Instrument cluster was Smashed by thief... Quick question! - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

newbie212 · 03-08-2006, 01:39 PM

Parked my car on the street last night and a thief decided to not only stick a knife in my leather seats, but also shove a screw driver right through my instrument cluster.. My insurance company is willing to cut me a check bc I do have full coverage on the car but I am trying to do it the least cost effective way and buying used parts such as trim pieces, etc..

My question is.. If I purchase an instrument cluster from ebay, will my cars mileage be the same as when I had it or will it be whatever the used cluster had on it? There's probably a way to reprogram it at the dealer but my insurance company quoted me $1124 for a new cluster.. On ebay, I can get one for $40.. It would be nice to keep that extra grand but I want to do it the right way before I sign on the dotted line and dont screw myself... Any help would be appreciated.. Thanks

Drifta89 · 03-08-2006, 02:11 PM

If you get buy a used cluster, it will read the mileage of the used cluster.

I have no idea about the "right way" to go about changing it yourself and having your original mileage reported correctly because the last time I changed a cluster was in a 88 chevy cav that was already on its last leg I and didn't care about what the mileage read and just wanted to fix the problem with a replacement gauge.

***AmanO*** · 03-08-2006, 02:22 PM

AFAIK you can change the speedometer part in the clusters and it will keep the mileage. What part of the cluster got damaged?

Make sure you have the right cluster in mind also. I have an 99 XLE with security. I need one with teh security light in the tach. I have an extra one I can sell for 40$ including shipping if you need that specific one.

Do you have pics of the damage?

Bunthy · 03-08-2006, 02:25 PM

I think when people gegt a new cluster, there is writing on the cluster of the original mile on the car of when the new cluster is added. Also I think you have to report it on your pink slip at the registry....?

Hajoca · 03-08-2006, 03:16 PM

As far as I know, it is stored in the pcm unit that records the value.

02whiteLE · 03-08-2006, 03:24 PM

Not to be the bad guy here, just letting you know, though, in case your insurance company wants receipts, etc. If you tell them you're buying a part for $1000, knowing that you are going to buy one for $40, and pocket the difference, that would be insurance fraud. Over $500, and it's a felony. Just thought you'd like to know that, just in case.

***AmanO*** · 03-08-2006, 04:24 PM

Whats the PCM unit?

I am 100% sure it is in the cluster itself. It cant be on the flexible circuit board. Possible that black clip like part.

newbie212 · 03-08-2006, 05:11 PM

Thanks for the input guys... The insurance company is cutting me a check for the seats at msrp value which is around $600 a seat from the dealer... The thief obviously stuck a screwdriver or something into the cluster, put a hole right through the 40mph and it messed something up.. When i turn the car on, the digital readout pixels are bleeding and the screen looks black... I cant justify why a person would want to break the instrument cluster when he could of broken some windows or taken my laptop that was in the backseat.... The insurance company is cooperating (yes i have geico, and yes I did save a bunch of money by switching to geico)... Most likely, I will settle for the $1300 for the new leather seats and the instrument cluster surround... The dealer said that they can reprogram the new cluster with my current mileage but I don't remember where my mileage was at... They're supposed to call me back tomorrow and hopefully finalize something... Thanks for the help...

BTW my car is a v6 3.0.. Do I need to get a v6 instrument cluster or can it be from a 4cyl?

mspringer · 03-09-2006, 07:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 02whiteLE

Not to be the bad guy here, just letting you know, though, in case your insurance company wants receipts, etc. If you tell them you're buying a part for $1000, knowing that you are going to buy one for $40, and pocket the difference, that would be insurance fraud. Over $500, and it's a felony. Just thought you'd like to know that, just in case.

No, its not.

Insurance reimburses you for a loss. It "makes you whole". There is no requirement that you fix the car, just that you are able to replace the loss with like "kind and quality" (which usually means "used") at an industry standard rate, not necessarily actual cost.,

Using your logic, if my green 97 Camry were stolen, and I was paid for the loss, and replaced it with a brown 99 Corolla, which was $501 less money, it would be felony insurance fraud, and that is ridiculous.