gauge cluster

txredgt · Jul 7, 2010

I am fairly certain I know the answer but I would just like someone to reassumre me I am correct.. I am replacing my gauge cluster in an 02 GT. All I need to do is unplug the old one and put the new 1 in correct? All of the milage info should be stored in the computer? Thanks.

wmburns · Jul 7, 2010

Cluster and PCM programed for each other

Incorrect. The PCM and the cluster are programmed for EACH other. If swapped and not programed, the anti-theft system (PATS) will NOT work.

For the 1999-2004 MY, if the PATS system is tripped, the theft light will blink. PATS disables fuel and spark. This causes the engine to crank with no start.

The choices are to have a dealer reprogram, disable PATS with a tuner, or swap the PATS board from the original cluster.

The mileage is stored in both the PCM and cluster. The results depends upon how the problem is solved.

RedDaemon · Jul 7, 2010

wmburns said:
Iswap the PATS board from the original cluster.

can a skilled DIY-er do this w/o requiring dealer assistance?

txredgt · Jul 7, 2010

wmburns said:
Incorrect. The PCM and the cluster are programmed for EACH other. If swapped and not programed, the anti-theft system (PATS) will NOT work.

For the 1999-2004 MY, if the PATS system is tripped, the theft light will blink. PATS disables fuel and spark. This causes the engine to crank with no start.

The choices are to have a dealer reprogram, disable PATS with a tuner, or swap the PATS board from the original cluster.

The mileage is stored in both the PCM and cluster. The results depends upon how the problem is solved.

If this was your car what way would you go about doing this then? I don't have a problem ripping into the cluster to get the stuff out if this is all it is. Dealer reprogram means I get raped by them I'm sure and I don't have a handheld tuner for it.. Could I go to Autozone and use their tuner to disable the PATS or does it take an SCT or similar?

wmburns · Jul 7, 2010

Why are you swapping clusters?

The ODB2 device that the autoparts store uses is a code READER. To disable PATS requires a TUNER (such as SCT).

I have never swapped the PATS receiver board. From what I understand it is a separate board. The swap is straightforward (no I don't have pictures).

OBTW; the donor cluster should be as close as possible to the car's model year. There are slight differences between 1999-2000 and 2001+ that may affect interchange.

The easiest way is to disable PATS with a tuner and then drive to the dealer for re-programming. Then the protection provided by PATS will continue to work.

txredgt · Jul 7, 2010

Long story short the glue I used to seal back the lense spiderwebbed everywhere and some of it even got onto the gauges themselves.. It's not extremely noticable but since I know its not right I will always kind of notice it somehow. I may just leave it but I went ahead and ordered up the cluster from MPS (got the same year as mine) so we will see. I have a very good aftermarket alarm which should help cover any of the stuff that the PATS system would have prevented. Guess I got a little bit of thinking to do and maybe I will pull out the old cluster and see if I can't find this unicorn.

68stang351 · Jul 7, 2010

Wouldn't it have been easier to put a nice set of overlays on it?

SaleenGT2001 · Jul 7, 2010

you can swap out the new gauge faces onto your old cluster. that is the easiest way.

i had to do this when i bought a used autometer lunar cluster a few years back. the mileage indicator is easy to remove. just swap that over also

txredgt · Jul 7, 2010

68stang351 said:
Wouldn't it have been easier to put a nice set of overlays on it?

Some of the glue also got on the odometer and it looks a bit hazy now. I algo got the whole thing for 50 bucks which isn't all that bad.

SaleenGT2001 said:
you can swap out the new gauge faces onto your old cluster. that is the easiest way.

i had to do this when i bought a used autometer lunar cluster a few years back. the mileage indicator is easy to remove. just swap that over also

So I can just swap out the face on the new one to the glued one and that's it?

txredgt · Jul 9, 2010

wmburns said:
Why are you swapping clusters?

The ODB2 device that the autoparts store uses is a code READER. To disable PATS requires a TUNER (such as SCT).

I have never swapped the PATS receiver board. From what I understand it is a separate board. The swap is straightforward (no I don't have pictures).

OBTW; the donor cluster should be as close as possible to the car's model year. There are slight differences between 1999-2000 and 2001+ that may affect interchange.

The easiest way is to disable PATS with a tuner and then drive to the dealer for re-programming. Then the protection provided by PATS will continue to work.

So if this is the case then how did the Simco gauges just plug and play without swapping or turning the PATS off?

mransr · Jul 9, 2010

arrrg...I wish I remembered how I did mine, I put a Mach 1 cluster in my GT...I'm pretty sure the whole gauge face, needles and everything, came off and I used the Mach 'front' with my GT 'back'...

sorry I'm not much help, but I know what you want to do can be done, and it wasn't hard to figure out once I had the 2 clusters sitting next to each other

Pearl02 · Jul 10, 2010

mransr said:
arrrg...I wish I remembered how I did mine, I put a Mach 1 cluster in my GT...I'm pretty sure the whole gauge face, needles and everything, came off and I used the Mach 'front' with my GT 'back'...

sorry I'm not much help, but I know what you want to do can be done, and it wasn't hard to figure out once I had the 2 clusters sitting next to each other

When I installed my Bullitt gauges in my GT all I did was swopped the circuit board from the GT with the Bullitt gauges. The curcuit board is on the back of the gauges. It just pulled right off. The car started right up and the milage was right. It's been a while since I did this and it worked. Check into it. Pearl02.

Skud · Jul 10, 2010

The only thing "paired" to the PCM is the electronic odometer. Either that needs to be swapped or you need to disable PATS in the tune. When PATS is disabled, the THEFT light will flash for the first 5 minutes each time you start the car.

Some clusters/gauges are NOT a direct swap. For example, I swapped a '99 Cobra cluster into my 2002 GT. At first, all I did was swap over the odometer and it fired right up. However, I noticed that the rear-defrost was stuck on. Eventually, it blew the fuse.

Turns out, the cars with the rear defrost buttons up by the headlight switch have different boards than the cars with the defrost button by the shifter.

If at all possible, you should also swap the main large circuit board too.

Riley

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