I just purchased a used 2000 XL, V6 5sp.

Wanting to swap the instrument cluster for one with a tach.

Is the odometer reading stored in the cluster or the main computer?

If it is stored in the cluster can the prom be swapped to the replacement cluster or does a dealer have to reprogram?

I have also seen posts saying that a cluster swap would require new keys. If this is true, is it because of the Pats sys. ?

Just curious if anyone has done this swap.

Might be more trouble than it's worth.

 

The best answers I've heard so far have been 'I dunno'

Called Ford, called nine different dealerships too, visited two service centers. No one seems to know just what to say.

You have a tach already though.
It's digital, and is part of the diagnostic system.
Stick the key in the ignition. Press and hold the odo reset button.
Twist the key to the run position, don't start it quite yet.
Once the digital display stops blinking, let off the button and press it a few times till tac is displayed on the little screen.
Start the truck. Your engine speed will be displayed.

I still want an analog tach for my truck. It's been a bit of a pain finding out what to get, as until the other day when I found out about this feature, I didn't know what range of rpm tach to get.
Still, there is the issue of the coilpack on these trucks and how the signal coming out of it isn't like most. I called Autometer and they said that I'll need to use one of their 'tach adapters' to run an aftermarket tach. The adapter will run about sixty-five bucks.

As far as ford dashplates that will work out with the digital odo. type setup and still have a tach, your choices seem to be Harley Davidson edition, Nascar edition, and Lightning. That and I have yet to get it straight from a dealer if any of the three will work with the V-6.
Haven't seen a nascar dash yet, but I don't like the looks of the Lightning dash and wouldn't want to see the HD logo everytime I got in my truck.

Go figure.
At least you have a tach if you can stand digital tachometers.
If you wanted to use it as your tach, you'd have to initialize it every time you started the truck up too.

There are other modes there, I can find the web link for you too if you want to use the diagnostic feature of that digital guage, somewhere on the web there's a list of those diagnostics and an explanation of what the codes mean.

 

I just joined this forum, and I think it is really great!

About your cluster question, Yes you will have to save the information from one cluster and transfer it to the new one.
If you don't do this, it will NEVER crank much less start.

If you have any other questions, feel free to ask..
I don't know everything, but I will help you with anything that I
DO know..

Good Luck with your quest for the cluster!!


FordMasterTech

 

If my memory recalls what Jeff posted one time.

The cluster swap to get the Tach is only half of it.

The part that makes the tach work is the module behind the gauge cluster, which also contains the PATS info.

If you get a junk yard gauge cluster and module, you would need to install it, and have Ford reprogram the PATS info into the module, let alone that the millage would be wrong.

If you want a Tach, Ford Truck world has a how to on this, that shows the wire to use when putting in the tach, without the adapter to use a COP.

If you are registered over there, check the list of how tos, it shows installing the tach to the right of the steering column. I have my A/F ratio gauge in that location now.

If you don't like the position of the gauge there, there are the column pods from AutoMeter. There are 2 types, the common one for teh F-150 is the 15004, then the one for the SuperDuty can also be installed by what one L owner said. Theses slide over the steering colum, and put the gauge just left or just right of center. I tried a 15004 for my A/F and did not like it as it blocked too much of the odometer part of the gauge cluster.

Check out the how to with the info on the wire to tap on the PCM to make the tach work. Stock tach runs to 6000 RPM, which is about 800 more then needed for the cross of HP and TQ ( 5252 ). So depending on your tune, is really what the max RPM is.
I will say the 2-1/16" tachs are expensive, but seem to look better then the tach big as your head bolted to the dash like a ricer

Good luck, hope I got all that out correctly.

 

Thanks for the responses.

I was aware of the built in digital tach. I'm like you in that I prefer an analog.

Another option is to find a XLT cluster.

I have found an XLT cluster from the same year as mine along with the same engine and trans.

fordtech said I would have to transfer the info to the new cluster,.

How can I transfer, switch the chip or does a dealer have to do this? Is the chip on the cluster? Can it be switched?
Does the non tach cluster wiring have the necessary connections for a tach cluster?


I'm sure there are others who would like to know these answers also.


Again, thanks for any info.

 

I am also interested in finding out how to transfer the information... can you just move the chipset over and swap the chips between the two clusters? I havn't pulled the cluster out yet so I don't know how it's put together, thanks.
-Doug

 

I am sorry but the dealers are the only source for this application.
Unless you know SOMEONE that has an NGS New Generation Star Tester and the transfer card.........


But that is a HIGH $$$$$$$ piece of equipment...

Hope this answered your question...

Good Luck!!

FordMasterTech

 

So I guess I just don't get why you can't swap the whole computer part of the guages.... the computer is probably connected by some type of ribbon system... now given I havn't had the time to pull and look at the gauge internals this is all going off assumptions.... it may be possible to get a dash w/ tach, and swap the whole computer assemblies.... if it's like the older trucks, all the wiring is the same, just the cluster makes use of the feature.... Is this proven not to work, or has nobody tried it yet... or are my assumptions about the ribbon wrong? Does anybody have pictures of the back and inside of the cluster set? I just can't afford to have ford do all that reprograming and all that... but I like the "stock" look.... Thanks.
-Doug

 

I have tried to just swap the cluster because of faulty speedometer and the PATS system wouldn't let the starter engage because the PATS system uses the HEC (instrument cluster) to start the vehicle.. So it would be just like taking an unprogrammed PATS key and trying to start the vehicle... ending in the same result.. Crank but NO start...


FordMasterTech

 

So would you be able to do this, then get the keys re-programmed and have the correct odometer reading?

 

I appologize as I am jumping into this "conversation" late, but from what I've been able to gather, it sounds like alot of work just to swap out an instrument cluster? I have a 97 F150 that I was planning on swapping out with a cluster from a 98 (I got it from Ebay). The instruments look the same (speedo, tach, fuel tank, etc.). I thought it would be a simple unplug and plug in thing. Am I going to need to "download" info from my old cluster onto my new one and reprogram my PATS??!?!?!

 

gchu715,

Does a 97 have PATS ? I thought that started in 99, but I don't want to trust my memory on this one at all. I thought the digital odometer and the PATS both were in 99.

Do you have the Key where the plastic head is slightly oversized, and you need to have them cut and do the 2 step with programming the 3rd key with 2 already programmed ?

If you don't have a PATS system, and the gauge cluster is the same, then the swap is a direct swap ( as long as the gauges are 100% the same ).

Just a few questions to get you on your way.

If you have a PATS system, and a Digital odometer, then you can't do this one yourself. The PATS can be programmed at a Dealer, and the millage, that one would require sending out the cluster to a instrument shop from what Jeff Laws told me awhile back.
If the clusters are the same ( tach, et all ) , and you are only swapping the gauges themselves ( needle broken off for what ever reason ) then you can unplugg the module behind the gauges and replace just the gauges, the info is actually in the module behind the gauges.

Let me know if this answers your questions.

Steve

 

So the module can only be swapped if it's a the same exact cluster? Has anybody tried just swapping the module from a tachless cluster to a tach cluster?
-Doug

 

On a Pre-99 or a 99 and newer model year ?
Your profile does not spec which year truck you have.

If it is a 99 and newer truck...

Putting a Tach gauge panel on a HEC without a tach function doesn't do anything. The gague would be dead. Jeff ( kid triton ) went over this in detail a few months back. Check out his posts if you want to verify this. I can type and get stuff wrong, so it might be worth while to check it out.
The HEC has the gague functions is what I am recalling JEff posted one time. The gague panel itself is just a display.

Hope that answers the question at hand. If yours is a non PATS year, then the story is different.

 

Did a cluster swap on my XLT to harley davidson cluster- Just changed the main pcb in the cluster with the one that came with the truck. The PCB is the main board that resides behind the gauges.

My ODO information is in this board in the cluster and was maintained along with key codes for a trouble free swapout.