I wanted to let share this info with the users here.

I successfully put a Lariat Cluster in my XLT this weekend and it works great.

I replaced my stock XLT cluster with the lariat cluster. We had to read the programming off of the old cluster and transfer it to the new one. This is standard anytime they are changed. Your A/C, 4WD, and other functions run through the cluster, so getting the settings off of your old one is vital to everything functioning properly with the new cluster.

We couldn't get it programmed by reading the old data off of the old cluster. We had to use the as-built data for my truck. The dealer needs your VIN #, then they need to access the ford service website and it will tell them the as-built build for your truck. We then pushed that build into the cluster and everything went fine. Before the upgrade my A/C wouldn't work at all with the lariat cluster. But now that we programmed it properly, everything works.

So that's one thing down, one to go. Now I needed to get the message center switch installed. Not even knowing if this would work, I tried anyways. I ordered the part awhile ago, the part # for the switch is 2L1Z 10D996 AAB. To get this working I needed to add two pins to the top-right harness on the cluster. Pin 1 & 10, didn't have anything there. Your local dealership should have pins, with about 4" of wire in them, and they will slide right into the harness making life easy. The actual pin/wire that I used was D100. I bought six of them. Two were used to hook into the cluster, the other 4 I hooked into the message center switch. The message center switch has six pins, only the first 4 are used. The other two don't go to anything, I confirmed this in the wiring diagram. So looking at the back of the switch, from left to right, pin 1 went to the LB-RD wire on the left side instrument cluster harness. Pin 2 went into slot 1 (one of the wires you have to add to the harness) of the right side instrument cluster harness. Pin 3 went to slot 10 (the other wire you had to add to the harness) of the right side instrument cluster harness. Pin 4 went to the Black wire on the left side instrument cluster harness. I made my own harness by putting heat shrink tube around each pin w/wire to cover the the metal, after all 4 pins w/wire were in place (pushed onto the message center switch pins), I labeled them, and then electrical taped them all together and then wrapped the tape around the plastic on the switch where the factory harness would plug into(you will understand what I mean when you see the switch). This should prevent any moving and keep everything snuggly in place.

After hooking everything up, I checked to see if it would work, and sure enough, I was able to get the tripometer, avg mpg, miles left until empty, etc...

This wasn't the easiest thing I have done, but if you get those pins with the wire from your local dealer, it makes this a million times easier.

For me this whole thing ran around $300. $250 for the cluster, $50 for the switch and pins w/wire. Unless you have a contact like I have, you can expect to pay between $75 & $125 to have your cluster reprogrammed. The switch and pins w/wire will run you about $80 - $90 dollars. Find the cluster on ebay, it's alot cheaper that way.

If anybody decides to try this, and needs more help, let me know, I know my instructions are probably as clear as mud, so don't hesitate to ask.

Hope this helps a few people.

 

Sweet mod. Got pix?

 

I will get some. I need to wash her first. She's kinda dirty.

 

Gotta wash your dash?

 

Outstanding. Pictures please.
On a side note, want to sell your XLT cluster, got someone I know wants one.
Chris

 

c'mon where's the pix? we're in suspense here!

 

I was gonna wash the truck so I could also get some pics of my F150 emblem showing its an XLT....but I will wait on that for another day I guess...Let me get the camera out.

 

ebay, my dealer wants 200 for a mark lt cluster which is the lariat rebadged. so how is ebay cheaper

 

Cool deal...but where da pictures iz? We can get over the dirt.

 

https://www.f150online.com/galleries...w.cfm?num=8911

Here are two pictures. One of the cluster and one of the button I added.

As far as the $200 for a Mark LT cluster, if you think you can get that at that price, & without having to pay for a core charge....then go for it!!!! That price is cheaper than I can get the FX4 or the Lariat cluster for from Ford at employee cost. If I were you, I would jump all over it and sell them yourself on ebay because they are selling like hotcakes. Ford will only take an exact match on cluster type as a returned core...you can't send your XLT cluster back in to get your core $$$ back if you bought a Lariat cluster.

 

That looks great! Question, did your truck come with the leather wrap steering wheel and wood grain dash?

 

Nope, I bought the steering wheel off of ebay, it is from a lariat, but the volume and temp settings don't work on it. Obviously I don't have the electronic HVAC system.

I am going to be switching the buttons on it out to the ones on that are on my stock steering wheel so I don't have those non-functioning buttons on it.

The dash kit I bought online, I wanted a molded kit, not just a flat sticker to cover everything up so I bought it from NYC Dashes but only ended up using the molded pieces and a few more around my vents. I didn't want to over do it by putting the kit everywhere in my truck.

 

Sweet mod - I would love to put in the lariat or FX4 cluster in my XLT.

 

that looks great ..

 

Wow,
Great mod... Sounds like a ton of work.... looks sharp!