Ford Think Instrument Cluster B1 Super Cluster Upgrade on 2040-parts.com

What is the B1 Upgrade?

     Every rebuilder knows that the biggest problem with the Ford Think cluster is the amount of heat produced from the Circuits that convert 72 Volts DC To lesser voltages. That type of voltage conversion generates enough constant heat to weaken the components over time. These circuits are active whenever the main power switch under the seat is in the on position. Sure, you can turn the switch off when the vehicle is not in use, but that creates another problem. The surge of activating that switch has been known to push these heat weakened components over the edge. Installing new parts to replace the ones that fail the most has been the best solution for damaged clusters up to this time. A few rebuilders have created heat sinks to remove the heat or higher rated components that generate more heat but withstand it better. Either way, the cluster board gets way too hot, hot enough to catch fire and take the rest of the vehicle with it !!! Enter the B1...

    The best way to remove heat from a circuit is to remove the circuit. Instead of building heat sinks or attaching outside units to the cluster which still retain heat and add weight to the frail plastic shell, I have developed the B1 system. It is very simple. The 72 volt to 12 volt conversion takes place outside of the cluster. Actually a foot away from it is more accurate. About 20% of the printed circuit board's designated use has been eliminated along with 70% of the heat. This system also draws less power from the batteries, approximately 15%. Along with these advantages comes a few more important ones. The external power supply has an internal surge protector circuit and maintains a constant voltage regardless of charge condition down to 60 volts. In addition only the B1 has a 5 amp fuse for the cluster supply voltgage, no one else has added this safety feature. Another plus of this system is the ability to diagnose voltage loss. The harness that comes from the rear of the cluster can be pinned to check 72 volts to the cluster with a standard volt meter. Orange to black is 72 volts inside the cluster and green to black is 12 volts returning to the cluster. If for any reason the external power supply fails, it can be replaced independently without having the whole cluster rebuilt. This means that a forty dollar part is plugged in instead of sending your cluster away for an expensive rebuild. This system also helps prevent catastrophic failures that can damage the circuit board beyond repair. With how hard it is to find repairable boards the last thing you want is a ruined core, or a dash fire. The B1 is much safer and reliable than any other repair to date!

Update on competitors product!!

  The below mentioned rebuilder has changed their tactics. The last three ASI clusters I have repaired no longer had the goo on them. Instead, they were simply repaired with 2-3 components with no upgrade attempt. Alot of excessive solder was added to multiple areas, in one case  the extra solder was causing the cluster failure. They are also scratching out the ID numbers on some components like its a big secret. One of these customers was told to replace his charger. Four hundred dollars later he was told his replacement charger was causing damage and his cluster would not be warranted. The damage I found was unrelated to that circuit. 

  If you find yourself in this situation, and you have one that's not all gooed up, I can attempt a repair. Blued display screens I cannot help you with, all of my clusters work, I don't have a pile of left over screens, like the cheap guys.

A Warning about other re-builders!!!

A current cheaper rebuilder has altered the interior of their repaired clusters by adding a second Mosfet and hiding their work under apoxy or acrylic. If you have an ASI, Global Solutions, or (what ever they are called this week) rebuilt cluster, try to get them to fix it or throw it away. I will not attempt any repair on these rigged and gooed up clusters, and neither will other responsible rebuilders. I only do clean repairs that can be reworked later if another component fails. If you use these people, your cluster is married to them as are you. If you plan to keep your Ford Think I recommend The SUPER CLUSTER, if you are just dumping your problem on the next guy (owner) then go with the cheaper guys, theirs will suffice. I have included two pictures of their work at the end of my pictures so you know what you are getting into with them. Look at the melted white connectors, thats careless and sloppy work with a soldering iron. The black goop is claimed to seal out moisture, yet they have left the two moisture sensitive chips unprotected. Once the coating was removed I found multiple jumper wires used to repair the damaged pads that were ripped off of the board (look closely you can see a green one) . As a proud home based business, I would never return a cluster in this condition to a customer. Every cluster sent to me gets what ever it needs, and does not go out until I am 100% satisfied, unlike the rushed assembly line of cheap repair shops. My clusters are separately fused, making it the safest repair available. Somehow no one else has bothered to protect these delicate devices by adding a fuse accept for me. You get what you pay for, be cheap with greater risk of a fire, or be safe with exceptional personalized service.

Included in My service is an upgrade replacement of the 72 volt out transistor. A few other components are removed and bypassed, or upgraded and a 12 inch harness is installed that protrudes from the rear shell of the cluster. This harness comes with a 4 position plug with three wires that plugs into a matching plug attached to the power supply harness. The power supply comes with two sided tape to attach to the body or insulate it at the main harness where it can be positioned with a tie wrap. The power supply can also be screwed to the frame with the attachment ears. No rewiring is required on your part. Everything still plugs into the cluster as before. The only difference is one extra plug and the power unit. It can't get no simpler than that.

All clusters are tested in a working Ford Think before shipment. I don't trust bench testing only, and neither should you!

My pictures shows what my clusters look like functioning in a Ford Think, not a photo shopped (dead) cluster on a rosy background, or a pegged out cluster displaying all 8's. I am currently the only rebuilder on ebay, testing my repaired units in a working Ford Think. I do this to show you how I fully test all functions under real world conditions, so that you know every possible fault has been eliminated. Recently,  (as of 2/7/15) a less qualified rebuilder has claimed to test clusters in a Ford Think, I am flattered by their attempt to imitate my superior product.

How to Order

Click the buy now button at the top of the page. Once payment is confirmed, Send your Cluster to this address:

Bob Cluster Guy LLC

701 Palmetto Street

West Palm Beach, FL 33405

I recommend USPS medium flat rate box. Because they ship and deliver on weekends, but it is your option which carrier to use. Insurance is highly recommended. I then assess, repair, and upgrade your board. A tracking number will be emailed to you when it is on its way back. In the event your cluster is un repairable, we will discuss other options to get you mobile again.

Please email me if you have any used clusters for sale. I pay $75.00 each for usable cores sent to me. Thank-You.

One Year Warranty

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I warranty all parts used in the repair and upgrade of your cluster for one year from date of purchase. This refers to replacement parts and labor only. Shipping is responsibility of customer. No other warranty is expressed or implied in any way in regard to other vehicle or component functions or failures Ebay only allows for 60 days to display. I stand by my One Year Warranty.

In the event of a warranty issue contact me at the number listed above or email me through ebay in the form of a question. Include a description of the malfunction, I will then help diagnose your vehicle. If I conclude the cluster is at fault, return the cluster for inspection and repair. If my repair is at fault and the cluster is deemed unrepairable, I reserve the right to substitute a replacement cluster from my inventory.

Warranty Covers cluster failure of replacement parts from normal use, for one year. Does not cover failure due to oversize fuse, faulty/miswiring, or damage caused by other component electrical surges from the charger or DC/DC Converter.,harness shorts, or component shorts. Extreme exposure to elements (damp or corrosive) also not covered. If you have a suspicion of what's causing your cluster failures or you've gone through a couple of clusters in a short time period, I can recommend what to look for before installation of the newly repaired one.

Note From Seller

There is up to a 3 day turn around on heavily damaged boards and as little as one day on the simpler repairs. If you have any questions feel free to email me in the form of a question, or call at me at (561) 716-8304.

Superior Support and Service

In the event that you install one of my clusters' and find you have another issue with the vehicle: You can call me at the number listed above and I can talk you through a diagnosis. If you are not electronically inclined, I can speak to your mechanic, and simplify the diagnosis. Weak plug connectors, faulty chargers, bad contactors, and harness breaks are common but repairable. I include free of charge phone diagnostics to ensure proper function of any cluster or cluster service purchased from me. I have over 40 years of hands on automotive electrical experience, and nine years of Think diagnostic experience.

Bob the Cluster Guy

About competitors warranty

Be careful with the promise of a non transferable lifetime warranty! This often refers to the lifetime of the vehicle (normally 13 years from date of manufacture). Ford Thinks are almost 13 years old at time of this notice. That means there are no years left on a lifetime warranty. Read the fine print. Would you trust someone that misleads you about their warranty?

I warranty clusters for one year from time of repair.