DIY Dash Swap problem/question. Need help.

[iam4unc09]

Hey guys! Had some fun last night and did the dash replacement in my 2003. The dash was from a 2007. I ran in to a couple small issues (working on the write up for the entire dash replacement)

All issues have been solved expect one. The instrument cluster and instrument cluster bezel (cover) are slightly different in size and location of blinkers. The ‘facelift from 2005-2006.

I am 100% ok with buying 2007 replacement. And from my research the connectors on the instrument cluster looks to be the same.

Can anyone confirm that a 2006+ instrument cluster is plug and play with a 2003 wiring harness.

​

 

[V8Man]

I know the v6 and v8 have different redline on the the tach. And my fathers 07 limited is different in looks and different lights than my 03 and 04.

 

[truckhigh]

it shouldn't be the wires for the blinkers and odometer buttons are on the dash cluster panel. if you used the 07 dash harness plug it in and see if it works. the 06-09 has blinkers and the odometer buttons on the cluster with a stick button type. i would keep your original cluster and dash cluster panel unless you want to pay $50 to get the mileage corrected then just wire it from the cluster wiring to the cluster dash panel. if you have the 03-05 then you just need to wire it from the dash cluster panel to the newer cluster to work. I did a lot of research to get a limited cluster for my sport model.

If you want to hook me up with your 06-09 dash cluster panel let me know and ebay is the cheapest to reset mileage. hopefully you got same model cluster and rwd/4wd.

 

[S p a r k y]

There are differences, what exactly they are I don’t know. I do led cluster swaps for people. When I have tested 06-09 clusters in my 04 before sending back to customer the tach’s and sometimes other info does weird things. Usually the Speedo or tach go way past 0 when customer hooks back into their 06-09. The. I have to walk through process of pulling needle off etc. Yes the actual plug is plug and play, but many things I believe are in different locations in the plug. Blinker info for sure, several other indicators from 06-09 don’t work in my 04. Tried for curiosity.

 

[CookieRoe]

I'm going to say it's not 100% plug and play. As you found out, the blinkers are different and in 03-05s, the wires are separate. On 06+, I believe they are included in the wire bundles (1 of 2 I think). Anyway, find and isolate the corresponding wires and solder onto the correct wire.

Question: are you just replacing the clusters b/c the original one is bad? Or are you replacing just to have a NEW one? I ask b/c I have an newer (06+) cluster bezel and noticed small difference. I'm seeing my 05 cluster might not completely fit the 08 bezel. I got it b/c of the additional button slot on it (memory seats).

 

[iam4unc09]

I'm going to say it's not 100% plug and play. As you found out, the blinkers are different and in 03-05s, the wires are separate. On 06+, I believe they are included in the wire bundles (1 of 2 I think). Anyway, find and isolate the corresponding wires and solder onto the correct wire.

Question: are you just replacing the clusters b/c the original one is bad? Or are you replacing just to have a NEW one? I ask b/c I have an newer (06+) cluster bezel and noticed small difference. I'm seeing my 05 cluster might not completely fit the 08 bezel. I got it b/c of the additional button slot on it (memory seats).

That is what I am coming to realize. I will have to get into the wiring harness.

I am being forced into this kind of (not upset at all, want to do it the right way). This is a unforeseen effect of changing out my dash. Had a cracked old nasty 03 dash and I found a very clean 07 dash for $80 and jumped on it.

The 07 dash is all in now and looks great. But the 03 cluster does not fit in the 07 dash. So that leads me to believe the 05 will not fit in the 08. If you look closely at the pictures you can see the actual shape of the instrument cluster bezel changed.

 

[iam4unc09]

There are differences, what exactly they are I don’t know. I do led cluster swaps for people. When I have tested 06-09 clusters in my 04 before sending back to customer the tach’s and sometimes other info does weird things. Usually the Speedo or tach go way past 0 when customer hooks back into their 06-09. The. I have to walk through process of pulling needle off etc. Yes the actual plug is plug and play, but many things I believe are in different locations in the plug. Blinker info for sure, several other indicators from 06-09 don’t work in my 04. Tried for curiosity.

Thank you!! good stuff. Time to figure out what wires go to the blinkers and and the trip rest on the harness and start splicing and soldering.

 

[iam4unc09]

it shouldn't be the wires for the blinkers and odometer buttons are on the dash cluster panel. if you used the 07 dash harness plug it in and see if it works. the 06-09 has blinkers and the odometer buttons on the cluster with a stick button type. i would keep your original cluster and dash cluster panel unless you want to pay $50 to get the mileage corrected then just wire it from the cluster wiring to the cluster dash panel. if you have the 03-05 then you just need to wire it from the dash cluster panel to the newer cluster to work. I did a lot of research to get a limited cluster for my sport model.

If you want to hook me up with your 06-09 dash cluster panel let me know and ebay is the cheapest to reset mileage. hopefully you got same model cluster and rwd/4wd.

Nice! Sounds like you have been down a similar road. I am going to send you a PM and see if we can maybe get on the phone for a few min!

 

[iam4unc09]

I know the v6 and v8 have different redline on the the tach. And my fathers 07 limited is different in looks and different lights than my 03 and 04.

Thanks! something small to keep an eye out for I might not have noticed until it was too late!! Good Stuff!!

 

[iam4unc09]

Any one know a good source for the wiring diagrams for the instrument cluster connectors. Specific down to what pin does what. 2003 V8 Limited 4x4. And the 2006 + compatible dash.

 

[truckhigh]

Any one know a good source for the wiring diagrams for the instrument cluster connectors. Specific down to what pin does what. 2003 V8 Limited 4x4. And the 2006 + compatible dash.

theres a sticky above with the service manual. What gauge cluster and gauge cluster bezel do you plan on using? both model clusters fit in my 04 dash and maybe the 05 doesn't fit in the 06up dash and its probably a tab or something simple. it is probably something by the extra switch opening on the 06. i have both and they look the same the cluster lenses are interchangeable minus the hole for the odometer switch on the 06. I'll try to message you tomorrow but unless its a limited gauge cluster in a sr5/sport its not worth the work. just put your stock cluster and gauge cluster bezel in.

unless you have the tools and experience re-pinning a plug i don't recommend you experiment on a dash harness. you would also need to spare pins to re wire it.

 

[iam4unc09]

theres a sticky above with the service manual. What gauge cluster and gauge cluster bezel do you plan on using? both model clusters fit in my 04 dash and maybe the 05 doesn't fit in the 06up dash and its probably a tab or something simple. it is probably something by the extra switch opening on the 06. i have both and they look the same the cluster lenses are interchangeable minus the hole for the odometer switch on the 06. I'll try to message you tomorrow but unless its a limited gauge cluster in a sr5/sport its not worth the work. just put your stock cluster and gauge cluster bezel in.

unless you have the tools and experience re-pinning a plug i don't recommend you experiment on a dash harness. you would also need to spare pins to re wire it.

Here is what I Have now-
A 2003 Limited V8 4x4 with
-2003 Limited V8 4x4 Instrument Cluster
-2003 Limited V8 4x4 Instrument cluster Bezel
-A dash from a 2007 SR5 4x4 V6

The problem is although the Instrument cluster stayed the same size and shape. The Instrument Cluster Bezel did not. If you look at the top left part of it you can see the slight change. (Pictures are not of parts I have. they Are screen shots from online)

So with the install right now I have the entire 07 dash in. And I have the 03 instrument cluster mounted and working fine. And I was able to get the 03 instrument cluster bezel in, but not flush. The clips on the back are different as well and the shape being different.

Options I see myself having moving forward.
1- Find a 06+ instrument cluster and instrument cluster bezel to fit. That will involve figuring out the wiring harness and rewiring the pins to accommodate the blinkers and trip reset.

2. Find a way to alter the 07 dash slightly to fit the 03 instrument cluster and instrument cluster bezel.

3. Keep the 03 instrument cluster and just get a 06+ instrument cluster bezel (will involve moving trip reset buttons and finding a creative way that does not look cheap to do the blinkers.)

 

[S p a r k y]

And I was able to get the 03 instrument cluster bezel in, but not flush. The clips on the back are different as well and the shape being different.

What do you mean by not flush? Did the overall bezel fit and not flush on the plastic cluster cover?

 

[iam4unc09]

What do you mean by not flush? Did the overall bezel fit and not flush on the plastic cluster cover?

Maybe the picture will help.
The Bezels are different shape and will not go in flush.
This is the only picture I have currently while at work. I can take more this evening.

It looks even worse from the passenger side view.

 

[CookieRoe]

Maybe the picture will help.
The Bezels are different shape and will not go in flush.
This is the only picture I have currently while at work. I can take more this evening.

It looks even worse from the passenger side view.

Oh wow, that would bother me to no end. The dash is nice and clean so don't give up on it just yet. A dremel here and there on the mounting points could do you some good to get that dash in nice and flush.

 

[iam4unc09]

Oh wow, that would bother me to no end. The dash is nice and clean so don't give up on it just yet. A dremel here and there on the mounting points could do you some good to get that dash in nice and flush.

Absolutely! It will be getting fixed. And definitely don’t want to give up on the dash. Taking it slow and exploring all options. Want to have it look OEM when all is said and done. Don’t want to take a dremel to the dash unless I have too and know it can be hidden.

 

[iam4unc09]

More pictures

 

[truckhigh]

Here is what I Have now-
A 2003 Limited V8 4x4 with
-2003 Limited V8 4x4 Instrument Cluster
-2003 Limited V8 4x4 Instrument cluster Bezel
-A dash from a 2007 SR5 4x4 V6

Options I see myself having moving forward.
1- Find a 06+ instrument cluster and instrument cluster bezel to fit. That will involve figuring out the wiring harness and rewiring the pins to accommodate the blinkers and trip reset.

2. Find a way to alter the 07 dash slightly to fit the 03 instrument cluster and instrument cluster bezel.

3. Keep the 03 instrument cluster and just get a 06+ instrument cluster bezel (will involve moving trip reset buttons and finding a creative way that does not look cheap to do the blinkers.)

just trim the instrument cluster bezel to fit for now. look like the whole top needs to be trimmed down. measure from the kick panel up to the dash and trim slowly. if you ruin it you have to get a 06 up instrument cluster bezel anyways and have something to use for now. if that was my rig i would end up buying the trim and cluster but waiting till i can get it at junkyard pricing.

it looks like you have the time and you just need to decide how much you want to spend. Your option one is the most pricey, #2 is insane and #3 is cost effective

 

[iam4unc09]

just trim the instrument cluster bezel to fit for now. look like the whole top needs to be trimmed down. measure from the kick panel up to the dash and trim slowly. if you ruin it you have to get a 06 up instrument cluster bezel anyways and have something to use for now. if that was my rig i would end up buying the trim and cluster but waiting till i can get it at junkyard pricing.

it looks like you have the time and you just need to decide how much you want to spend. Your option one is the most pricey, #2 is insane and #3 is cost effective

Solid advice. I will work on trimming and moving the brackets on the one I have now for a temp fix until I can find a cheap 05+ bezel.

I like plan 3 and I am willing to wait for one to pop up in a junk yard. The trip buttons will be easy to move to the kick panel. I am still struggling with how to do the blinkers and not have it look like trash aftermarket crap.

That is the main difference with plan 1 and 3. Where do I put the blinkers with plan 3?

 

[iam4unc09]

PSA
On the hunt for a 2005+ instrument cluster bezel if anyone has one laying around