Instrument panel gauge cluster

JMLoughrey · **Posted:** Wed Dec 06, 2006 12:53 am

while working on my jeep today my buddy knocked my gauge cluster off the work bench and it cracked pretty good.

I was looking at getting a gauge cluster from an 05 or so and putting it in my 03.

Will this work, and will it show the correct milage for my vehichle or will it be whatever that specific cluster is at?

Anyone with any input is greatly appreciated.

Marlon_JBT · **Posted:** Wed Dec 06, 2006 1:10 am

I'm pretty sure it will show the mileage of the Jeep it came out of.

But I must ask, why would you want that gauge cluster?

Cacher123 · **Posted:** Wed Dec 06, 2006 1:11 am

Quote:

will it show the correct milage for my vehichle or will it be whatever that specific cluster is at?

Now, that's an interesting question! Is the mileage stored in the BCM or is it stored in the cluster? Is it flashable? Which I doubt or people would be setting thier mileage back before selling. My guess based on other vehicles is that it is stored in a nonresettable chip in the cluster. Anyone :?:

Cacher123 · **Posted:** Wed Dec 06, 2006 1:12 am

Quote:

But I must ask, why would you want that gauge cluster?

It's available?
The mileage is lower? :wink:

Boi1ermaker · **Joined:** Tue Jan 24, 2006 1:44 pm **Posts:** 249

From an '05 Service manual:
"The odometer and trip odometer distance information is stored in the instrument cluster memory. This information can be increased when the proper inputs are provided to the instrument cluster, but the information cannot be decreased. The odometer can display values up to 864,004 kilometers (536,870 miles). The odometer latches at these values, and will not roll over to zero."

07Latitude · **Posted:** Wed Dec 06, 2006 11:30 am

I do know that there are some differences in the warning lights between an 03 and 05+ cluster (provided the 05 got the new black faced cluster). Don't know whether this will cause any wiring problems or not.

Gris · **Posted:** Wed Dec 06, 2006 11:35 am

I have to say it's in the BCM not the cluster. At least in my '02.

I replaced mine with one off eBay after i fried it in a freak soldering accident My odometer did not change. Trip might be stored in the cluster, but total mileage is definately not.

Anyone could go to the dealer, get a new cluster, then claim the vehicle was almost brand new.

JMLoughrey · **Posted:** Wed Dec 06, 2006 11:42 am

What gris said seems like it'd be the obvious explanation. Somewhere, somehow, something could happen to the cluster, it HAS to be replacable without completly screwing up the car. If its not, thats a TERRIBLE design as well as a darn good way to get your car "totaled"

I really like the way the black cluster from the 05's look compared to the one in the 03.

Maybe i'll give jeep a call and see what kind of run around they give me...

Big D · **Joined:** Mon Jun 05, 2006 10:08 pm **Posts:** 349

As far as I know the mileage is stored in 3 places. One BCM, two cluster, and three TCM. If you change the cluster, it will probably show a check engine light. Once the computers are connected, there will be a fault showing. Once the mileage is read from ither the TCM or BCM, the appropriate mileage will have to be inputed into the cluster. This is done as a safe measure to keep shade tree mechanics from changing the mileage on their vehicules.

Cacher123 · **Posted:** Wed Dec 06, 2006 11:54 am

Quote:

From an '05 Service manual:
"The odometer and trip odometer distance information is stored in the instrument cluster memory. This information can be increased when the proper inputs are provided to the instrument cluster, but the information cannot be decreased. The odometer can display values up to 864,004 kilometers (536,870 miles). The odometer latches at these values, and will not roll over to zero."

My 02 service manual says the same thing. HOWEVER, no where does it say that the info is NOT also stored in the BCM. The BCM may in fact over ride the instrument cluster when it is connected to the vehicle thus overiding the existing stored memory in the cluster. This to me would insure that whenever someone switched out a cluster, the cluster would display the correct odo reading thus preventing anyone from simply buying a new cluster to reset thier mileage while at the same time preserving the odo reading if the cluster was removed for repair. A very simple programming job actually. Just a thought. Basically agrees with what Big D said.

JMLoughrey · **Posted:** Wed Dec 06, 2006 12:05 pm

Thats exactly what i'm figuring. It would be a terrible design on car manufactorers part if you could simply swap out the cluster. "oh look, my jeep just lost 20,000, shucks"

My only real concern would be that all the pin outs are the same so i still have all the correct lights on the dash.

If the only downfall would be a check engine light on all the time or able to be read and disguarded thats not a concern to me.

Even if the information is ONLY stored in the cluster, i'd assume jeep would have a way to flash it to get your milage at what it should be. What if your cluster fried itself, all information on the vehicle CAN'T be lost.

Marlon_JBT · **Posted:** Wed Dec 06, 2006 12:47 pm

I'd rather have the white cluster myself.

That's why I asked... the gray/black cluster looks good at first sight, but the white cluster brightens up the interior a whole lot more...

JMLoughrey · **Posted:** Wed Dec 06, 2006 1:01 pm

With a GPS system, aftermarket radio, and sirius satallite radio, evic and equalizer display my interior at night could land a small army of planes if need be.

The black will fit in so much better as the entire rest of my car is black.

Milous · **Joined:** Mon Apr 17, 2006 4:51 am **Posts:** 21

JMLoughrey wrote:

while working on my jeep today my buddy knocked my gauge cluster off the work bench and it cracked pretty good.

I was looking at getting a gauge cluster from an 05 or so and putting it in my 03.

Will this work, and will it show the correct milage for my vehichle or will it be whatever that specific cluster is at?

Anyone with any input is greatly appreciated.

You will have issues trying to put in a different or different model year cluster as there are many electronic differences. In addition, you will have a very tough time getting the mileage reprogrammed, DCX will NOT do this if the cluster is not the EXACT p/n specified for the vehicle.

What exactly is broken, just the housing/lens or is there damage to the circuit board/gauges?

AZScout · **Posted:** Wed Dec 06, 2006 9:40 pm

The 05-06 has the tach and speedo on different sides from the 02-04. Dont know if this will make a difference. Also, what exactly broke? The lens or the whole cluster?. You can get the whole cluster off of e-bay for around $20-$30.

JMLoughrey · **Posted:** Thu Dec 07, 2006 11:43 am

the front clear part broke to 1093r29 pieces and the back circuit board is cracked pretty good.

Instrument panel gauge cluster

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