a couple cluster questions...

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Nov 10, 2006 | 10:07 PM

$$$frumnuttin'

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From: Should this thoughtful, valuable contribution meet with no acknowledgement or 'thanks' this post----

a couple cluster questions...

While I have the dash apart for painting I will remove the cluster for gage bezel install and HUD upgrade on my 97.

Question 1: Will the car start without a cluster in place?

Question 2: To retain my true mileage can I simply switchout the electronic pieces on the back of each cluster? I have a new one with 0 miles on it for the HUD transformation.

Someone said I should take it to a 'speedometer shop' . What is that? I've never seen any businesses named as such. Do they just sell speedometers???

Nov 11, 2006 | 02:53 PM

$$$frumnuttin'

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From: Should this thoughtful, valuable contribution meet with no acknowledgement or 'thanks' this post----

So, nobody knows???

Nov 11, 2006 | 09:10 PM

BiggieBoy

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From: Orland Park Illinois

St. Jude Donor '06-'07

The new cluster w/ the female receiver (HUD projector plugs into) needs to have your correct mileage programed into it. I had this done when I did this install a few years ago. I had a local speedo shop do it for me. It cost about $80 to have it done. You can't switch the green circuit boards because the board w/ the correct mileage in it is from your '97 AND it is not HUD enabled.

I don't know if the car will start if the cluster is unplugged...

Good luck w/ your project. Once completed, you'll love it...

Nov 11, 2006 | 09:21 PM

BiggieBoy

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From: Orland Park Illinois

St. Jude Donor '06-'07

Quote:

Originally Posted by $$$frumnuttin'

Someone said I should take it to a 'speedometer shop' . What is that? I've never seen any businesses named as such. Do they just sell speedometers???

I don't know what part of Mich you live in, but, www.Dashusa.com located in Troy, MI does reprogramming. There are others--do a search and you'll find them. Good luck...

Nov 11, 2006 | 10:48 PM

SpeedyZ

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From: Southwest Virginia

The car will start and run without the cluster. I have done it several times on my project car.

If you can't find a speedo shop ask a local dealer who they send their clusters to. They have to do the same thing when they replace a cluster. Normally the speedo shop is some type of electronics shop, here ours was an audio shop, they fixed clusters and radios as well as sold and installed stereos.

Nov 11, 2006 | 10:54 PM

Mike Mercury

Team Owner

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From: S.W. Ohio. . . . . . NRA Life Member

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpeedyZ

The car will start and run without the cluster. I have done it several times on my project car.

did yours throw a bunch of error codes ??? I started mine once without connecting the cluster and I got all sorts of error codes. After re- assembly I was able to clear them all and everything was back to normal.

Nov 11, 2006 | 11:29 PM

SpeedyZ

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From: Southwest Virginia

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Mercury

Yes codes will fly, but it will run. The IPC is responsible for several things, one being the source on the data buss for lighting control for all other modules. So things like the radio and door modules are expecting to hear from the IPC with that information so they know what to set their display intensity to, when they don't hear from the IPC they will set codes. I have not drove mine without the IPC other than moving it around the garage so I don't know if it will perform normal or not. I know the cluster is tied some how with the PCM and the traction control. May only be monitoring, I'm not sure. As soon (within a second or two) as the IPC losses communication with the serial data buss it will display "Reduced Power Mode", now I'm not sure if it really goes into reduced power or if that is just a default message that is displayed if the IPC can talk with or hear from the PCM. It also displays "Low washer fluid", "Low Fuel", and the best I remember "Low Coolant" messages when communications is lost.