How To: Cluster Swap

bbrewbaker

Full Access Member
Joined
Feb 15, 2010
Posts
1,546
Reaction score
0
Location
Middletown, PA
So this is for those of you who want to swap out gauge clusters.
I haven't done this. I got this from another forum.

A few notes on compatibility: If you buy a cluster from the same year as your vehicle, it will work with full functionality (DIC), otherwise only your odometer and outside temp will work. As far as I know '05 and '06 can be interchanged year wise and have full functionality. '07 for an '07, '08 for '08, you get it. The speedometer will not have to be recalibrated because the signal is electronic and all the clusters know what a "50 mph signal" is and translate it accordingly.

The swap itself is rather easy.

So here's what I started with (old pic - during the SC swap, deal with it :p)
P7020688.jpg


And here's the 2007 SS/SC 160mph cluster I bought
PC050134.jpg


So, our objective is to put the new cluster where the old one went. :laugh:

Tools you'll need:

Phillips screwdriver (if possible, get a very short stubby one)
Small flat-blade screwdriver (like the pocket sized ones)
Socket wrech and/or nut driver
7mm socket

Optional: A hook tool of sorts.

Should about cover it, toolwise.

So you're going to want to start my getting into your car.
Then sit in the seat...or don't, that's your choise. :bigsmile:

1. Start by removing the lower dash panel (the big one). For those who don't know, it is attached via clips, and just pulls off. Just give it a quick tug in the corners and you'll see how it comes off.

2. Now take the trim pieces off (left and right sides of the steering wheel). These things are on there pretty tight, but still with clips, so it takes some effort to pull them off. They're pretty thick, so just give it some even firm pressure and it'll come off. A hook tool might prove helpful here.

3. Remove the two Phillips screws from the bottom side of the top of the cluster bezel. There should be two screws on the bottom attachments to the dash as well. You'll also notice there is a star piece lock washer of sorts on the pins that guide the bottom of the bezel into place. You'll want to carefully pry the inside edges up with the small screwdriver until it is loose and you can pull the bezel off the pin. Keep these stars for later.

4. Remove the bezel. This can be kind of tricky, but you just have to look at it and see how to pull it out. Pulling the steering wheel down is a must here. You have to rotate it around the turn signal stalk and out. It's hard to describe, but you'll see what I mean

5. You'll now see the four 7mm bolts that secure the cluster to the dash. Remove these. Some might be tricky because of the location, they might be hard to turn the socket wrench or nut driver, but you'll get it, just take your time.

6. Pull the cluster out a little bit, but not very far and turn it towards the passenger side of the car, just enough to get your hand behind it and disconnect the harness connection (there's a tab on the top, just push it down and pull it out of the cluster).

7. Pull the cluster all the way out. Ta-da. You're half way there!

You should have this.

PC060137.jpg


This image shows the locations of where bolts will go (didn't really take any step by step shots, this was an afterthought). Red is cluster bolts, Blue is bezel bolts (the bottom left shows one of the pins I was talking about, the bolt hole is above it - likewise on the right side of the steering wheel) and green is the harness connector.

PC060138HowTo.jpg


Comparison - Old vs New:

PC060144.jpg


8. Set your cluster into the housing, and connect it to the harness.

9. Turn your key to the on position to make sure everything works (would suck to have it all back together and notice it didn't work, huh? :idea:)

PC060146.jpg


10. Once you've verified it works, secure the new cluster via the four 7mm bolts that held the old one in.

11. Finesse the cluster bezel back into place, (make sure it's on the pins, and that everything lines up pretty evenly). Put the screws back in the top and the bolts back in the bottom. Put the stars back on the pegs and resecure them. You can do this one of two ways. A) use your flat-blade screwdriver and push the little "wings" back down till it doesn't move any more or B) use a socket just bigger than the peg and push down, it should seat the wings for the most part.

12. Reattach the trim by simply snapping it back on.

13. Put the lower dash panel cover back on by snapping it back on.

14. Admire your work

15. Go drive your car and peg your speedo. (I take no responsibility if you get a ticket/reckless driving/license suspended :laugh:)

PC060148.jpg

PC060157.jpg

PC060158.jpg
 

ZapFrog

Full Access Member
Joined
Feb 27, 2010
Posts
56
Reaction score
0
Location
Ohio
Okay, I want to do this. I found this cluster on ebay, but I don't understand how this works.

heres the specs on the ebay post -

Color : WHITE
Mileage : 10K
Tach : Yes
Transmission Type : Automatic
Trim Code : N/A
Vehicle Body Type : Car - 4 Door Sedan
Vehicle Make : CHEVROLET
Vehicle Model : COBALT
Vehicle Stock # : N61271
Vehicle Year : 2006

. i have a 06 cobalt ls couple with a manual transmission .and i have 90k miles . totally diffrent specs, would it still work fine ?
 

bbrewbaker

Full Access Member
Joined
Feb 15, 2010
Posts
1,546
Reaction score
0
Location
Middletown, PA
Yep that will work. It don't matter if it's form a auto or manual.
The milleage is stored in the ecm not the cluster.
So when you swap it. It's still show the correct milleage.
 

ZapFrog

Full Access Member
Joined
Feb 27, 2010
Posts
56
Reaction score
0
Location
Ohio
thanks buddy for the quick response .

I would really like to put some green led's behind it, but which clutster would look better with it ? the stock or the swap ? the swap is red and at night its orange .
 

Tuner923

Full Access Member
Joined
Jul 20, 2009
Posts
4,466
Reaction score
0
Location
Norristown, PA
STOP LISTEN!!! there may be a bit of confusion here.. this swap is a whole unit i.e. the whole entire gauge cluster. if you are looking to do a gauge cluster faceplate swap that is another ball game and you should disregard this thread.
 

ZapFrog

Full Access Member
Joined
Feb 27, 2010
Posts
56
Reaction score
0
Location
Ohio
I understand, I'm just saying... if i put green led's behind the new cluster, would that look good or bad ? im a sucker for green .
 

LoneWolf

Junior Member
Joined
Nov 21, 2010
Posts
9
Reaction score
0
Location
Fairbanks, AK
I understand, I'm just saying... if i put green led's behind the new cluster, would that look good or bad ? im a sucker for green .

The colors from the LED kits are always a little different on the cluster then not in the cluster, the blue leds will look more like a light blue almost aqua blue color, and the cluster over lays will change the color of your dic reading, because its just a clear/colored strip to change the color, mine was red but the dic reading ended up orange. Please excuse the shakiness of the photo as you can see it was cold outside. This is black cat custom overlay with the red LED's
Photo-0035.jpg
 
Last edited:

Members online

Forum statistics

Threads
7,442
Posts
156,482
Members
4,387
Latest member
critty84

Latest posts

Top