[Omni Source]

Good Day All and Happy Memorial Day

I have a 2002 Neon with the standard (non-tach) instrument cluster. Can a instrument cluster with a tach be swapped in without a lot of tweaking?
I have come across a 2004 cluster from an SRT (140 mph vs the 120). The electrical connections look similar, but I am not am not sure if it will work properly.

Any/all replies are welcomed.
Thanks for your time

Omni

 

[dana44]

Whether or not you can use it, being an SRT cluster, get it if reasonably priced. From what I have found in the past couple cars I have done this type of swap, the harness has the wiring, just not being used in the non-tach vehicles so you should be good as long as the overall shape of the cluster is the same.

 

[AllanC]

I looked at a service manual for a 2003 Neon which should be virtually identical to your 2002 model. The PCI bus connector at the instrument panel provides a signal to the instrument cluster for odometer reading. A logic chip in the instrument panel calculates an odometer reading from the PCI bus signal. That means the current odometer reading is stored in the instrument cluster. So as previously mentioned the signal is present in your non-tach vehicle for generating and driving a tachometer display.

But that means when you swap to a cluster with a tachometer, you will get the odometer reading associated with the donor car. Obviously that reading will be more or less than your vehicle currently has traveled. And indirectly you are altering the odometer on your vehicle which is illegal.

I would imagine that you could take the cluster with the tach display to a dealership service facility and have the cluster swap done. I would guess a scan tool could read and transfer the odometer reading from one cluster to another. But that would entail some costly service fees.

 

[dana44]

I did forget about that, thanks for reminding me. I wonder if the tach element can be added from to the non-tach cluster to fix that issue. I should have thought about the mileage thing, a friend of mine got into the Lightning trucks and had a similar problem connected with the PATS security system and a dash cluster in a 2001. I think the final solution we came up with on that one was to disable the PATS system so the secutiry system itself wasn't shutting off the fuel pump and preventing it from running. Not sure how the Mopar system works, but you are right, there have been other times clusters were changed on the newer cars and mileage is one issue, but can't remember if there was any shut-off issues for security reasons.

 

[AllanC]

Not sure how the Mopar system works, but you are right, there have been other times clusters were changed on the newer cars and mileage is one issue, but can't remember if there was any shut-off issues for security reasons.

I reviewed information in the 2003 Neon service manual and it appears that there is no vehicle security tie-in between the instrument panel cluster and the PCM (powertrain control module). You can replace the instrument cluster and it will NOT affect vehicle security or starting. As mentioned the only issue is the different odometer reading that will be displayed.

If either the PCM or the SKIM (sentry key immobilizer module) is replaced, there is a detailed procedure for establishing the communication hand shaking that occurs between the PCM and the SKIM. The SKIM reads the transponder code embedded in the ignition key and compares that code to ones programmed into it. If there is a match then its logic communicates to the PCM to allow the engine to start. If either of these 2 latter modules are replaced some programming with a scan tool must take place between the modules to enable the vehicle to start and run.

Several years ago I helped a friend remove and replace an instrument cluster in a 2004 Chevy pickup truck. It seems GM was having lots of problems around that time with instrument panel needle gauge motors. He tried several fixes and after lots of repairs and failures he decided to purchase a rebuilt instrument panel from O'Relly auto. Upon ordering the instrument cluster, he had to give O'Reilly personnel the odometer reading on his current panel cluster. He did and after about 1 week the replacement cluster arrived. We installed it and it had been programmed with the odometer reading given at ordering time. There was no security issues with starting or running the engine with the replacement cluster. So if GM does not have security issues it probably is a safe assumption that Chrysler would not have a different engineering setup with its instrument cluster odometers. GM and Chrysler could very well use the same suppliers for this item.