Cluster swap revisited
07-06-2016, 05:18 PM
#361
Senior Member
That's good news!
07-06-2016, 05:36 PM
#362
I have some surgical forceps or you could use some long needle nose pliers.. I had some black abs plastic around and just trial and error until i got a snug fit that i could friction fit it by pushing it down with the curved end of the forceps.
07-06-2016, 09:34 PM
#363
thanks I'll try that, sounds easier once I find the correct material.
07-02-2018, 04:51 PM
#364
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2005 Ford F-150 xl
Some of you may recall my quest to put to sleep the myths of swapping clusters in our 2004 to 2008 F150's. I won't repeat my posted findings I wrote here a few weeks ago (search on my name if you want to read that).
Today, I removed the plain cluster from my 2005 STX. It had a speedometer, temp, battery, gas, and oil pressure gauge, plus the basic display panel (door ajar, trip1, trip2, odometer, and "door ajar" when they were opened). I replaced this cluster with one out of a 2005 Lariat. This cluster had much more capable "stuff" than my cluster (from what I read in the owners manual for a Lariat), which I expected would not work (i.e. inside/outside temp display, etc) in my basic STX. After installing this cluster into my STX, it started right up, and all guages worked (tach, speedometer, battery charge, oil pressure, and water temp. The turn signals worked (as well as the indicators on the dash), the emergency flashers worked( indicators on dash too), headlights, highbeams, horn, seat belt indicator light, emergency brake indicator light, the "overdrive" indicator light came on when I operated the button at the end of the shift selector, and the odometer indicated it's mileage (did not of course match my real mileage from the old cluster). I took it for a ride to see that the speedometer and odometer would work, and they did. Tach worked fine too. This proves that the PAT system is indeed within the PCM and not in the cluster; this changed somewhere around 2001 or so (read my previous writeups on this).
What did not work: The "trip1 and trip2" odometer, the "door ajar" display, and the interior light and outside cargo lamp does not operate when the door is opened/closed (drivers or passengers door). Also, when I unfastened my seatbelt (engine running), the seatbelt light lit up on the cluster, but after about 10 seconds, it went out, and there was no chiming going off like on my old cluster did to indicate for the driver/passenger to fasten their seatbelt. That I can live without for sure!
On my old cluster, I had a black rod that I would push to toggle between "trip1 and trip2"; the Lariat cluster did not have this rod. I suspect it has a botton perhaps on the steering wheel or on the dash? As to the interior light and "door ajar" not working, that is a puzzle to me, but it's not a big deal to me that they do not work. I did read from another post way back that a person had this same issue, and a technition changed a wire on one of the two cluster connectors to correct this. I can live without this feature as well to gain a tach.
Anyhow, this proves you can easily swap a cluster to gain a tach for those trucks that do not have them, with no ill effects. A flash IS NOT REQUIRED UNLESS YOU WANT THE MILEAGE TO MATCH YOUR OLD CLUSTER. If they tell you it is needed in order for the truck to start, they are incorrect. Mine has started several times now, and other than what I mentioned above for the Lariat cluster, all is well with my truck.
I would suggest however those of us that drive an STX to use the FXT cluster, as it is very close to the STX cluster, except the FXT cluster has a tach. I plan to install one of these next, and I'm betting all of the things will work in my truck with it. I would then have a Lariat cluster for sale!
Today, I removed the plain cluster from my 2005 STX. It had a speedometer, temp, battery, gas, and oil pressure gauge, plus the basic display panel (door ajar, trip1, trip2, odometer, and "door ajar" when they were opened). I replaced this cluster with one out of a 2005 Lariat. This cluster had much more capable "stuff" than my cluster (from what I read in the owners manual for a Lariat), which I expected would not work (i.e. inside/outside temp display, etc) in my basic STX. After installing this cluster into my STX, it started right up, and all guages worked (tach, speedometer, battery charge, oil pressure, and water temp. The turn signals worked (as well as the indicators on the dash), the emergency flashers worked( indicators on dash too), headlights, highbeams, horn, seat belt indicator light, emergency brake indicator light, the "overdrive" indicator light came on when I operated the button at the end of the shift selector, and the odometer indicated it's mileage (did not of course match my real mileage from the old cluster). I took it for a ride to see that the speedometer and odometer would work, and they did. Tach worked fine too. This proves that the PAT system is indeed within the PCM and not in the cluster; this changed somewhere around 2001 or so (read my previous writeups on this).
What did not work: The "trip1 and trip2" odometer, the "door ajar" display, and the interior light and outside cargo lamp does not operate when the door is opened/closed (drivers or passengers door). Also, when I unfastened my seatbelt (engine running), the seatbelt light lit up on the cluster, but after about 10 seconds, it went out, and there was no chiming going off like on my old cluster did to indicate for the driver/passenger to fasten their seatbelt. That I can live without for sure!
On my old cluster, I had a black rod that I would push to toggle between "trip1 and trip2"; the Lariat cluster did not have this rod. I suspect it has a botton perhaps on the steering wheel or on the dash? As to the interior light and "door ajar" not working, that is a puzzle to me, but it's not a big deal to me that they do not work. I did read from another post way back that a person had this same issue, and a technition changed a wire on one of the two cluster connectors to correct this. I can live without this feature as well to gain a tach.
Anyhow, this proves you can easily swap a cluster to gain a tach for those trucks that do not have them, with no ill effects. A flash IS NOT REQUIRED UNLESS YOU WANT THE MILEAGE TO MATCH YOUR OLD CLUSTER. If they tell you it is needed in order for the truck to start, they are incorrect. Mine has started several times now, and other than what I mentioned above for the Lariat cluster, all is well with my truck.
I would suggest however those of us that drive an STX to use the FXT cluster, as it is very close to the STX cluster, except the FXT cluster has a tach. I plan to install one of these next, and I'm betting all of the things will work in my truck with it. I would then have a Lariat cluster for sale!
01-27-2020, 10:39 PM
#365
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I have done the swap on my screw xlt with a lariat cluster and fixed the A/C problem. Here goes... the cluster has a microprocessor in it, when you turn on the a/c on the xlt model the power signal goes from the switch to the cluster then to the PCM and the PCM grounds the a/c relay under the hood which turns on the compressor. The Lariat has automatic air so the processor in the cluster is differant, that where the problem is, to fix this all you need to do is cut the pink wire with yellow at the relay box under hood on left inner fender well, its the small relay closest to left headlamp. Now install a lighted switch (I mounted mine next to lighter plug) and wire it to a relay, the relay will ground the pink with yellow wire at at a/c relay under hood. I got the power from the same relay under hood (red with yellow) because its powered with key on, so your compressor wont stay powered when you key is off. I have tested and all is working good, I dont turn the added switch off when I turn the truck off because both relays are only powered when key is on, the only time I turn it off is when I want the A/C off.
Now if you want to reinstall the orignal cluster for some reason
simply disconnect the relay at the pink with yellow wire and rehook that wire to stock.
ANY QUESTIONS?? HOPE THIS HELPS.
Now if you want to reinstall the orignal cluster for some reason
simply disconnect the relay at the pink with yellow wire and rehook that wire to stock.
ANY QUESTIONS?? HOPE THIS HELPS.
03-08-2020, 05:42 PM
#366
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cluster swap
To anyone swapping their STX or XL cluster for an XLT or FX4 instrument cluster in this time period. I did this with my 2005 STX with an instrument cluster from an XLT.
To get everything to work that worked in your original cluster, use Forscan to read your original instrument cluster (as built) info and save or copy the letters and numbers. Install your new cluster and use Forscan to read the (as built) info. Copy your original cluster info over the info in the boxes provided and press - write. Turn off the key and turn it back on and everything will work like your original cluster. This includes the door chime, the key chime, the interior light, etc. Only XLT or FX4 clusters will work as a swap from 2004 to 2008. It took me a long time to find this information, so I thought I would pass it along. Doing this procedure will not adjust your mileage, it takes special equipment to do that.
Addendum: This procedure will not change your mileage. You must have someone do it that has the special equipment needed.
To get everything to work that worked in your original cluster, use Forscan to read your original instrument cluster (as built) info and save or copy the letters and numbers. Install your new cluster and use Forscan to read the (as built) info. Copy your original cluster info over the info in the boxes provided and press - write. Turn off the key and turn it back on and everything will work like your original cluster. This includes the door chime, the key chime, the interior light, etc. Only XLT or FX4 clusters will work as a swap from 2004 to 2008. It took me a long time to find this information, so I thought I would pass it along. Doing this procedure will not adjust your mileage, it takes special equipment to do that.
Addendum: This procedure will not change your mileage. You must have someone do it that has the special equipment needed.
Last edited by Troy Blackwell; 03-08-2020 at 06:03 PM. Reason: additional needed info
03-08-2020, 05:46 PM
#367
To anyone swapping their STX or XL cluster for an XLT or FX4 instrument cluster in this time period. I did this with my 2005 STX with an instrument cluster from an XLT.
To get everything to work that worked in your original cluster, use Forscan to read your original instrument cluster (as built) info and save or copy the letters and numbers. Install your new cluster and use Forscan to read the (as built) info. Copy your original cluster info over the info in the boxes provided and press - write. Turn off the key and turn it back on and everything will work like your original cluster. This includes the door chime, the key chime, the interior light, etc. Only XLT or FX4 clusters will work as a swap from 2004 to 2008. It took me a long time to find this information, so I thought I would pass it along.
To get everything to work that worked in your original cluster, use Forscan to read your original instrument cluster (as built) info and save or copy the letters and numbers. Install your new cluster and use Forscan to read the (as built) info. Copy your original cluster info over the info in the boxes provided and press - write. Turn off the key and turn it back on and everything will work like your original cluster. This includes the door chime, the key chime, the interior light, etc. Only XLT or FX4 clusters will work as a swap from 2004 to 2008. It took me a long time to find this information, so I thought I would pass it along.
03-08-2020, 06:37 PM
#368
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I don't have pictures. My old cluster doesn't have a tach and the new one does. That's the only difference. Rewriting the as built info into the new cluster made it perform exactly like the original one. Without rewriting the original as built info from the old one into the new one will result in the interior light not coming on when you open the door, the key chime won't work if you open the door with the key in the ignition, the headlight warning chime won't chime if you leave the lights on when you exit the truck, the mileage will not show when you open the door, plus the new cluster will show the mileage but will also show **********F for a nonexistent outside temp gauge.
03-08-2020, 07:10 PM
#369
ok. I have an XL, but mine has the tac. I’m guessing there must have been some option package available for the xl, because my truck has pw pl a/c and cc.
Anyway; I would kind of like to have the outside temp gauge and the compass/directional readout, but it sounds like it either isn’t possible and/or would be too many hoops to jump through for that little upgrade/differences.
Anyway; I would kind of like to have the outside temp gauge and the compass/directional readout, but it sounds like it either isn’t possible and/or would be too many hoops to jump through for that little upgrade/differences.
03-09-2020, 06:43 AM
#370
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Mine doesn't have the compass, outside temperature either so I can't help you there though it was on the new cluster I got. Reprogramming your new cluster will make it function with all the bells and whistles that were on your original cluster, which was my goal. Outside of that, I don't know. Good luck.