odometer... project in mind... - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

woshiagni · 04-29-2002, 04:26 AM

I have a project in mind, but I have a concern - if I swap out my instrument cluster, will my mileage reading still be correct?

IE, is the cumulative (not trip) odometer total stored somewhere else in the car or is it actually in the cluster?

Reason I'm asking is because I thought the reading was stored on a chip in the engine compartment or something, but I see people selling the cluster and noting the mileage.

woshiagni · 04-29-2002, 03:44 PM

Okay, I read this post over and I think that makes me sound like a crook. What I'm planning to do is swap in an ES300 flourescent gauge cluster...

RedHotSolara · 04-29-2002, 04:13 PM

I think the reading Is only stored in the actual cluster. My friend got into an accident and did a swap on his cluster from his 626 to a mx6 and that worked out fine for him. I dunno bout the es300 gauges, are the plugs the same? ex- connectors? cuz that would be a bit** cutting all those wires and connecting them.

G-luck.

woshiagni · 04-29-2002, 05:13 PM

I'm not sure if the plugs are the same, I need to get my hands on one first to look at it. If it's just a soldering job I'm not too worried about that, there can't be more than 100 wires, probably less than 50.

I'm relying on the fact that Toyota kept *so* many of the same parts from the Camry to keep costs down that I'm hoping they didn't resort to a completely different wiring diagram for the ES. The only thing I'm really concerned about (other than the cost and condition of a used unit) is whether or not the light will require a separate inverter module (like the backlighting used on LCD screens) and if the mileage will read correctly.

SpectraBlueCam · 04-29-2002, 05:49 PM

Sounds like a good idea, but I don't get the point. Swapping in another gauge cluster, with all the soldering and re-wiring is IMHO not worth the time for the benefit it produces (better illumination??). My family also has an ES300 so I know the Optitron gauges are nice. But then, not worth the trouble.

In any case though, you're right that it should be compatible if the electronics are hooked up right. In Asia, many Toyota models have had Optitron gauges for years.

woshiagni · 04-30-2002, 12:44 AM

I agree it sounds like a lot of work, but I want something unique, the Indiglo gauges seem to be unreliable for some and to be honest, I just like the Lexus cluster better. =)

I think Toyota only refers to the GS/Aristo gauges as Optitrons, the ones that look like Indiglos. I wasn't aware they used that name for the rest of the Lexus line as well -- but thanks for the info.

I also need to find out if the ES cluster will physically fit... if it turns out to be too expensive and not worth it then I'll probably end up sticking with my current red setup...

woshiagni · 04-30-2002, 04:04 AM

Hmmn... I just did some picture comparisons and it seems like the basic shape and angle of the cluster is different.

Need to think about this some more...

EDIT: Jeff, you were right about the Optitron name for the gauges... apologies.

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: woshiagni on 2002-04-30 06:23 ]</font>