I have a 98' F-150 XL. I am wanting to change my current gauge cluster out for a new one. The reason that I want to do this is because my current instrument cluster does NOT have a tach. Is it possible to just swap my currect cluster for one WITH a tach? Any help would be apprecaited. Thanks.

BigDa

 

That shouldn't be a problem-the '98 F150's didn't have PATS,so that eliminates the EEC/Cluster/Key issues. The in-dash wiring harness should be the same.
JL

 

Thanks JL. One more question. Should the plugs and the back of my cluster be the same as the new one that I want to install? Just curious to see if it will mount drectly up. Thanks again.

 

They should....best way to check would be to pull the cluster on your truck and take a pic of it,then compare it to the salvage yard cluster before you purchase it.
JL

 

Check the pats issue again. it was optional in '97 and '98. If yours has pats you will need a pats type cluster and usually if it has the tach it had the option package for pats . If yours does not have pats and the donor cluster does you should be ok, with one caveat: It is against federal law to swap the cluster due to odometer fraud laws. Be careful who knows about it if you swap.Close freinds can become close enemies and haunt you.

 

Bought a 97 F250 at federal auction for $1000.00 with 7500 miles a real plain jane. Swaped out main harness from a 98 F150, Now have a tech,cruse control, electric windows, door locks,Door handel number pad, full sterio with a 6 disc CD changer, On overhead I have a compas and temp gage out of a 99 F150 Bucket seats from a 01 F150. There is a company down south that will set the miliage you want on the new cluster but you must send them proof ie an inspection Cert. Isn't it great you can do anything with a FORD. Try that with a GM Product.

 

No it wasn't, Ford didn't have electronic clusters in F150 for '97 or '98, '99 was the first year for them and the PATS system. You can also swap clusters the new one just has to read the correct miles that the old one did, any dealer should be able to adjust them accordingly. IIRC the new one must be within something like 25 miles of the old, so if you get lucky enough to find one with the right miles you'd be that much further ahead.

 

Youi are correct, I have been working on too many navigators, which share the same platform. They had the pats as standard eqip from day one, but as a stand alone module until '99 when it was added to hec module functions.
I am not sure about the federal law concerning a 25 mile discrepancy , but fords policy is to ground vehicle while new/rebuilt cluster is enroute. I ordered one for a customers navigator a few years ago and while they were in rental unit, the salesman borrowed it with their permission, unbeknownst to us. Ford not only rejected the warranty claim because of the 10 extra miles but fined the dealer $5000.00 and a stern letter about odometer fraud laws. I caught hell about it until it was ascertained that the advisor filled out the radio/cluster form and he was certain about the mileage only being 3 miles above the writeup sheet.
Salesman ratted out by another employe, fired, I got a useless apology, but fine was still deducted by ford from our parts settlement statement.
The company you speak of down south is speedometer services in atlanta. They are the only authorized company for clusters and radios for ford warranty claims. You can google them and get a toll free number and they can advise as to allowable mileage discrepancy for non-warranty clusters.