Tachometer Swap Possible?

[Tatohead]

Sorry, last noob question of the day.

My 90 base-model Camry does not have a tach. Is it possible to swap the instrument cluster from a LE or other tach-equiped Camry?

Thanks!

[Tatohead]

Sorry, forgot rule #1: THE SEARCH IS YOUR FRIEND.



Looks like the clusters are plug-n-play. YESS! will pick up one at the local JY this weekend.

Holy cow I love this car.

[Darwin686]

thry are plug and play i'm working on that right now. i got a cluster off of ebay and am wanting to rock it out with white face gauges and change up on the bulbs to xeon white bulbs.


here lies the problem i can't seem to find any white face gauges for this cluster anybody know where to get them?

thanks

[84Cressida]

Originally Posted by Darwin686

thry are plug and play i'm working on that right now. i got a cluster off of ebay and am wanting to rock it out with white face gauges and change up on the bulbs to xeon white bulbs.


here lies the problem i can't seem to find any white face gauges for this cluster anybody know where to get them?

thanks

I saw a kit for them on eBay a few weeks ago.

[Darwin686]

Originally Posted by 84Cressida

I saw a kit for them on eBay a few weeks ago.

I've been crawling around eBay for a few days trying to find it. I've found a ton of white face kits for my standard I can't seem to fine the white face stickers for the the new cluster

[Tatohead]

Swap is complete and everything checks out. I just picked one up at the local JY for $30.

I did learn one thing, however, my base model Camry (not DX or LE) doesn't have tilt steering. Made removing the bezel a challenge.

[Darwin686]

Originally Posted by Tatohead

Swap is complete and everything checks out. I just picked one up at the local JY for $30.

I did learn one thing, however, my base model Camry (not DX or LE) doesn't have tilt steering. Made removing the bezel a challenge.

Glad to heard that this went well for you. A couple of quick questions. Did you roll the mileage up or just swap out the odometer? I've got the base model as well and was thinking about the steering column problem. did you have to remove the trim around the column to get it out? I've thought about removing the dash cap, really don't want to but if i must i must. I plan on doing this Saturday Do you have an recommendation or un-expected surprises? Another thing the Green part on the back of the cluster do you know what it is for? I've never done an instrument panel swap so just trying to get prepared.




You wouldn't be willing to put a step by step guide up?

[Tatohead]

By far the EASIEST cluster removal/install I've ever seen. Getting the bezel out was the hardest part. I had to flex it severely (read: nearly broke it) to get it out. You have to play with it turn/twist/rotate the bezel until you find a way to sneak it out. The bezel has 2 electrical connections that have to be popped out. Please note that I had to use a short screwdriver to get the pesky center bezel screw.

I didn't remove the steering column cover. It would have given me a little breathing room if I had.

The cluster is held in by four screws. Once the screws are out, the cluster just pulls forward and out. There's no clip on the speedo cable; it just pops out! (this is HUGE!). Once the cluster is out, you can move it a few inches, just enough to reach back and remove the 3 large electrical connections. Just depress the tabs and presto, they pop out. They are all different sizes, so you wont have to worry about crossing them when you install.

I didn't bother with any other work. My car had 260k. The donor cluster had 240k. It is not important to me to keep the mileage straight. Maybe I can print a little sticker that says "+20k" and placard it only the cluster face.

Good luck!

[Darwin686]

Originally Posted by Tatohead

By far the EASIEST cluster removal/install I've ever seen. Getting the bezel out was the hardest part. I had to flex it severely (read: nearly broke it) to get it out. You have to play with it turn/twist/rotate the bezel until you find a way to sneak it out. The bezel has 2 electrical connections that have to be popped out. Please note that I had to use a short screwdriver to get the pesky center bezel screw.

I didn't remove the steering column cover. It would have given me a little breathing room if I had.

The cluster is held in by four screws. Once the screws are out, the cluster just pulls forward and out. There's no clip on the speedo cable; it just pops out! (this is HUGE!). Once the cluster is out, you can move it a few inches, just enough to reach back and remove the 3 large electrical connections. Just depress the tabs and presto, they pop out. They are all different sizes, so you wont have to worry about crossing them when you install.

I didn't bother with any other work. My car had 260k. The donor cluster had 240k. It is not important to me to keep the mileage straight. Maybe I can print a little sticker that says "+20k" and placard it only the cluster face.

Good luck!

Dude thank you soo much! as soon as the last of my bulbs come in i plan on the swap i've given up on the white face covers and just want to get it installed. I'm going to play with the odometer tonight on mine and see if I can roll it forward mine came it 157K and my car has over 260 so that a bit of a difference. Thanks soo much for the info i greatly appreciate it and will post pics when I'm done

[atobe]

you can swap over your old ODO from your old cluster

[white90dx]

You can also remove the steering wheel to make removing the cluster easier (on base model cars, at least). Make sure you line it up correctly on re-install.

If you get a cluster from a similar year, the odometer/speedometer section will directly swap. (I believe there are two versions...)

The green part on the back of the cluster is a flexible printed circuit board for all the wiring connections. The screws on the back actually conduct electricty to the various internal parts of the cluster as well as hold it together. Just swap the whole assembly (or swap the speedo/odo unit and then the assembly) and don't worry too much about it.

-Charlie

[Darwin686]

Originally Posted by white90dx

You can also remove the steering wheel to make removing the cluster easier (on base model cars, at least). Make sure you line it up correctly on re-install.

If you get a cluster from a similar year, the odometer/speedometer section will directly swap. (I believe there are two versions...)

The green part on the back of the cluster is a flexible printed circuit board for all the wiring connections. The screws on the back actually conduct electricty to the various internal parts of the cluster as well as hold it together. Just swap the whole assembly (or swap the speedo/odo unit and then the assembly) and don't worry too much about it.

-Charlie

Thanks for the post guys i do appreciate it i wasn't referring to the circuit board but green piece on the speedometer i now know what it is but thanks for the post anyhow. I took the speedometer out of my new cluster and figured a way to roll it forward but if my calculations are correct it will take a few days with a power drill going constantly to roll it forward. Not really feeling that so i'm going to just swap them i hope my bulbs come in tomorrow!!!!

[Darwin686]

Originally Posted by atobe

you can swap over your old ODO from your old cluster

Today I did the instrument cluster swap. Everything went really well. for me with this. I didn't get to take any pics due to the rain. I wasn't taking my camera out in that. However there is one thing that is going to be a bit of a problem.

My odometer doesn't fit in the new cluster. So does anyone know if it is possible to hook up a power drill to the current one and run it forward? My old one doesn't line up with it properly so I need to figure out a way to get the mileage up to current on the new on.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!!!!


Thanks

[hairball]

I've had my cluster out when I was trying to install an aftermarket tach and hook it to a wire on the back (suggested in another forum). You're right, it sure helps to have tilt steering!!! Even then, it's not fun. But I had NO idea the cluster from other Camrys was a direct "pluy & play" as you put it. That's very awesome to know!

Since I didn't realize it was as easy as replacing the cluster, I ended up installing a small tach. But rather than hook it to any wires behind the cluster, I just located the correct tach wire under the hood and it worked out better.

Thanks for the info! Oh, any idea exactly what years will work on a 1990? I'm heading to the wrecking yard today! A factory tach would sure beat this...

[hairball]

I took what I learned in this thread and ran to the wrecking yard, and ironically the ONLY Camry with an instrument cluster was an 89 WITH tach!!! It only cost me $13 too. So here is today's project (thanks to learning here that it was a "plug & play" swap (which it was!)...











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