AkiD

Just a quick question. I got a complete instrument cluster to replace
the existing one in our daughters 94 GS. I can do a complete swap out
(the needles are going out on the original), or I can just swap out the
needles.

I want to just swap out the entire cluster since I have it all in one
piece and it all works fine but I can I do this without mucking up the
odomenter reading? Or, is the LCD in the cluster only displaying
information being fed from the ECM so it doesn't matter?

If no one knows for sure, I guess I could just swap it out and see if
the odomenter reading changes but I thought I'd ask to save
me a little time out in the freezing cold messing around with the cluster
any more than I have to.

tks!

-aki

El Captain

I actualy had the same question i got a new one and its just been sitting in my garage!

Abear

iTrader: (1)

I think the ODO is in the cluster and not read from the ECU. I could be wrong, but I think thats how it works on all Lexus'. You could replace the needles themselves, it will just take longer and be a bit harder.

AkiD

Can you do me a favor and look at the instrument panel you have and see
if the odometer display is removable? If so, and there's an issue with the
reading, I might be able to just remove the odometer display and put it
in the new cluster when it arrives.

-aki

dario

The odometer will show mileage from the car the cluster was taken out. It will not show your mileage. So if the car that it was taken of had 150 000 miles it will show that mileage. I replaced the cluster from Nissan and Toyotas and they were all the same.

AkiD

so, can the speedo/ogo portion be removed and place in the new cluster or is that an integral part of the circuit panel that everything else is connected to on the cluster?

IOWNALEXUS

iTrader: (14)

The car is a '94, if you want to do it the easy way then just swap clusters and live with the milage difference, swapping needles and odometers is a PITA.

AkiD

Ok, I just finished the cluster swap out. Here's what I learned:

1. It's a PITA but do-able. Nothing that complicated, just time
consuming.

2. The odomenter memory is on the circuit board. It can't be changed.

3. Had to completely dissassemble both instrument clusters and
switch the instrument faces (which had the needles attached).

4. Before reassembly, pull each instrument bulb and check with
an ohm meter. It's a very convienent time to replace bulbs because
I had to remove the main circuit board anyway (and most of the
bulbs are under the main circuit board).

5. Lexus must of had a crackhead design the panel. There's at least
30 bulbs UNDER the main board so you practically have to completely
dissassemble the instrument cluster to change bulbs.

6. MAKE SURE YOU ALIGN ALL THE PARTS AND DO NOT FORGET A
SINGLE SCREW ON THE CIRCUIT BOARD. The 5 screws clustered
like a star on the left and right edges of the main board actually act
as grounding screws for both the temp and fuel gauges. Don't seat
them down firmly and the gauges will not light up or work.

7. Once you have everything put back together, gently seat but do NOT
lock the three wiring harnesses in. Turn on the ignition and make sure
all lights work and all gauges light, THEN turn off car and seat harnesses
in until you hear a firm "click". The center (orange) harness is a PITA to
remove if you lock them in and then have to take it off again (hence
not seating them until you're sure everything is working properly).

8. To ease installation and removal of the instrument cluster from
the dash, insert your ignition key so that the steering wheel will set, then
set the wheel to it's lowest setting (so it's as close to your lap as
possible). Do NOT remove the key until you've removed the
instrument cluster from the dash. This is necessary so that you'll
have enough clearance to pull the cluster out.

That's just the basic tips. If anyone needs details, I'll be happy to post.

It took about three hours, but now that I know what to do, it's really
only about a 30 minute job from start to finsh if you already have
a replacement instrument face and all your bulbs already work.


cheers,
-aki