I have a 2006 Ford Five Hundred, the other day when it was wicked cold outside. My car stared and was able to go to work, then when I got ready to go home tried to start it and it would not start. Took the battery out and charged it, then put it back in. The car started but I have no gauges that work or light up and the reverse light stays on. The car drives fine but I don't understand why the gauges don't work and the reverse light is staying on. I have tried many things and nothing is working. Any help would be really appreciated.
Thank you,
Mark Lithun
First thing given what you experienced would be to have your battery and alternator load tested.
step #1 for electrical problems ... check fuses
It appears a bad instrument cluster can cause the gauges to stop working and the reverse light to turn on and stay lit.
I don't know if this is causing your car issues, but here's a YouTube video on how to reflow the solder joints on the back of a Ford Five Hundred instrument cluster using a soldering iron.
I found a TSB that says the instrument gauges not working and reverse lights coming on is due to faulty solder joints on the instrument cluster.