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Hey now!! Has anyone switched the instrument cluster from a 2005 f150 XL to a cluster from an '05 150 XLT ? It would be nice to have the factory cluster w/ tach. and so on. Just wanted to know if it could be done and if anyone has done this. Thanks.
Be careful and call the dealer first. The later model clusters communicate on a network to the engine computer and all the modules in the elec system. It has a number in or something like that, and it's recognized as part of network. If you put one in from another truck, it may not be recognized by the network unless you take it to a dealer and they put their scanner gizmo on it and program the system to accept the new cluster.
In other words, I think it might work, but it may involve the dealer.
I would have thought that would have had a special harness that just plugs into the main harness and ....works like the older trucks ?
On the newer trucks, they started eliminating some of the wiring. The instrument cluster is a main info center for the whole truck. It has all kinds of lights and indicators for the engine, door ajar, etc.
One example is the engine temp indicator. In the old days you had two sensors on the engine, one for the gauge and one for the fuel injection computer. Now the instrument cluster has a brain that communicates with the engine computer, and gets it's engine temp info from there, eliminating the extra sensor and wiring.
Another example that I don't fully understand yet is the door switches. There is a box with a fancy acronym that I can't remember(RKE?), that all the door ajar switches go to. This box takes the raw switch info, and communicates on the network to the instrument cluster to say which door is open. Of course this also runs the domelight function among other things. But all these modules talk to each other, eliminating some of the wires in the harness.