster. Refer to INSTRUMENT CLUSTER . TEST the system for normal operation. If the speedometer/odometer is inoperative, Go To PINPOINT TEST J: THE LOW FUEL WARNING INDICATOR IS NEVER/ALWAYS ON . If the fuel gauge is inoperative, Go To PINPOINT TEST G: NO COMMUNICATION WITH THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER .
The oil life display is never/always on	Circuitry. Instrument cluster. Anti-lock brake system (ABS).	CHECK the operation of the speedometer and the odometer gauges. If the gauges operate correctly, INSTALL a new instrument cluster. Refer to INSTRUMENT CLUSTER . TEST the system for normal operation. If the gauges are inoperative, Go To PINPOINT TEST K: THE SPEEDOMETER/ODOMETER IS INOPERATIVE .
The brake fluid level display is never/always on	Instrument cluster. Smart junction box (SJB).	Go To PINPOINT TEST AF: THE BRAKE FLUID LEVEL DISPLAY IS NEVER/ALWAYS ON .
The door ajar display is never/always on	Circuitry. Door ajar switch (es). Smart junction box (SJB). Instrument cluster.	Go To PINPOINT TEST AG: THE DOOR AJAR DISPLAY IS NEVER/ALWAYS ON .
The traction control display is never/always on	Circuitry. Instrument cluster. Traction control off switch. Anti-lock brake system/traction control/stability assist (ABS/TC/stability assist) module.	Go To PINPOINT TEST AH: THE TRACTION CONTROL DISPLAY IS NEVER/ALWAYS ON .
The low tire warning display is never/always on	Circuitry. Anti-lock brake system (ABS) module. Instrument cluster.	Go To PINPOINT TEST AI: THE LOW TIRE WARNING DISPLAY IS NEVER/ALWAYS ON .
The low fuel level display is never/always on	Circuitry. Fuel level sender. Smart junction box (SJB). Instrument cluster.	Go To PINPOINT TEST AJ: THE LOW FUEL LEVEL DISPLAY IS NEVER/ALWAYS ON .
The message center switch does not operate correctly	Circuitry. Message center switch. Instrument cluster.	Go To PINPOINT TEST AK: THE MESSAGE CENTER SWITCH DOES NOT OPERATE CORRECTLY
The compass is inoperative	Compass sensor module. Instrument cluster. Circuitry.	Go To PINPOINT TEST AL: THE COMPASS IS INOPERATIVE .
The compass is inaccurate	Zone setting. Calibration. Vehicle magnetization. Compass sensor module. Circuitry.	Go To PINPOINT TEST AM: THE COMPASS IS INACCURATE .
The outside air temperature sensor does not operate correctly	Instrument cluster. Overhead console. Circuitry. Ambient air temperature sensor.	Go To PINPOINT TEST AN: THE OUTSIDE AIR TEMPERATURE SENSOR DOES NOT OPERATE CORRECTLY .