Mod (Ret.)

1) Remove trim piece under steering column (remove two lower bolts, then slide hands at left and right side of this piece upwards to unsnap it at its top). This exposes the upper trim pieces bolts that have to be removed to pull off the cluster cover.

2) Remove the cluster cover (after removing exposed bolts from stem one) by sliding hands along the upper cover sides to unsnap, then pulling straight back to unsnap the rearward part of the cover.

3) Unplug the two top wiring harnesses by sliding the "locking harness tab" to it's left or right (depending on left or right harness).

4) Remove the 4 cornered bolts that hold the cluster assembly in the dash.

5) Tilt steering wheel down, then pull forward and up on the cluster. IF YOU HAVE A COLUMN SHIFT AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, the cluster will not pull out until you unplug the shifter "display select" plate from the cluster. Using youe thumb and pointer finger, reach into the lower center of the cluster and push the snaps of this display selector plate inward; pull down.
Now the cluster comes out.

If you have a center console shifter, you do not need to do the step of removing the "shifter display plate" from the cluster.

Reassembly is the reverse.

docsprague

So if you buy a 04 to 08 Ford is there anyway to tell if some changed the milage by changing the cluster. Does the ECU still retain the accual milage?

Forever F-150

yep... you'd get it flashed and the actual mileage will read on your cluster.

rubbinsracin

Ive read the whole thing and it gets confusing to me. Maybe its because im only on my 3rd cup of joe for the morning, but if i were to get an FX4 Cluster, I would be able to put it right into my XLT (plug and play) and it would retain all functions(other than the milage) without having to do anything else?

VanoFord

Good to go!

rubbinsracin

Thanks VanoFord, Im on my 4th cup now and think I understand! Not sure when or if i will do this, but if i ever have a spare 200ish laying around i will have to revisit this idea. Any idea how much it would cost the stealership to do a flash for the milage for me?

VanoFord

$80-100 for the flash. takes 20 min but they'll charge you 1 hr rate. I would just find a cluster on eBay or here, that has pretty damn close the mileage to your original. I really didnt care, as the Lariat cluster I am running says 33k+, but I know my truck is upwards of 90k lol.

racinjason68

Mine cost me 60 to get flashed and took about 20 minutes to do....

rick99601

it is possible someone swapped clusters to avoid going over the amount of miles allowed on a lease.

Mod (Ret.)

This is true....and illegal. If the dealership/car lot suspects this to be the case, they can have the cluster "read", as it also holds the VIN of the truck it came from, unless it was flashed. Not only does the flash reprogram the true mileage, but it also sets the VIN to match your truck. This is why dealerships want your original and replacement clusters to be available; they can verify the mileage of your old cluster before they flash it into your replacement cluster, and not get into trouble with the law.

If they (or anyone else such as a speedo repair shop) flash it without doing any sort of mileage verification, then they are just as guilty and liable as you, assuming the two of you get caught. Most reputable speed shops require a signed and notorized letter verifying the mileage before they flash it. They charge more than the dealer in most cases, because they simply do not want to do the flash and be involved in any possible liability. It's easy for any of us to get a "notorized" letter verifying mileage. Seems everyone has a friend that's a notory these days.