'00 ls8 Message Center Display is DEAD

[Lincolnelson]

Ok so after searching the forums to death i still can't find a solution...

My Message Center Display on my 2000 Lincoln LS8 is dead. Just to clarify its the little LCD Display at the lower right corner of my Instrument Cluster. I can press message center buttons and hear beeps, but no readout whatsoever. Any ideas?

 

[joegr]

Ok so after searching the forums to death i still can't find a solution...

My Message Center Display on my 2000 Lincoln LS8 is dead. Just to clarify its the little LCD Display at the lower right corner of my Instrument Cluster. I can press message center buttons and hear beeps, but no readout whatsoever. Any ideas?

It's not LCD. It's vacuum florescent. It could be that air has leaked in, the heater grid could have failed, or some other electronic problem. I suspect that replacement of the cluster is your only practical option (or than just living with it.)
Cluster replacement requires a special scan tool or a dealer to marry the replacement cluster (which has the PATS built-in) to the PCM.

 

[mtggtmmtg]

The vacuum florescent displays are not hard wired to the instrument cluster. They are easily removed(2 screws hold them to the back of the gauge faceplate & 1 wire connector) If you don't have access to another instrument cluster to swap out the display, it would be easier to take it to the dealer so they can test the I/C and let you know if it's the display or the I/C electronics.