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05 impala cluster

3K views 25 replies 7 participants last post by  Revo2Maxx2016 
#1 ·





Saw this online on ebay. is it worth the money? Is it plug n play on my 05 ? These questions have probably already been asked n answered just need to be sure before I decide to purchase it. Thanks guys

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#4 ·
Here's the deal:

This is plug and play... BUT, if you have the 3.4, the oil pressure gauge will NOT work. Therefore, you will only be gaining the volt gauge.

Additionally, you need to find out how many miles are on the cluster. The mileage is stored in the cluster, NOT on the car. So if you have 100,000 miles, and the cluster has 150,000 miles, you'll have an extra 50k on your odometer reading at all times.

These clusters can be had at the junkyard for $30. The Monte Carlo SS (non-supercharged 3.8 engine) has the same exact clusters, and they will swap right over, plug and play as well. The NA 3.8 MC SS is much more prevalent, so plenty of clusters to be had. The thing about junkyard clusters is, you won't be able to check the mileage (unless you make a device like I have).

By the way, I have a Dale Earndhart cluster in like-new condition with ~137k miles that I will sell to you for much cheaper than the auction listed above, if you are interested. More info and pictures here:

http://www.impalaforums.com/private-for-sale-classifieds/569698-fs-ft-6-gauge-clusters-w-volt.html
 
#6 ·
@Revo2Maxx2016

It's pretty straight forward. But you need to grab the car-side harness for the cluster from the junkyard first, as well as some 9 volt snaps and an 8 AA battery pack.

10pcs 9v Volt Clip on Type Battery Snap Connector Lead Wire Plastic Head by Atomic Market - - Amazon.com
Amazon.com: Battery Holder for (8) AA with Standard Snap Connector : BH383 (1): Electronics

I'll grab some pictures for you when I get in to work, and I'll give you the pins you need in order to test for mileage and to test for back-lighting.

By the way, I made the same type of cluster tester for the 8th gens, but it's a little bit more complicated for those cars (although still pretty straight forward)
 
#9 ·
You can't use my cluster and have accurate miles unfortunately, since you have more than the cluster does. Luckily the higher mileage ones can be found more readily in the junkyard (as higher mileage cars are more likely to be junked). Look for a Monte Carlo SS (make sure it has the volt gauge and not the boost gauge!).

There's a way to get the oil pressure gauge to work, I'm not sure of all the parts, but you need some 3800 parts in order to get it to work. More complicated than it's worth for most people. You can also print out a little plate to stick in there to cover up the gauge (have it say Impala or something) or just leave it as a dead gauge.
 
#10 ·
Here is my cluster testing device:





I forget which wires control the backlight, and which control power to the stepper motors and odometer. But pins A1 and A4 are power and ground respectively for one, and B1 and A2 are power and ground for the other. I depinned the rest of the harness to make it easier.
 
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#13 ·
Cost ya at least $100 to program the mileage
 
#16 ·
Good luck selling a base model cluster for $120.

Do like I did, find a cluster with ~5k more miles than yours at the scrap yard, pay $30, and wait til the miles match exactly, then swap over. Then you still have your old one if you ever need it for any reason.
 
#17 ·
Or get one with half the miles you have so you can sell it for more if you choose to do so. Just kidding, I'm not sure that is legal. On a side note, based on what I'm reading here I am convinced that my 99 lumina I had before had a cluster from a newer car. When I bought the car it was on its 2nd engine and 3rd trans but it only had 80,000 miles on it. Constantly over heated, no ac, but I bought it for $1000 and traded it in for $800 and 115,000 miles running on only 4 cylinders. I'm pretty sure when the cluster stopped working the previous owner just put in whatever which in turn showed far fewer miles than what it actually had. Sucks to buy a car blind like that, but it helped at the dealer cause it had less miles than it should have, IMO. I would do what ryd says and get one with a bit more than yours and wait til they line up to swap them out.
 
#18 ·
Since I'm here I might as well ask since I'm making it look more of an ls version. I know y didn't I just buy an ls well were I'm from they are hard to come by n most are out of shape lots of miles etc etc. Anyways on to my question.

Is it possible to swap out leather seats from an ls version on to my base model????

Tomorrow I'm heading out to local junk yard to checkout some clusters they asking 40 for them. I already have the rear spoiler I'm having my auto body friend slap it on wen he takes it for paint can't wait for that really hate looking at my car primered lol

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#19 ·
About using a LS seat I am not going to say that you can't use them as I haven't ever tried to use a LS in a base...

Here are some things to think about when you are looking for seats for your Impala..

1. 2000-2005 LS Seats includes the Leather came standard with Side Airbag. (Was an Option on base)
2. LS is a 5 Passenger Seating where Most Base is 6 Seating.
3. LS has power Seats where base was Power Opt.
4. LS has Heated Seats

I would say that if the mounting for the Leather Seats are in your car and they will mount up safely then go for it. However if your base didn't have the Side Airbag Then without other wiring and maybe computer programming. Also if you don't have power and the Option for such isn't in your model that would need to be factored in as well. Same for the heating of the seats...

I would be interested in finding out of this works out for you if you go with the upgrade. I have a strange idea that I need to collect Impalas and have started looking over my local ads for a base that I could do some upgrades to .. Some that I would just keep base (one for one of my sons) He Keeps thinking he will get the 2000 LS as his first car. Keep trying to tell him my collection is off limits lol...

Hope this helps some. I am not an Expert and I don't or haven't done any MODS to any of my Impalas so I don't know about what can or can't as of yet.. Don't really call changing headlights as a MOD however I did put them back to Stock now as the SpecD Halos did the job for the time I used them..

James
 
#20 ·
You can swap the seats right over. But you'll have a hole where the shifter goes in the center console. Airbags I'm not sure will work. The wiring for the heated seats should already be there, so they should work plug and play. Just be aware that not ALL LS models had heated seats. Mine does not
 
#22 ·
I think there's power harnesses for both seats, even if only the one is power. Either way, you can still find an LS interior with a manual passengers seat (what mine has)
 
#24 ·
Yeah, you can add the console
 
#25 ·
I have MANY LS clusters,with varied mileage...PM me if interested. I am not looking to get rich. You can forget all about those Ebay prices. Not sure why people worry about the odometer anyway...if you sell the car,actual mileage can be easily checked and verified.
 
#26 ·
Well I will say about the Miles it does matter to me. I went out to look at a 06 SS that the person was trying to sale for 2500. They said it only had 127k miles on it. Listed 4 pictures and the car looked nice... When my son and I get there to look over the car. I am thinking there is no way it has 127k miles. While it looked clean, and looking over the car my Son looks over the VIN does a check up on the web and tells me to find another one lol. Then shows me that the car was Reported in 2015 of having 209k miles. I then ask the owner if she had done anything new to the car other then normal oil changes or what not. She said her and her X have owned the car since 2010 and last year they had the car in the Dealer to fix a couple of items and to replace the Transmission with a used one. Asked her about the date that the website shows it having 209k miles she was yes how did I know? I showed her the history of the car and that when they took it in it had over 209k miles. She tried to play it off that her now X must have changed it out and she didn't know.

Funny thing is I don't know how someone couldn't know when it was in her name, and the car showed in 2010 had 135k on the Vin history info.. So it had more miles when she bought it then it shows now trying to sale it for.

Don't get me wrong. It was a nice looking car, did have a new Chevy Tip Exhaust and new wheels but I wasn't sure how the rest of the car was with them miles... No SS or LTZ in any of the yards around me either so to try and get a replacement for the SS in my area anyway would be a little tough...

Knowing these don't store in the BCM I know to keep an eye on that. IS the first thing my son looks for when we are looking over cars.
 
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