Instrument Cluster Swap Questions

madmattd · Dec 29, 2017

I apologize in advance if this is answered somewhere I'm not finding, but here goes...

I've been jealously eyeing the "watch-dial" style instrument clusters that were available on late P2s (especially having seen one in person in an '07 XC70 this week), and wondering/complaining why Volvo didn't put them into the Ocean Race...

1. From what I've been reading, it looks like any unit from a 2005-2007 V/XC/S is a plug-and-play switch, where the only differences are the gage backs? Or are there limitations/differences I'm not seeing?
2. I assume just dropping in the cluster will result in the incorrect/higher mileage (as all I've seen have higher mileage than my OR does) being shown? I'd like to keep the mileage reporting correctly, without waiting a few years to get the mileage on the current car up to that of an acquired unit, then swapping.
3. Assuming (2) is true, can I pull the circuit boards and swap things around? Plug and play between DIMs? Can I avoid pulling and re-calibrating needles this way, or do I still have to do that? (I've found a few references to doing this, but no info/pics/further details).

What else am I missing?

metalbender · Dec 29, 2017

Well, I'm jealous of your Ocean Race, so there!

If the late P2 DIM is essentially the same as the early, yes, that is my understanding that you will get the higher mileage reading.

When the DIM died in in my V70, I sent it to Xemodex- but here's where it gets cool- they had ordering options to swap from the drab base DIM to the flashier silver rings and blue dial DIMS. Total plug and play, keeping your original mileage (I don't remember if they enter it on the DIM or if reads from the CEM). So, the moral of the story is to wait until your DIM croaks, then send it in and swap for the one you want!

Guest · Dec 29, 2017

metalbender said:
Well, I'm jealous of your Ocean Race, so there!

If the late P2 DIM is essentially the same as the early, yes, that is my understanding that you will get the higher mileage reading.

When the DIM died in in my V70, I sent it to Xemodex- but here's where it gets cool- they had ordering options to swap from the drab base DIM to the flashier silver rings and blue dial DIMS. Total plug and play, keeping your original mileage (I don't remember if they enter it on the DIM or if reads from the CEM). So, the moral of the story is to wait until your DIM croaks, then send it in and swap for the one you want!

Thats the pickle i find myself in right now....dim needs rebuilt in the 04, thinking of pulling the dim from an 05 in the yard and using it for donor parts when i send it in. Ill be keeping an eye on this thread

It's my understanding that on the pre facelift cars you have to swap the gauge faces and it changes the lighting from backlit to front lit?

Oliovlov · Dec 30, 2017

The connector on the back is different, form MY 05 on to MY 04 and below. Depending on what you get, you may be swapping bezels/plastics and repositioning dials. Hats what we had to do to put in R gauges in 04 or earlier model.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

madmattd · Dec 30, 2017

metalbender said:
Well, I'm jealous of your Ocean Race, so there!

If the late P2 DIM is essentially the same as the early, yes, that is my understanding that you will get the higher mileage reading.

When the DIM died in in my V70, I sent it to Xemodex- but here's where it gets cool- they had ordering options to swap from the drab base DIM to the flashier silver rings and blue dial DIMS. Total plug and play, keeping your original mileage (I don't remember if they enter it on the DIM or if reads from the CEM). So, the moral of the story is to wait until your DIM croaks, then send it in and swap for the one you want!

Thanks metalbender. Seeing as how I have an '01 V70 with >185k on the original DIM and my dad's '04 XC70 has North of 250k also on the original DIM, I'm not going to bank on my OR's crapping out soon! Of course, I'm sure shortly after I do a swap that will happen... I've thought about the R clusters, but I'm less keen on those for whatever reason. It would go nicely with the car though I suspect.

95WanderWagen said:
It's my understanding that on the pre facelift cars you have to swap the gauge faces and it changes the lighting from backlit to front lit?

If I understand the threads I've been reading, to get the post facelift lighting to work on the pre facelift you have to run some wiring for the LEDs (pre facelift used incandescents and in a different manner).

Oliovlov said:
The connector on the back is different, form MY 05 on to MY 04 and below. Depending on what you get, you may be swapping bezels/plastics and repositioning dials. Hats what we had to do to put in R gauges in 04 or earlier model.

Yep, white connector versus green correlating with the P2 facelift. Lucky for me, it sounds like this cluster was only a 05+ option, and I want to swap into an '06, so the connector should match up? Once I get home from vacation travel I'll probably pull off the existing DIM at least enough to get the part number and a look at the connector.

Does anyone know if a direct DIM swap (pretend I find one with roughly the right mileage) needs any programming to get it running? I've seen a couple places indicating there does need to be a software download/programming of the VIN into the cluster to get it running (and differing statements as to whether its even possible), but most discussions of swaps don't bring this up so I'm not sure what the deal is?

Ideally: I find a DIM with mileage close to my current one, and I can drive until the numbers match and swap with no programming, no muss, no fuss.

Alternative 1: I find a good donor DIM and swapping the circuit boards is simple between the 2 so I maintain the existing electronics with new dials and such.

Alternative 2: Pulling needles and gages, swap the 2.

Alternative 3: I stop thinking about these gages in this car. Unlikely to happen!

hootie6828 · Dec 31, 2017

So not to hickjack the thread, but I have a set of these gauges that I am trying to sell currently. I bought them for a swap into my 01 and sold the car before it happened. If you are interested, let me know, and I'll make you a good deal on them.

beachnut · Dec 31, 2017

You already know that you'll need a white connector dim. There's plenty of them on ebay from 05-06 S80's, 07 XC70's, even some S60 T5's. I think the XC90's will work too but not 100% sure. Don't wait around for the mileage to match up, just move your boards into the donor, it's very easy. Yes, you'll have to pop the needles and wire in the led's but that's easy too. I did this on our S80 here: http://forums.swedespeed.com/showth...33-Beachnut-s-2004-S80-2-5T-Progression-Thread&p=4234473&viewfull=1#post4234473 . Best way to pop the needles is what a soft pry tool like these: https://www.amazon.com/KINGLAKE-Pan...QAG/ref=pd_lpo_vtph_263_bs_t_1?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=KMQYNY48PTRMCDWCEMP4

madmattd · Dec 31, 2017

hootie6828 said:
So not to hickjack the thread, but I have a set of these gauges that I am trying to sell currently. I bought them for a swap into my 01 and sold the car before it happened. If you are interested, let me know, and I'll make you a good deal on them.

I saw your listing hootie, and may be in touch at some point. If not, glws!

beachnut said:
You already know that you'll need a white connector dim. There's plenty of them on ebay from 05-06 S80's, 07 XC70's, even some S60 T5's. I think the XC90's will work too but not 100% sure. Don't wait around for the mileage to match up, just move your boards into the donor, it's very easy. Yes, you'll have to pop the needles and wire in the led's but that's easy too. I did this on our S80 here: http://forums.swedespeed.com/showth...33-Beachnut-s-2004-S80-2-5T-Progression-Thread&p=4234473&viewfull=1#post4234473 . Best way to pop the needles is what a soft pry tool like these: https://www.amazon.com/KINGLAKE-Pan...QAG/ref=pd_lpo_vtph_263_bs_t_1?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=KMQYNY48PTRMCDWCEMP4

There's some helpful information in that thread beachnut, thanks! Looks like you went the route I was mainly considering, and answered a few questions I had mulling around in my head.

Do I still have to mess with the LEDs if I'm swapping facelift<->facelift? I see you did this on an '04 so naturally you did have to do this. As I'm away from home right now, I've been unable to dig in to look at mine, but I though all the later units came with that light in place already, am I mistaken? If so, did you ever confirm if the 2 solder points you show are the correct ones? I'm pretty good with a soldering iron and have access to a huge array of wire gauges (down to ~26 which I've used for some prototype PCB rework before) so I'm not scared of that route once I know the right points (I'll also hunt around for a wiring diagram/pinout for the DIM), its preferable to the add-a-circuit for me.

McShake · Dec 31, 2017

Get a cluster from the same side of the facelift as your car, and all the components can be swapped. I've done it, old electronics, new gauges and housing, you only have to solder in two wires to get power to the overhead LEDs lighting the gauge faces.

beachnut · Jan 1, 2018

^^ This is correct. While I never did solder the wire to back of the pcb, McShake has and that pic in my thread came from Adam.Nonis and I completely trust his info. Your existing cluster won't have the four led's in the shroud. That wasn't standard on the XC70 until 2007. Here's basically what you need to do once you find a decent donor cluster:

1. Go fill your tank. It helps getting the fuel needle accurate later. Just take good note of where it is. Sometimes my cars are a tick over or under the exact full line. Also, with the car fully warmed up take note of the exact position of your temp needle. Most of our cars it's right in the middle, but sometimes + or - .

2. Take the plastic lenses off both clusters and remove all the needles on all the gauges. Then turn them both over and remove all the screws from both back covers.

3. Now you're down to the circuit boards with the stepper motors. Remove all those screws then swap over the boards from your old cluster into the donor with the watch dials. (you can leave the donor pcb's out, I just threw them and my old cluster shell away a few weeks later)

4. Add some wire to the led's light harness and solder them to the pcb board.

5. Button everything up and you're almost done.

6. Put the cluster back in the car but leave the lens off. Before starting the car gently push the speedo and tach needles back on at position 0, . Start the car and then put on the fuel needle (on the full mark if you did step 1). If your car has cooled off let it run for a few minutes or drive it around the block then put on the temp needle. (PS. Don't push any of the needles down all the way seated until after you're satisfied everything is working as it should.)

7. Go check your speedo for accuracy. I loaded an app on my android phone called digihud. It's a gps based speedo. Mine was spot on. Just be careful driving around, be sure to watch the road too lol.

8. Back at home, check the led lights to make sure they're working correctly, pull the cluster one more time and put the lens back on. (PS. Be careful taking the lenses off initially and putting back on as the clips can be fragile and break. Fortunately there's several of them in case that happens though.) This would be a good time to examine both the lenses and use the best looking one. Put the cluster back in and enjoy!

All this talk and now I need to get me another cluster for my new-to-me S60

hootie6828 · Jan 1, 2018

That post above is spot on, exactly how I have swapped dims/needles in the past.

McShake · Jan 1, 2018

Yep, excactly how I did it, except for the fuel/temp stuff and moving the needles while in the car.

McShake · Jan 1, 2018

FWIW, here's where you need to solder the overhead LED wires to your old PCB.

madmattd · Jan 1, 2018

beachnut said:
Your existing cluster won't have the four led's in the shroud. That wasn't standard on the XC70 until 2007.

Aha, I hadn't caught onto that detail. That explains everything. OK, 2 wires to solder, and both you and McShake have provided a great picture of where to solder to, so that shouldn't be a big deal, I don't even have to pull out the DMM and futz around figuring that out. Thanks as well for the detailed step-by-step, I'd worked out most of that myself thanks to your previously linked and other prior posts I've found from searching, but it's awfully nice to have it all in one spot!

You guys rock!

Off to get me a DIM and play

McShake · Jan 2, 2018

Have a couple of hours, some small screwdrivers, pliers, a soldering iron and some patience, and you’ll work it out. I didn't known you could swap old electronics into new housings and gauges, discovered that by happy coincidence. I now run a 2008 S80 cluster in my 2007 V70.

Pro tip: when you're all done, before you put the clear front back on, clean the gauges and everything inside off really well. I had a speck of dust in the middle of my tach gauge that was visible only at night when the overhead lights show, annoyed me something fierce.

Guest · Jan 2, 2018

Any chance you have some before and after shots at night Shake?

McShake · Jan 2, 2018

Ignore the norwegianspeak and enjoy the pics.

http://forum.vccn.no/showthread.php...ead.php?71946-mrstfu-Dunfrid™-07-V70-AWD-Mer-lys&p=988671&viewfull=1#post988671

http://forum.vccn.no/showthread.php...ead.php?71946-mrstfu-Dunfrid™-07-V70-AWD-Mer-lys&p=988824&viewfull=1#post988824

Final edition with a little color change. Adam Nonis was a big help through this.

http://forum.vccn.no/showthread.php...mrstfu-Dunfrid™-07-V70-AWD-Vintern-kom-plutselig&p=994213&viewfull=1#post994213

metalbender · Jan 2, 2018

McShake said:
Ignore the norwegianspeak and enjoy the pics.

http://forum.vccn.no/showthread.php...ead.php?71946-mrstfu-Dunfrid™-07-V70-AWD-Mer-lys&p=988671&viewfull=1#post988671

http://forum.vccn.no/showthread.php...ead.php?71946-mrstfu-Dunfrid™-07-V70-AWD-Mer-lys&p=988824&viewfull=1#post988824

Final edition with a little color change. Adam Nonis was a big help through this.

http://forum.vccn.no/showthread.php...mrstfu-Dunfrid™-07-V70-AWD-Vintern-kom-plutselig&p=994213&viewfull=1#post994213

OOOOOOHHHHHH, the red LED readouts! Awesome! Much want!

McShake · Jan 2, 2018

That's a much more cumbersome task, but doable.

beachnut · Jan 2, 2018

McShake, are those the wires from the cluster led harness or did you add wire? If added, what gauge? It seemed to me that once you clipped the 2-pin connector off there wouldn't be enough length to run down to the pcb, but I can't remember now since that was only last year lol.

Instrument Cluster Swap Questions

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beachnut

madmattd

McShake

beachnut

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madmattd

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metalbender

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