Cluster wiring compatibility?
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Junior User
Joined: Mar 2005
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From: Northern CA
Cluster wiring compatibility?
I want to replace my cluster with one with a tach. I'll swap the speedo from my existing cluster into the one of the tach so my mileage gets carried over. From what I've read, there have been changes to the cluster wiring over the years. Does anyone know of a reference of what years clusters are wiring-compatible (ie. plug-n-play) ? I have a 1994 F350 5.8L V8.
TIA...
TIA...
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Junior User
Joined: Mar 2005
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From: Northern CA
Tricky topic to search on, but I did find this thread with a recommendation from frederic, whose opinion carries some weight 
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/s...d.php?t=360998
I have my eye on a '95 one, so it seems that it should work in my '94 truck...
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/s...d.php?t=360998
I have my eye on a '95 one, so it seems that it should work in my '94 truck...
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From: Nebraska
Post Fiend
Joined: Oct 2003
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From: New Jersey
Originally Posted by brown 4x4
1992-93 are the same, as are 94-96.
92-94 trucks seem to work with the 95/96 clusters, but not the other way around. Not guarrenteed.
Diesel clusters work in some non-diesel trucks, but not in others. Before I went digital, I had a 95 diesel tach cluster in my 5.8L gas F350 crewcab, and it worked absolutely fine.
There could be many reasons why that combination worked in my truck, but not other trucks as some people had problems iwth the tach working.
Even though my truck didn't have a factory tach - it might have been wired for one for "who knows" what reason. Maybe ford had spare tach dash harnesses lying around?
I bought my truck used, maybe the original owner swapped out a dead tach cluster for a non-tach cluster so the cluster worked when selling it.
Maybe I'm just lucky ;-)
It's one of those "who the hell knows..." type of things.
But the year ranges I gave above are correct, and tested.
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Posting Guru
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From: Nebraska
I've never personally tried interchanging any. 1994 added the airbag and theft lights, and moved the battery indicator. I think the F-250 and F-350 had the same clusters even though they didn't have an airbag.
All trucks are pre-wired for a tach, even back into the 80's.
All trucks are pre-wired for a tach, even back into the 80's.
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From: Winnipeg, Manitoba
I want a tach for my 94 and havn't had any luck in Canada but there are lots from the states in MPH. What about a cluster that reads in MPH and swapping just the spedometer out for one that registers Km's.
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Junior User
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From: Northern CA
Originally Posted by chris_567
I want a tach for my 94 and havn't had any luck in Canada but there are lots from the states in MPH. What about a cluster that reads in MPH and swapping just the spedometer out for one that registers Km's.
Post Fiend
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From: New Jersey
Originally Posted by chris_567
I want a tach for my 94 and havn't had any luck in Canada but there are lots from the states in MPH. What about a cluster that reads in MPH and swapping just the spedometer out for one that registers Km's.
The USA and Canada clusters are absolutely identical electronically. The difference is the face plates and the Odometer displays the mileage in KM instead of Miles.
So, feel free to mix and match parts.
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From: Akron, OH
95 Cluster has ABS issues in 96 truck
I got a 1995 cluster to go into my 1996 F-150 I6. Everything works except for the ABS light stays on all the time with the 95 cluster. Actually it turns on when I first start the truck then turns off for about 1 second, then comes on perminantly. I put my old 96 cluster back in and the problem went away. So its definatly the 95 cluster that has issues. I guess the year makes a bigger difference than I've been led to believe. Has anyone else had similar results? and does anyone know a fix for this? Or am I stuck looking for a 96 cluster?
Lastly, I noticed on the 95 cluster (with tach) that on the laminated circuit board it says "8 CYL" behind the tach. Although the tach appeared to say a reasonable RPM range once I started the engine (about 800 RPM for warm idle) is there actually a 6-CYL version of this cluster that I should be looking for? Thanks
Lastly, I noticed on the 95 cluster (with tach) that on the laminated circuit board it says "8 CYL" behind the tach. Although the tach appeared to say a reasonable RPM range once I started the engine (about 800 RPM for warm idle) is there actually a 6-CYL version of this cluster that I should be looking for? Thanks
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From: Northern CA
Originally Posted by KW160
Lastly, I noticed on the 95 cluster (with tach) that on the laminated circuit board it says "8 CYL" behind the tach. Although the tach appeared to say a reasonable RPM range once I started the engine (about 800 RPM for warm idle) is there actually a 6-CYL version of this cluster that I should be looking for? Thanks
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2005
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From: Akron, OH
Originally Posted by KW160
I got a 1995 cluster to go into my 1996 F-150 I6. Everything works except for the ABS light stays on all the time with the 95 cluster. Actually it turns on when I first start the truck then turns off for about 1 second, then comes on perminantly. I put my old 96 cluster back in and the problem went away. So its definatly the 95 cluster that has issues. I guess the year makes a bigger difference than I've been led to believe. Has anyone else had similar results? and does anyone know a fix for this? Or am I stuck looking for a 96 cluster?