2001 ls Message Center - Fuel Button Inop

[boho]

I posted this on another Lincoln forum site and have not received any suggestions. Maybe someone here knows what is happening.

My nephew has a 2001 Lincoln ls 8 cylinder with AdvanceTrac, that he is in love with. He is in college but isn't mechanical, so I try and help him when I can. Here is the problem.

About a month ago, together we replaced the clockspring for a different problem which fixed that problem. Shortly after that he discovered a problem with the Message Center. This problem with the Message Center was not present before the clockspring was replaced.

The Message Center ALWAYS reads "AdvanceTrac OK". Which I assume is a good thing and the Stability circuits are working OK? However if he pushes the FUEL button, we hear a beep (normal operation) from the Instrument Cluster but the display does not change from "AdvanceTrac OK". No Distance To Empty, Avg MPG, or anything else, just "AdvanceTrac OK". If we push any other button the Message Center scrolls through as it should. For instance, if I push STATUS - the Message Center scrolls through and checks all the things it is supposed to, displays it on the vacuum display, without error and ends with the "AdvanceTrac OK" message. Whenever any of the four buttons are pressed, a chime sounds on the Instrument Cluster, even when the FUEL button is pressed, so I assume the FUEL button is working? I found through a web search and wiring diagram, that the four buttons for the Message Center have different resistances, which signals through the Instrument Cluster, which of the four Message Center buttons was pressed. This should change what is displayed on the Message Center vacuum display. The RESET, STATUS, and SETUP buttons all work properly. Only the FUEL button does not. I suspected the FUEL button/switch but ohm'd it out and I get a different resistance from each switch so I know they are all working. But where should the FUEL information be coming from? I would expect the PCM module, but that seems to be working OK. Any suggestions as to how I can diagnose and track down why this is happening? There are no DTC's of any kind, that I can see, although my scanner will not check the FEM, REM, or Instrument Cluster. The KOER and KOEO tests run OK. I can assume that I have knocked something loose when we changed the clockspring, but I don't see anything. Anybody seen this behavior before or have any suggestions?

Thanks for reading this and I hope you can help us.

Uncle Bob

 

[joegr]

That's a new one on me. I do know that you should get an error message if the cluster wasn't communicating with the REM (fuel level data) or the PCM (consumption data) or the ABS (distance data).
Normally, the last status message should go way after a few seconds. What happens if you unplug the message center buttons?
What resistance reading do you get with each button pressed?

 

[boho]

Hi joegr,

Thank you for replying. I didn't record the resistance readings but when my nephew gets home from work tomorrow (7/12) I will record them and also see what happens when the buttons are disconnected. I will let you know soon. Thanks for the suggestions.

 

[112 LS]

if the messages aren't making it to the rem/fem you will see a message stating "engine sensor data error" or "fuel computer data error"

 

[G-RELL]

never heard this happening before. you can always try the easy stuff like battery disconect/ reset , or disconnecting the advanced trac button on the console.... sorry cant help more.

 

[boho]

I disconnected the switch assembly and started the car. The display still shows "AdvanceTrac OK".

Here are the resistance readings I get from the switches-

No buttons depressed = 9.1 K ohms
STATUS button depressed = 175 ohms
SET button depressed = 2.91 K ohms
RESET button depressed = 1500 ohms
FUEL button depressed = 480 ohms

Seems to me that the STATUS and FUEL button resistances are too close to one another??
I hope this helps. Thanks

112 LS - Thanks for the reply. I don't see either "engine sensor data error" or "fuel computer data error" on the display, just "AdvanceTrac OK"; so does that indicate the REM and FEM are working OK and talking with the Instrument Cluster? I would hope that would be checked when the STATUS button was pressed, but I'm not sure?

G-RELL - Thanks for the reply. I will disconnect the battery tomorrow and let it sit for 10 minutes and see if that changes anything. I should have done that before posting. If not I will disconnect the AdvanceTrac button on the console and see if that changes something. Thanks for the advice.

 

[112 LS]

if when you turn the key to run, and the check engine light is illuminated, that means the instrument cluster and front computers are capable of sharing network grounds.

 

[joegr]

Here's the service manual troubleshooting for the message center.

http://deneau.info/ls/s6x~us~en~file=s6xd1003.htm~gen~ref.htm

Unfortunately, it's not much help without a good scan tool.

I get the same resistance readings from the spare set of buttons that I have, and that's really close to the values that the wiring diagrams show.


Do all of the steering wheel buttons operate correctly, including tilt and telescope?

 

[boho]

112 LS - Thanks for that info. I apprciate it. I guess I can assume that the Instrument Cluster and the FEM, REM, ABS, and PCM are communicating OK.

G-RELL - I will try your suggestions tonight and let you know

joegr - Thanks for the link to the Service Manual. I should have bought a better scan tool huh? I really appreciate you taking the time to match my resistance readings with yours. That eliminates the Message Center Switches and resistors. I will test all the steering wheel buttons tonight and let you know.

All you guys have been very helpful and I want you to know I REALLY appreciate your help and you guys taking the time to investigate and respond. THANKS!!
I will post my findings tomorrow.

 

[boho]

GREAT NEWS - First thing I did last night was disconnect the battery for 10 minutes and then reconnect. Car started right up and went to DTE on the Message Center. Everything is working including the FUEL button. I should have had the sense to try that before bothering you guys with a phantom error. I apologize. My nephew is very happy (so am I) and we really appreciate ALL you guys helping us with this issue. If someone in the future has a similar issue I hope this post will help them too.
YOU THREE GUYS ARE GREAT !!! Thank you very much.

 

[joegr]

Thanks for the update. That's good to know. You never know when something like that might come up.

 

[G-RELL]

glad to hear, not a problem at all (i wish they were all that easy). Tell your nephew to register and start reading through. He'll learn alot and hopefully will be ready for the next one (cause its going to happen)