Instrument Cluster Question

[friskyfrankie]

Need to swap out the digital instrument cluster on a friend's 1995 GM. For many reasons (like I think a previous person used the gorilla method to access the shrouds around the steering column), I would like to keep the current shift indicator intact, remove the one on the "new" cluster and then silicon the old one to the "new cluster". It does not appear that except for a physical attachment to the cluster, there are no other mechanical or electrical connections to the cluster. So, would I be correct that doing what I wish to do would not harm the "new" cluster?

[sly]

They should clip in (unless the clips are broken). But yeah... unscrew the cable mount and unhook the cable from the shifter and fish the cable around the left side of the column and you should be able to swap it between clusters. Silicon should work pretty well to stick it in place, but let it cure before putting any strain on it so it won't slide when the cable puts tension on it.

[friskyfrankie]

They should clip in (unless the clips are broken). But yeah... unscrew the cable mount and unhook the cable from the shifter and fish the cable around the left side of the column and you should be able to swap it between clusters. Silicon should work pretty well to stick it in place, but let it cure before putting any strain on it so it won't slide when the cable puts tension on it.

I was thinking of just removing the shift indicator from the "new" cluster and installing that cluster into the dash. Then silicon gluing the old shift indicator to the "new" cluster. Should work out well, don't you think? By the way, the old shift indicator works just fine! I think it gets light (at night) from the ambient light from the cluster as it does not have it's own bulb/lighting.

[sly]

Yeah... should work.

[friskyfrankie]

Yeah... should work.

Will give it a shot as soon as I can get to it and report back any negative issues (hopefully the cluster is good as used ones are always a "crap shoot"!). Thanks for the confirmation!!!

[sly]

Clusters are physically the same for the most part from 92-2011 for CV and 93-2011 for MGM for mounting in the dash hole... for analog clusters 92-94 and 95-2003 I think are pretty much the same for the gauge mounts (speedo is the different one). Digital clusters are a mystery to me though. I think they pretty much follow the same year batches but also have a different pinout vs analog clusters. But I think ALL of them use the same gear selector display, but the mounting of that is different for each speedo change so I think that's 92CV/93 MGM-94, 95-2003, 2004-2005, 2006-2011. Whether that tracks for the digitals, I haven't seen enough of those to know. But if you've got same year, it should work no issue. If it's in the same range, it should be fine, but if it's out of range, you will definitely need glue and maybe some cutting.

[friskyfrankie]

Clusters are physically the same for the most part from 92-2011 for CV and 93-2011 for MGM for mounting in the dash hole... for analog clusters 92-94 and 95-2003 I think are pretty much the same for the gauge mounts (speedo is the different one). Digital clusters are a mystery to me though. I think they pretty much follow the same year batches but also have a different pinout vs analog clusters. But I think ALL of them use the same gear selector display, but the mounting of that is different for each speedo change so I think that's 92CV/93 MGM-94, 95-2003, 2004-2005, 2006-2011. Whether that tracks for the digitals, I haven't seen enough of those to know. But if you've got same year, it should work no issue. If it's in the same range, it should be fine, but if it's out of range, you will definitely need glue and maybe some cutting.

Swapped it out today and it all went well. Put the old gear selector onto the "new" cluster with just a little clear silicone adhesive. The bezel keeps it from moving anyway. Still has the oil light on (probably the sensor which would get done during the next oil change - no rush on that) and the coolant temp only gets one bar no matter how long the car is running so that (I hope) is the gauge temp sensor so if I can locate one, it "may" fix the issue. Can't believe two clusters in a row have the same issue so it will probably be the sensor. Hopefully it is still available!