Question For RayO

[Max]

Ray,

My daughters 94 GS300's instrument panel's needles (I know a common
problem), is dying out. I got a complete gauge replacement off of
ebay that's supposed to be completely operational.

Question: Can I do a complete gauge cluster swap out and not have to
worry about any odometer adjustments? I'm thinking that the odometer
display on the gauges are only reflecting what the onboard computer
is putting out anyway so a complete swapout would not affect the
reading?

It's a LOT easier than pulling needles and swapping just them out.

tks.
max

[Ray O]

Post by Max
Ray,
My daughters 94 GS300's instrument panel's needles (I know a common
problem), is dying out. I got a complete gauge replacement off of
ebay that's supposed to be completely operational.
Question: Can I do a complete gauge cluster swap out and not have to
worry about any odometer adjustments? I'm thinking that the odometer
display on the gauges are only reflecting what the onboard computer
is putting out anyway so a complete swapout would not affect the
reading?
It's a LOT easier than pulling needles and swapping just them out.
tks.
max

My experience with instrument cluster swapping pre-dates digital display
odometers by Toyota and Lexus, but I am pretty sure that the display on
digital odometers comes from a module in the odometer itself and not from
the engine's electronic control module (ECM). If the odometer is the
rolling dial type, that is definitely in the odometer and not in the ECM.
You may be able to detach the old odometer and use it in the replacement
cluster.

You can physically swap the instrument clusters but the odometer will
display whatever mileage is in the replacement cluster. I believe dealers
have a way to order odometers from the factory with the correct mileage
displayed. Check with the laws in your state. Some states allow a sticker
to be placed on the cluster that shows the correction, for example, "display
+ 40,000 miles." When you sell the vehicle, you may also be able to note
that the true mileage is unknown ("TMU") but that notation is likely to make
the car almost worthless in the minds of most buyers.

[Max]

On Fri, 9 Feb 2007 17:25:17 -0600, "Ray O"

Post by Ray O
My experience with instrument cluster swapping pre-dates digital display
odometers by Toyota and Lexus, but I am pretty sure that the display on
digital odometers comes from a module in the odometer itself and not from
the engine's electronic control module (ECM). If the odometer is the
rolling dial type, that is definitely in the odometer and not in the ECM.
You may be able to detach the old odometer and use it in the replacement
cluster.
You can physically swap the instrument clusters but the odometer will
display whatever mileage is in the replacement cluster. I believe dealers
have a way to order odometers from the factory with the correct mileage
displayed. Check with the laws in your state. Some states allow a sticker
to be placed on the cluster that shows the correction, for example, "display
+ 40,000 miles." When you sell the vehicle, you may also be able to note
that the true mileage is unknown ("TMU") but that notation is likely to make
the car almost worthless in the minds of most buyers.

thanks Ray. I think what I'll do is pull the cluster out and plug the
new cluster in and see if the odo reads the same. If not, I'll put
the old one back in and just (carefully) swap out the needles. The
last time I pulled the cluster (to change one of about a thousand
instrument bulbs), it *looked* like the odo cable was just a plug in
behind the odo gauge however IIRC, the LED unit looked too small to
have anything beside the LCD panel there. But, it was a while ago so
I'm pretty fuzzy on the details.

What I might do is go over to clublexus.com and see if folks in the
1st gen GS group might know.

thanks!
max

[Ray O]

Post by Max
On Fri, 9 Feb 2007 17:25:17 -0600, "Ray O"

Post by Ray O
My experience with instrument cluster swapping pre-dates digital display
odometers by Toyota and Lexus, but I am pretty sure that the display on
digital odometers comes from a module in the odometer itself and not from
the engine's electronic control module (ECM). If the odometer is the
rolling dial type, that is definitely in the odometer and not in the ECM.
You may be able to detach the old odometer and use it in the replacement
cluster.
You can physically swap the instrument clusters but the odometer will
display whatever mileage is in the replacement cluster. I believe dealers
have a way to order odometers from the factory with the correct mileage
displayed. Check with the laws in your state. Some states allow a sticker
to be placed on the cluster that shows the correction, for example, "display
+ 40,000 miles." When you sell the vehicle, you may also be able to note
that the true mileage is unknown ("TMU") but that notation is likely to make
the car almost worthless in the minds of most buyers.

thanks Ray. I think what I'll do is pull the cluster out and plug the
new cluster in and see if the odo reads the same. If not, I'll put
the old one back in and just (carefully) swap out the needles. The
last time I pulled the cluster (to change one of about a thousand
instrument bulbs), it *looked* like the odo cable was just a plug in
behind the odo gauge however IIRC, the LED unit looked too small to
have anything beside the LCD panel there. But, it was a while ago so
I'm pretty fuzzy on the details.
What I might do is go over to clublexus.com and see if folks in the
1st gen GS group might know.
thanks!
max

You're welcome! By the way, I'm pretty sure that the speedometer and
odometer are electronic, which means that there is no rotating cable
attached to the back, just wires.

[Max]

On Fri, 9 Feb 2007 21:04:06 -0600, "Ray O"

Post by Ray O

Post by Max
thanks Ray. I think what I'll do is pull the cluster out and plug the
new cluster in and see if the odo reads the same. If not, I'll put
the old one back in and just (carefully) swap out the needles. The
last time I pulled the cluster (to change one of about a thousand
instrument bulbs), it *looked* like the odo cable was just a plug in
behind the odo gauge however IIRC, the LED unit looked too small to
have anything beside the LCD panel there. But, it was a while ago so
I'm pretty fuzzy on the details.
What I might do is go over to clublexus.com and see if folks in the
1st gen GS group might know.
thanks!
max

You're welcome! By the way, I'm pretty sure that the speedometer and
odometer are electronic, which means that there is no rotating cable
attached to the back, just wires.

you are correct. There's only electrical wires (IIRC, about three
separate harnesses going into the cluster).

Also, I asked over at Clublexus and ironically, everyone else has the
same question. In fact one person has the same problem and was
hoping for an answer.

Guess I'll have to be the guinea pig LOL. :-)

I'll post what I find out once the part arrives (hopefully today).

cheers,
max

[Ray O]

Post by Max
On Fri, 9 Feb 2007 21:04:06 -0600, "Ray O"

Post by Ray O

Post by Max
thanks Ray. I think what I'll do is pull the cluster out and plug the
new cluster in and see if the odo reads the same. If not, I'll put
the old one back in and just (carefully) swap out the needles. The
last time I pulled the cluster (to change one of about a thousand
instrument bulbs), it *looked* like the odo cable was just a plug in
behind the odo gauge however IIRC, the LED unit looked too small to
have anything beside the LCD panel there. But, it was a while ago so
I'm pretty fuzzy on the details.
What I might do is go over to clublexus.com and see if folks in the
1st gen GS group might know.
thanks!
max

You're welcome! By the way, I'm pretty sure that the speedometer and
odometer are electronic, which means that there is no rotating cable
attached to the back, just wires.

you are correct. There's only electrical wires (IIRC, about three
separate harnesses going into the cluster).
Also, I asked over at Clublexus and ironically, everyone else has the
same question. In fact one person has the same problem and was
hoping for an answer.
Guess I'll have to be the guinea pig LOL. :-)
I'll post what I find out once the part arrives (hopefully today).
cheers,
max

If we're placing bets, I'd bet that the odometer is in a housing by itself
on the instrument gauge.

[Max]

On Sat, 10 Feb 2007 09:51:24 -0600, "Ray O"
<rokigawaATtristarassociatesDOTcom> graced this newsgroup with:


<snip>

Post by Ray O

Post by Max
Guess I'll have to be the guinea pig LOL. :-)
I'll post what I find out once the part arrives (hopefully today).
cheers,
max

If we're placing bets, I'd bet that the odometer is in a housing by itself
on the instrument gauge.

If it is, and it's removable, I'll just swap that to the new cluster
(hopefully).