paultissue

I am investigating an issue with my OEM Instrument Panel Cluster (IPC) on my low mileage C5 by temporarily testing another OEM cluster on it that has much higher mileage. However, I am concerned odometer mileage of the test cluster might somehow alter my current odometer when I reinstall my original cluster.

Is the odometer setting stored on the printed circuit board of the instrument cluster? If I replace the printed circuit on the IPC, does it change my odometer?
Or is it stored on a "gauge" or separate sensor on the cluster?
Or is it stored in the ECU and/or synchronized between the IPC and the ECU?

I really do not want to mess up my current low mileage value on my C5.

Thanks.

Pounder

pretty sure it's in the cluster ????

wdwinder

Worked for a company that made dash clusters for some Japanese cars and those stored them in the cluster. YMMV

K-Spaz

Yes it is on the printed circuit board that controls your entire cluster and it's in the cluster, and no it will not alter anything else on the car when you swap the cluster so go ahead and swap away. Allure in Minnesota

GCG

Hey, Paul!

As mentioned above, you have nothing to worry about. You can safely swap IPCs back and forth.

The odometer data is stored in an 8-pin EEPROM that's surface-mounted at the center of the IPC's main board. This IC is labeled U13 and it can be transferred.

paultissue

Confirmed. I swapped in the higher mileage IPC (98488 miles) then swapped back in my original IPC (22487). My original odometer value (22487) was retained.

The only oddity I observed is that on the higher mileage IPC the Security light was flashing on entry into the vehicle and that turning on lights and such may trigger the security alarm. Clicking lock/unlock on the fob did turn off the alarm. I am not sure if would need to train the fobs to make this go away or not. I have no intension of using this higher mileage IPC...this is only a test so I have no interest in training my fobs to it. My original IPC does not have any issues with Security.

Thanks all for all the advice.

K-Spaz

As was mentioned above, you can swap the Eprom on the IPC and keep your mileage on the new cluster. Not sure why you'd be going through all this if you didn't intend to complete the swap. In my case, it was something like 103.9k vs 105.1k and I didn't care. I simply swapped the cluster. But in your situation, I'd be swapping that chip.

paultissue

I initially thought my original IPC could not be fixed but found out it was just a simple bad ground connection on the circuit board that I easily repaired. In the meantime I ordered a replacement IPC. Since my original IPC is fully working again I decided not to swap it with the replacement I purchased.

bahamallama

How tough is it to swap that chip? I have a 98 pace car and would like to add hud, but I’m at less than 14k original miles. I plan to save the old parts so I can revert back to original if needed but want the miles to be reflected on the new one.

How can the new new one be programmed to my mileage if I don’t swap it?

thanks for any help or advice!

GCG

To update the mileage in the new IPC you can take/send it to an odometer company to reprogram it. (Edit: this was a link I had for http://www.odo-pro.com/digital-mileage-correction.html , but I just tested it and apparently is not working).

To remove the chip and solder it on the new IPC you will need a soldering station with SMD capabilities (hot air, etc), or find someone who could do it for you. Something like this would be needed: click here.

It has been done with a heat gun or hair dryer, while protecting the circuit with heat shielding, but the step-by-step write-up is no longer available.