OK, well you remember me taking you into the early cluster with a first look thread years ago. Now I have decided to peek into the 97-00 units so everyone can see what the deal is.

Obviously there was a needle change. After looking at it, the only change to it electrically was the way it mounts to the board. Nothing like an early SC, and won't even come close to plugging in. They changed the face a little, nothing special... just a cosmetic update.

The backlight is no longer 12v bulbs, it is 30,000 volt cathodes. A single cathode 10.5 inches long to be exact. Sorry for you 97+ guy's Eventually the cathode will fail like in the LS models and the only fix will be horribly expensive replacement of the cathode.

The cluster does not resemble the early one in any way really aside of the layout. Everything inside was changed. The needles are brown tinted face, like the ES, so if they ever need a repair, they will only fire yellow .

The center motors have changed, but the outer motors look the same. (have not verified). One of the most unique things about it is that there is no mainboard. on board that sits on the speedo, and one that sits on the tach with the ballast board for firing the cathode piggy backed on top.







CATHODE: (wire coil around it)

 

i'm glad you put that sucker to good use...

 

it's like a rattler in front of a baby....... keeps me occupied

 

what would we do without youO.L.T

 

Mmmm... Something good to look forward to...cant wait till mine goes.

If it goes, then I know its time to buy a GS for myself, and drop a Sound Performance 900hp power plant in the SC....go trolling for M5s and AMGs

 

my set went out yesterday... should be there in 4-5 days.

 

Any idea if it's possible to retrofit a 97+ cluster onto a pre 97?

 

Well I certainly would not say it is impossible, but with the problems cathodes have (see sticky in LS forum) I'd certainly not go that route. Aftermarket cathode systems can be ok, but factory ones are expensive to replace.

 

is it me....or is that Seriously over complicated for an instrument cluster?

 

It's you.

 

I suppose.......I know nothing about electronics.
...but that just looks crazy for a simple instrument cluster.

 

O.L.T.,
My '96 cluster has yellowish lights, some bulbs are out.
Do you sell any bulbs that would make mine bright white like the 97+ that I can replace myself? I can handle some soldering works.

James

 

ahhh 97' at nite..... (what do the earlier years look like)(what does it look like when they go bad?)

Mines like a Light Saber telling you your speed!!!

https://www.clublexus.com/gallery/data/500/nite.jpg

 

Ehhhhh.... we do not do 6mp pics in our threads. Gotta keep the thread friendly or our 56k guy's. There are more than enough examples in the thread at the top of the forum for the old ones as you asked To answer your question, they look exactly the same. The untrained eye will not notice the difference between bulbs and cathodes in the pics. One is whiter in the background. The readouts for mileage, etc are also lit by the same white cathode in the new ones.

 

Sorry, forgot about dial-up. My bad!!!