Instrument Cluster Info

[blazes9395]

My '98 has only the standard cluster, with no tach. I went out and bought a optional cluster with the tach and all and went to install it tonight, but not surprisingly, its not working quite right. The speedometer works, tach works, the oil and voltage guages work. The temp guage and gas guage do not work, along with the gear selector lights, and the odometer. The gear selector and odomter work fine if you turn the key once, not to accessory, just one click forward, but when the key is turn to accessory, or even if its running, they don't work. All guages worked fine withthe standard cluster, so its not a faulty wiring problem. The cluster is from a '99 I am almost sure, so my question is does anyone know if the wiring to the cluster is different for the standard to optional cluster, and, is the wiring different for the '98 to the '99? I like to get this thing going, its so good to have a tach again, but I also need the rest to work now too. If anyone has any advice, info, I am all ears....thanks.

[MT-2500]

Originally Posted by blazes9395

My '98 has only the standard cluster, with no tach. I went out and bought a optional cluster with the tach and all and went to install it tonight, but not surprisingly, its not working quite right. The speedometer works, tach works, the oil and voltage guages work. The temp guage and gas guage do not work, along with the gear selector lights, and the odometer. The gear selector and odomter work fine if you turn the key once, not to accessory, just one click forward, but when the key is turn to accessory, or even if its running, they don't work. All guages worked fine withthe standard cluster, so its not a faulty wiring problem. The cluster is from a '99 I am almost sure, so my question is does anyone know if the wiring to the cluster is different for the standard to optional cluster, and, is the wiring different for the '98 to the '99? I like to get this thing going, its so good to have a tach again, but I also need the rest to work now too. If anyone has any advice, info, I am all ears....thanks.

I can send you the wiring in a pdf on 98 and 99 but it only shows one wiring set up for optional or standard.
E mail me at [email protected] and I will pdf them to you.
MT

[blazes9395]

Thanks MT, I sent ya some mail.

[mike2004tct]

The wiring should be the same for the 98 & 99, I think thw clusters are the same from 98 to 2001. (I recently did the same thing to my '97, and I used a cluster from a 95- all the gauges and lights work as designed)

My first guess is that you have the flex circuit on the back of the cluster mis-aligned where it presses into the cluster connector. Or it may not be in the connector housing securely (tight) enough.

Those would be the areas I'd look at first.

[blazes9395]

There is a plug-in connector that plugs in on the top, so connections are alright in that respect. I don't know exactly what year, I think it was 2000, where these clusters were made to be more resistent to tampering. So the '98 and '99 wiring/design I assumed to be the same, and it would hook-up without problems, thats why I bought the '99 cluster.

i remember you mentioning that a while ago on here where you upgraded your cluster, thats why I assumed the 98 and 99 should be good to go. I guess I''l find out soon.

[MT-2500]

Originally Posted by blazes9395

Thanks MT, I sent ya some mail.

You are welcome.
Yes only one set of wiring for for reg. or optional dash.
I could not get both pdf's open at same time to see if 98 and 99 was same.
The wiring circuits are not real good on what goes to what.
I put them in 2 seperate e mails one for 98 and another for 99.
I did not want to overload e email.
If you do not get them or can not open the pdf let me know.
Good luck
MT

[blazes9395]

Well, after looking very closely, there is a difference, both in the wiring and in the actual cluster itself internally. While the wiring could be changed, the cluster internally is different, so the '99 cluster will not work with the '98. I went back to the wreckers I got it from and they did have a '98 instock, but it was for the console shifter and not column. Mine has the column shifter, so the cluster doesn't have the shift indicator on it. So I decided that that would be a fun project also, took the cluster, and am now looking for the console unit now.

[MT-2500]

Originally Posted by blazes9395

Well, after looking very closely, there is a difference, both in the wiring and in the actual cluster itself internally. While the wiring could be changed, the cluster internally is different, so the '99 cluster will not work with the '98. I went back to the wreckers I got it from and they did have a '98 instock, but it was for the console shifter and not column. Mine has the column shifter, so the cluster doesn't have the shift indicator on it. So I decided that that would be a fun project also, took the cluster, and am now looking for the console unit now.

Blazes9395
Glad you found it. It sure is hard to interchange anything anymore.
Good Luck MT

[mike2004tct]

Well, that's somewhat of a disappointment. All the data I've read while researching my cluster said 98-2001s were interchangeable.

Oh well, I hope you get things figured out. Let us know how it goes.

As far as consoles and column shifts goes, I have the console shift on my '97 (I think that was the first year for consoles on 2dr models). The '95 cluster I have has the column letters, but they don't work in my truck becuase of the console. I could cover them with black tape or paint, but I don't even notice it.