If i buy an FX4 cluster on ebay and i install myself i heard it has to be programmed.Is this only for the mileage?? thanks.

 

this is for mileage, door chimes, key chimes, possibly interior lights if memory serves me correct.

Search on cluster swap will show you what problems you'll have if you don't get it programmed.

Your truck will be fine, some little things just won't work without a trip to the dealer. Finding one who's willing to figure out how to do it may be another story...

 

I've just recently boughten an FX4 cluster for my STX, it hasn't arrived yet and it might be a couple weeks before I get the chance to get it installed. I'll let you know how it goes.

 

just the question i was going to ask, If possible, Id like to change mine as well... Mine will have(havent taken delivery on it yet) the speedo dead center then the four guages around it, it looks to plain... Will the FX4 work in mine?

 

ArcticCAT, I am no expert on this, but what I understand is that all instrument clusters for the new body style F-150 are interchangeable. What I have read is that the actual exchange is fairly simple and straight forward, a half hour or less of work. The complication being getting everything to work, I hear gauges work without trouble but chimes are another issue, and the biggest problem is getting the odometer reading right. If you buy a cluster you will want to get the odometer set by whomever you're buying the cluster from. Getting chimes and the trip odometer display set to read continually can be done at a ford dealership. Whether I use a dealership to flash the right code into my STX to recognize the FX4 cluster is not a decision I've made yet, I'll see what I have once it's in and go from there. But I'm like you that plain STX cluster with no tach was really hard to live with.

 

thanks, and please let us know what comes of it when your done. Ken

 

For those of us who would like to keep our original STX cluster I came across a site that has face guages for some models of 04' & 05' F150(inluding the STX). I am thinking about just purchasing the white face guage to increase daytime visibility.


http://usspeedo.com/start.html

 

Installed the FX4 cluster yesterday, I've waited a month so that my odometer read approximately the same (about 4 miles less than the new FX4). That way I didn't have to concern my self with resetting the odometer. The actual installation is not difficult at all. The only real issue was pulling the gear indicator out from the IP, I wasn't sure how to go about it since I really didn't have any idea what I was dealing with but it wasn't difficult, in the end it's really not much more than a half hour job. The new cluster looks great. As far as how things work: all gages work fine, My belt minder chime continues to work (I'd have liked to have lost it) but the chime for opening the door with keys in the ignition, or headlights on are both gone, in addition my dome light does't come on now when I open the door to get in, although it lights when I go to get out, or if I use the dash mounted switch. Also I can toggle between the trip odometer and the regular odometer but they are not displayed simultaneously. I talked to the service guys at my dealership a couple weeks ago about reprograming, I told them I have an FX4 cluster I'm going to be putting in, they had never heard of anyone doing such a thing, I thing the older tech thought I was daffy, the service manage came up and joined the coversation seemed more understanding, though neither had any idea of the cost. So I don't know whether I'll reprogram or not, may just drive it like it is for a while and see what I think. But as far as the cluster itself, I'm very happy with it. Love having a tach again. My first mod, and I think a good one too!

 

Any who wish to do this mod, if the dealership is 'confused' about how, have them call the ford hotline (many there call it dial a prayer.)
The hotline techs can tell them how to do this kind of thing. But many techs refuse to call it, so you need a tech that at least cares enough to call Ford.
Chris

 

Chris i am getting mine programmed on friday.i was curious did you get the compass and temp to work? thanks jim

 

PaintMD,
I'm curious to know what they will charge you for the reprograming. If you don't mind sharing that info I'd appreciate knowing. Tony

 

Tony they said it would be $85 appx. i will keep you posted.

 

Hi PaintMD, no, they said it would take a compass sender, and I lost interest. Plus, they did not know how to do that, so couldn't answer price questions. I really didn't care that much about the compass, and my scangauge gives air temps, so....
Chris

 

You can turn that off and on whenever you like. There is a process (it is rather involved with lots of buckling/unbuckling and what not) outlined in your owner's manual. The page number eludes me, but looking in the index or doing a forum search will have that chime turned off for good in only a few minutes.

 

set parking brake
gear in neutral or park
key off
key on but do not start
wait for seatbelt light to go outin cluster
(this must occur within 50 sec of light going out) Buckle and unbuckle seat belt 9x's ending in unbuckle
light and i think chime come back on,
(within 10 sec of light and or chime coming back on) buckle and unbuckle.
that should do it