Dash cluster swap.

[Hemet8]

I have the '95 GA SE. It has the standard cluster in the dash. The dealer was thinking it takes a GT computer to make a GT instument cluster work, that it is not "drop in" in my car. Any thoughts?? My dash just has big speedo, idiot lights and coolant, fuel. Gt dash has tach, oil pressure, volts, coolant, etc. Thanks for any help.

[bszopi]

RE: Dash cluster swap.

I know you can swap the dashes in a 94 Beretta to the full gauge cluster. I could see it being an issue with an OBD2 setup, but not with an OBD1 or 1.5 .

[Azrael]

The SE's had the optional cluster available to them (I was fortunate to have it) so it wasn't computer dependant. The oil pressure sender in the engine was different depending on what gauge cluster was present. The volt gauge is connected to any switched 12v source and ground (if it doesn't do this within the cluster itself already). The Tach needed the white wire from the ignition module in the engine bay (pin c, excessively easy to see and reach). This wire was specifically there for the tach so it may not be present in your car but a space for it on the connector should be visible. I beleive the coolant temp gauge got it's signal from a secondary temp sensor in the rear head. The PCM used another coolant sensor for it's own needs.

The coolant temp and oil pressure senders are somewhat described in the 3400.com swap guide which might help you. Someone attempted this on grandamownserclub.com but ran into a difficulty that I can't recall specifically. One or more of the gauges didn't read properly. I'll see if I can dig it up.

[Azrael]

After searching through gaoc.com it seems it's almost a direct swap so long as you use the gauges from another grand am with the V6 and take the oil pressure sending unit as well (it's longer).

The only reported problems were that the tach didn't give the right reading and the oil gauge would read extreme high or extreme low (no in-between, or basically on/off). The tach problem was from the quad 4 GAs sending the tach signal from the PCM while the V6's sent the signal from the ignition control module in the engine bay. I'm not sure why it makes a difference but it does. The oil pressure problem is solved by swapping the sender from the donor car as well.

[Hemet8]

Thanks for the help. Trying to find a good cluster now.