Speedometer/Instrumer Cluster question

[Chronos[AsG]]

I had posted a thread before asking about a speedometer problem and someone suggested I may need to replace the instrument cluster. I know this is probably a silly question, but I am concerned about the legality of this. I know when I have gone to the dealer they have recorded the mileage and I don't know if they'd say something to me if the mileage was drastically different. I don't have plans to sell my car but I don't know how selling a car with a changed cluster would work, as tampering with the odometer is illegal. Can anyone shed some light on how this works?

 

[Rootus]

There is nothing illegal about replacing the cluster and the odometer with it, but you have to record it. I believe there is even something about recording it on the car somewhere (driver side door jam?). What's illegal is changing the mileage and then being deceptive about it.

But don't worry about it -- unless your odometer is actually broken, keep it. When I got my Cobra cluster, it only had 36k miles on it, which is way off what I really have. So I swapped the odo from my GT cluster to the Cobra one, and everything is cool. It's very easy to swap.

Dave

 

[Chronos[AsG]]

Oh, really? Cool. Thanks. I was under the impression you couldn't open up the cluster and change anything. That will make everything easier.

 

[red94fiveo]

Dave - What all do you have to do to change the odometer out when you get a new cluster? Also, do you have any pics of your cobra cluster at night, I'm thinking about trying to find one.

Also, what years will work for our cars. I know the redline will be way off, but would a cluster from a 96-98 Cobra work or not?

 

[Rootus]

Changing the odometer is really easy, it's just a couple of screws as I remember. The odo just pops out as a unit (it's designed to be tamper proof). It's one of those things -- easy to do, more difficult to describe without having one in front of me.

I don't have any pics of it at night -- but I can tell you that it pretty much looks just like a GT cluster does. It's only during the day that it's black-on-white. You can use a cluster from a Cobra up through 98, but it requires swapping one or two wires -- do a search on Corral, a couple of people have done it. IIRC it's easiest with 96-97, 98 required the most wiring alteration.

94/95 Cobra cluster: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=33675&item=2460459369

1997 Cobra cluster: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=46100&item=2460311580

1996-1998 Cobra cluster: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=33675&item=2461215548

Dave

 

[ChewiesDad]

I was just looking at my old gauge cluster and don't see a way to pull the odometer out. How do you get to it to access it?
It would work great for me to take my original odo and put it in the replacement cluster.

 

[ChewiesDad]

Acutally, it IS pretty easy. Take the lens off the cluster, pull the gauges out, and hit the three bolts with a 5mm socket.

 

[VIPERn94Five-0]

you could roll the odometer on the Cobra cluster to the right milage for your GT...or like said replace it with the GT odometer....



Anthony

 

[Chronos[AsG]]

Hey, guys. I may be getting a cluster from a 96 or 98 Cobra soon. But I was unable to find that article on corral about changing the wires to make it work properly. Can anyone provide a link to it? Thanks.

 

[rockin_rick]

I've got it saved, and I'll try attaching it (is stangnet's attachment's working right, yet?). I can't verify that the info is correct, as I've never tried it.

Rick