Will a 4cyl instrument cluster work on a 6cyl?

[newbie212]

Was wondering if a 4cyl instrument cluster from a 1997 camry will work on my 97 v6 camry... My car was broken into and the frikken thief thought it would be cool to smash the cluster with a screwdriver... I got a check from the insurance company and want to spend the least money as I can and try and buy some parts off of ebay or a junkyard.. Thanks

[95WhiteCamry]

if i remember correctly, the calibration on the two speedos was the same so you shouldn't have any probs. look at both clusters and make sure the sub-divisions for the numebrs are the same and look the same size and same location, etc.
in terms of wiring, they should be a direct replacement.

[atobe]

and your tach will be off by about 500rpm

[white3ch0c0late]

^Yup. The tach is calibrated for a v6, which is more free-revving than an i4. You'd have to get it recalibrated.

[zoni]

yup like they said, same wiring harness plugs and everything... but your tach wont be right.

[white90dx]

Originally Posted by atobe

and your tach will be off by about 500rpm

Originally Posted by white3ch0c0late

^Yup. The tach is calibrated for a v6, which is more free-revving than an i4. You'd have to get it recalibrated.

Both the right answer, but the wrong reason.

A 6 cylinder motor has 3 ignition pulsed per engine revolution, a 4-cylinder has 2 pulses. The tach is setup for the signals of the correct motor. A 4-cylinder tach will read 50% high in a V6, and a V6 tach will read 33% low in a 4-cylinder car.

There is a chance you can swap the innards (you can on a gen2) if they are ok to a new housing so that you can keep your odometer 'n stuff...

Good luck.

-Charlie

[newbie212]

So will my car run poorly? Or will just the tachs be off?

[Axel Kain]

just be off.