Instrument cluster compatibility

I have the base model... hence the 110mph and no tach. I wanted to obtain a cluster with a tach but I noticed all the 98-00 clusters with tachs have the digital odometer. My question is what is compatible with the base model? Will a 2.7 mt cluster work? (See example pic)

 

Oh... and given my previous experience with Ford clusters I know some lights might not match up (My air bag light subbed as my check engine when I swapped from a 95 ranger to an 03 sport Trac cluster) that don't bother me... just care about the gauges working.

 

It depends if you have a cable driven cluster or not. I know Toyota kept the mechanical odometer after 1998, but switched to a digital VSS and just converted it back to mechanical to drive the odometer. That’s at least what I can figure out by seeing the base cluster.

The RPM’s will read differently on different engine displacements. Your Odoneter will also read whatever mileage came from the donor vehicle.

 

I just want to know what will work... May not be 100%accurate seeing the 2.4 didn't appear to come with a tach but a .3 liter displacement shouldn' vary too wildly.

This is why I was looking at getting the pictured tach seeing it came from a 2.7

 

I swapped a tach cluster into my 96 Tacoma. Get one from a truck with the same style engine (I4 or v6) and cable or electronic VSS. Should be plug and play.

Tach signal is not based on displacement, it's based of number of cyl. Using one from a 4cyl on a v6 will be off 20-30%.

Toyota 4cyl and v8 make the same tach signal btw

98-00 and 01-04 clusters are interchangeable also. Only thing being v6 vs I4

 

Great info... now does atx/mtx matter? I mean aside from the fact atx clusters have the lights obviously but will it effect functionality in an mtx?

 

That, I'm not sure of. Personally, I've not seen where it would. I've bought and used parts from different yrucks, never caring about transmission type. Personally, I've never seen a 1st gen tacomTthat I can think of that has gear indicator lights. One possible exception I can think of is the column shift transmissions. But they where kinda rare, and only in 5 lugs models? I'm completely guessing on that part. If your truck doesn't have gear indicator lights in the cluster, I wouldn't worry about it.

As far as the manual transmission, it's not going to care one bit about the cluster.

 

Also, there are ways to move the mileage over. The digital ODO are a little more involved and require you to desolder a chip (e-prom I think it's called) from the old cluster and resoldering it into the donor cluster.

The mechanical clusters are easier, but take some mechanical ability on the part of the person doing the work.

I swapped the mileage from my old 96 non tach cluster to the "new" tach cluster. If I'm not mistaken, I moved the mileage part over and reused the trip roller numbers and the actual housing fir the speedo.

Hopefully that makes sense. There are videos on YouTube on how to move the chip. I personally have not done it .

 

I'm not worried about the mileage difference... Hank's gonna die in my care. I just plan to write the mileage of the old cluster and start with the mileage of the new cluster and go from there. Same thing I did when I swapped clusters in the Ranger.

 

sorry for the big thread bump, but I've got kind of a side question...

When you say that the 98-00 clusters are compatible with the 01-04's, does that mean that physically they are identical? Will the cover glass from an 01-04 fit on a 98-00 cluster?

 

The only difference is the face. 98-00 are black faced and 01-04 have white face orange lighting. My 98 5 lugger currently sports a cluster out of an 02 2.7l. Peep the link in my signature for more info.

 

Thanks man...

I'm trying to figure out if I can use just the glass cover from an 01-04 (part# should be 83852-04140 for these models). It's just the clear plastic 'lens' with the black backing that has holes for the gauges & lights, so it doesn't actually include the gauges. So, I'd be using the glass cover for an 01-04 but with the instrument cluster 'body' from a 98. I just need to know if the gauge holes & the tabs that clip into the instrument cluster around the edges all line up

 

It'll definitely work. The glass same size 95.5-04

 

Isn't someone on this forum able to make a 1998 v6 Speedo/Tach work on a 1998 base Non-tach truck? I can provide the VINs of the donor and the target with the engine trans ratios. I remember someone saying they do it but I lost the thread and now I'm ready.

 

Does someone know if a 3rd gen 4Runner instrument cluster lens fit on a 1st gen Tacoma instrument cluster? I’d greatly appreciate it thanks