Standard ---> FX4 Custer change

[nascar88ford]

If you have read some of my previous posts, you would know that my girlfriend bought me a set of FX4 guages. I hooked them up tonight in my 05 F-150 STX 4x4 to check to make sure the lights and guages worked before I left feedback on Ebay. They all worked, even the tach. My question to anyone who has (I know it can be done) or knows what needs to be done to get it working right, what did you have to tell the dealership when you brought it in? What works: All warning lights (minus one) , all illumination lights, A/C, Tach What doesn't: "Door ajar" light and message center message, "Key-in" warning chime, "Headlights-on" warning chime, Cab lights. AND the dealership says they can't reprogram the mileage (my truck is at 49,000, the cluster is at 58,000). Also is there a way to get the message center to act like the standard one, mileage on top, and trip on bottom? I've searched the forum, but no one seems to update after getting it fixed. Any and all info would be great! Thanks, -Matt

[Fishin76]

You'll need a wire diagram manual to figure it all out. I think they are interchangable with a little changing.

[Fishin76]

[FTE Trigger]

Here's a excerpt... from a "old" user that did a STX (std) swap to a FX-4.
According to this, he sent the cluster to a vendor that set his milage for him.
...

Originally Posted by ChrisAdams

Complicated question. The Tach, gauges, etc. worked fine. The job takes about twenty minutes, mostly because I disconnected the battery. I hate power surges damaging things.



Then comes the hard part. Your door chimes, headlight chimes, and automatic domelight don't work. You have to take it to a dealer that knows how to program your PCM to recognise the new dash. Not for the Tach etc. but for the buzzer type things. To have mine done cost 85 bucks. Two dealerships offered to swap out the IP, and program it for 170 bucks. Since it was a quick job, I opted to do the swap, then have them program. I gave them the old IP at the time I dropped the truck off, but don't know if they used it for anything. Book says they have to get info from it. I don't know, neither did the service writer. They either didn't use it, or they used it and replaced it in the box I left it in in the cab.



The dealerships can not set your mileage. I had to send it to a place back east where they matched my mileage before hand. I had them set it a bit high, then waited till the numbers were really close before doing the swap. I think I 'lost' about 50 miles on my warranty.

Hope this helps,

Chris

(back east...Chris was on the West coast)

[Fishin76]

[Fishin76]

Really, you have to program the gauge pod, wow this is really different. Learn something new everyday. I learned about the guages, and how to post photos with photobucket. woo hoo

[nascar88ford]

Awesome info guys! The two dealerships I talked to haven't done it yet, but one of them said they wanted to try it. I went through the diag. on each cluster (holding the reset button...) and noticed that most everything was the same except the "Config 1, Config 2, and Config 3" which I'm guessing that the dealership goes in and changes with a scan tool to work. I was thinking I could wait until my truck reaches that mileage, but realized that would be a while. I don't drive that much. Is there anyway I could get in touch with "ChrisAdams"? Is he still on the boards? I think I saw this post before. I am on the east coast and I'm wondering what vendor he used. Those guages look so sweet, I want them in there.
Thanks again guys!
-Matt

[FTE Trigger]

Originally Posted by nascar88ford

Is there anyway I could get in touch with "ChrisAdams"? Is he still on the boards? I think I saw this post before. I am on the east coast and I'm wondering what vendor he used. Those guages look so sweet, I want them in there.
Thanks again guys!
-Matt

According to his profile his last time online with FTE was 4-13-08. He was a heck of a guy when it came to custom-OEM mods. Iirc, not only did he do the pwr windows/dr locks and gauges (OEM swap and aftermarket vac. gauge) but he also did a seat and console change. He took a XL/STX trim level truck and converted it to a "XLT/Lariat" trim level. ...I'm not too far behind

Back your original question...
I'll see what I can do for finding this "mysterious" cluster programming vendor.
On Edit: I think this is who he used... http://www.instrumentclusters.com/ thier site seems to be extensive on what they can do. Check'em out... Let us know what you find.. Please..

[nascar88ford]

Thanks again. I wonder if they can program the whole thing. I will give them a call this afternoon. If it's a reasonal price, that might be the way I have to go. I can't wait to get these in. I will post up the prices when I get them.

I barely remember "Chris." Didn't he have a video of his truck or something?

Thanks!
-Matt

[nascar88ford]

I called that company and asked how much it would cost to change the mileage... $310!!!! That's alot of money! Anyway, I'm going to look around locally. Since I have the FX4 cluster with the compass and therm. blank on the screen... Has anyone attempted to add the compass thingy behind the mirror to an STX or XL? I wonder if the connector was there if it was plug-n-play. I pulled my headliner down a little and did not see the connector. I couldn't imagine that it's not there. Ever taken apart a Crown Vic? Ford had the connections for everything, even if it wasn't equipped. I know a bunch of you people are like "Go buy and FX4." I love this kind of thing. It teaches you alot more.

I wish "Chris" would get back on. He went through everything.

Thanks again!

[tylus]

if your truck is pre-wired, you will have 2 wiring pigtails up there by the rear-mirror.

1 is a 4-pin, the other is a 6-pin.


sorry, cannot remember which is which. Those 2 pigtails go to the Mirror (auto dim) and the Compass



there is a 3rd pigtail in there that supplies the dome light there as well...but it's kinda obvious where it belongs






check you PM's...I'm sending you a few links

[nascar88ford]

Thanks everyone for the info! It turns out that changing the mileage is going to be a huge deal (laws and stuff) so since the Ebay aution was for a cluster with mileage real close to my truck I was going to just stick it in. When I told the Ebayer it wasn't even close (49,000 ---> 58,000 on the cluster) , he's sending me another one that should be closer than the other one. Should take a couple of days. As soon as I get it, it will be going straight in to start counting miles. The odometer is for me personally because I plan on never getting rid of it. I also have to update me garage on here as well.

And Tylus, thanks for all your help with those links. They should be able to figure it out. I took the front of the headliner down, but didn't see any connectors, which kinda makes me sad. But I'm sure if can be done if I decide to go that route. And boy, I love that 'Stang....

Thanks everyone,
-Matt

[tylus]

glad I could help a bit

[nascar88ford]

I got my "new" instrument cluster installed today. The mileage was about 1400 off, which doesn't seem $310 worth to change. Everything works except the above things. I did notice that when key is pulled out of the ignition switch, the cab light does come on. And to my suprise, it faded out!!! I wonder if it will still do that after the visit to the dealership? It used to just cut off. Really cool! And these guages give the truck a whole new attitude. Pictures are coming soon...
-Matt

[tylus]

good, that means your "Battery Saver" circuit is working properly. The Dealership shouldn't touch that. It's a function that the Inst. Cluster controls though.

You have 10 minutes use of your battery and other interior power items...then it gets killed to save the battery. You only have to open/shut the door to reset that 10 minute timer though



for that mileage difference, is that higher/lower than your true mileage?