How To: Adding an OEM Tachometer Cluster on a 2005-up

[zxtunerdotcom]

How to change Speedo Clusters from Non-Tach style to Tach style on a 2005 in 10 Easy Steps:

Estimated time: 30 minutes max.

1. Purchase a Speedo/Tach. In 2005, the instrument clusters were changed in wiring and construction, making it mandatory that a 2005-2006 cluster be used (2000-2004 will not work). I purchased my cluster at car-part.com for $85 shipped.

2. Disconnect the negative cable on your car's battery.

3. Tools needed: 7mm combination wrench, 7mm and 8mm sockets w/ ratchet or nut driver.

4. With the 8mm socket, remove the two bolts on the lower dash trim, at about steering column level. The whole panel does not to be removed, so you can leave the lower hood cable, OBD2 plug, and attaching bolts alone.

5. Pry the lower trim panel back on the far left corner to gain access to the single bolt securing the dash trim, located right below the headlight switch.

6. Remove the bolt with a 7mm combination wrench.

7. Now it's time to remove the instrument trim panel - it just tugs loose. Once it's free from it's clips, disconnect the rubber flap that sits between the steering column and the trim panel. It's held on with rubber nipples that fit in slots on the trim panel - just pull them out one at a time.
Then, disconnect the electrical plug on the Trunk release button. The button pops out easily too. The trim panel should now be ready to lift off.

8. All that's left now is 1 plug and 4 bolts. Remove the 4 bolts attaching the cluster to the dash, and disconnect the plug. The plug latches like a basket handle - just pry up the black handle and the plug will seperate from the cluster. To plug it back on, push the handle back down and it will suck the plug onto the speedo cluster's socket.

9. I found that if your car does not have ABS or Traction Control, the cluster will illuminate the traction control, abs, and brake warning lamps whenever the key is on. To avoid staring at them lit up all the time, I remedied this by removing the upper lens and bezel from the actual speedo cluster and applying black tape over the offending led bulb lenses. When I put the bezel back on, it became impossible to tell they were permanently lit. The only down side I can see by doing this is the Brake warning lamp is now inoperable so if you're one of those who drives away with your emergency brake on or you don't check your brake fluid level periodically, this mod might not be for you.

10. It's time to install the cluster! Just put everything back on in the order it came off and you'll be done! Go enjoy!

Rob

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[zxtunerdotcom]

BTW, Pic of the completed job:

[Lil PZEV]

Nice write-up!

The tachless cluster always looks so sad, it's odd to me to only see the 3 "circles" in some people's dashes

[zxtunerdotcom]

thanks amanda - i agree, it does look very plain with the stock speedo - like you're being punished for not having paid enough for the car.

rob

[Lil PZEV]

True. Also, mine's an auto, so I use it, but I feel like manuals really Should have one. I know you can listen to/feel what the car's telling you... but it seems more logical to give them one!

[Algorhythm]

What about the mileage?

[lildisco]

Originally posted by Algorhythm
What about the mileage?

that was what i was going to ask......On the older models you could do a cluster swap no problem, but the actual mileage of each car was on the cluster itself and not stored on the car. Is this true for newer models?

[five-speed2.3]

umm, proably a dumb question, but will that work for an 04? my ZTS doesnt have a tach, and its killing me. i can drive without it, but tachs are just so much more fun.

instead of buying some extra thing that looks to kid racer, can i just do this same type of install? thanks.

[stpower]

I can't beleive your zts is tachless. I'm sure it will work you just need a cluster from your year

[blkZX32005]

wow I am going to do that to mine