Topic: Cluster Swap - Dealer Needed? 2004

[alwhite00]

  If I swap clusters in my 04 Avy do I need to see the dealer or is it just plug & play? The reason I ask is that I replaced the radio and had to go to the dealer to program it to the truck.
   Do you need to re-flash the miles or can you just leave it as-is? What years will plug in?
   The dealer can go in to the computer & get the miles that are on the truck even if the cluster is swapped, Correct?

LK

[Main One]

I'm not much help with these questions, but I believe you have 2 options when swapping clusters - getting a dealer to flash in your mileage into the new cluster, or putting a sticker on the vehicle somewhere indicating how to adjust the mileage on the new cluster to get correct vehicle mileage.

[oHIobellboy]

It needs to be programmed in and they need to get it off of the old one. Are you planning an upgrade or is something wrong with yours?

[alwhite00]

Upgrade to the Escalade or Denali.

LK

[oHIobellboy]

Upgrade to the Escalade or Denali.

LK

I had a Denali overlay on mine. Didn't like it as the gear indicator numbers are replaced with slots making it hard to see. Digital_Dash_Solutions has some great upgrades. Place your order and they send out what you want preprogrammed with info you give them and then send yours back to them. They can be found on the google ads on here or on eBay. They are about $70 bucks cheaper than someone that advertises on another avy site.

[Ski Edition]

I like my Platinum..   

[alwhite00]

I like my Platinum..   

That's what I want - With the tranny temp. Looks great.

LK

[oHIobellboy]

That's what I want - With the tranny temp. Looks great.

LK

I know there's some places in MI that advertise on eBay...did you find someone local that does it?

[alwhite00]

I'm going to swap it, Just need to pull the trigger, Wanted to make sure it was plug & play.

LK

[oHIobellboy]

I'm going to swap it, Just need to pull the trigger, Wanted to make sure it was plug & play.

LK

If you get it preprogrammed it's about a 10 minute job. Just don't mind all the creaking sounds when you pull the bezel off.
Shifter the whole way to low gear
Pull bezel
four 7MM screws
wiggle out and unplug
reverse process

[alwhite00]

  I've had the cluster out before, Just wanted to make sure it will work since I don't have the DIC.

LK

[oHIobellboy]

  I've had the cluster out before, Just wanted to make sure it will work since I don't have the DIC.

LK

You don't have one? What year is yours?

[Main One]

You don't have one? What year is yours?

Its an 04 - see his first post on this topic.  Probably still optional back then.  I don't have one either.

[oHIobellboy]

Its an 04 - see his first post on this topic.  Probably still optional back then.  I don't have one either.

Guess I could have looked at the title of the thread also    sometimes when I'm on my phone, I don't reread for info that is prolly posted previously.

[oHIobellboy]

The more I think about this the more I question the concept. The guages may work without programming but the DIC will probably need to be turned on with a TechII tool since your truck didn't come with one.

[alwhite00]

I don't care if the DIC works or not, Just want to make sure everything else will work.

LK

[oHIobellboy]

I don't care if the DIC works or not, Just want to make sure everything else will work.

LK

Only one way that I know of to find out then. Swap them. Sorry I couldn't be more help.

[waz]

I didn't have a DIC in my '04 when I bought it.  Really wanted the tranny temp gauge so I got a denali cluster.  I do a lot of towing and not overheating the transmission is kind of important to me.

The DIC will be in the cluster and will work, if you tap the right wires and install some switches.  Or you could go the more expensive way.  Buy a new clock spring kit (wiring harness for the steering wheel) and a steering wheel with switches.  I think the clock spring kit was $160 when I bought it.  The advantage to that is, it all just installs and works.

I've done both.  First just added the switches and next bought a used steering wheel for $50 from someone that upgraded to a hardwood wheel.  With the addition of an aftermarket radio, I have full use of all the switches on the wheel.  I would have had to have something reprogrammed (BCM?) to control the factory radio. 

If your interested, I could dig up the info for tapping the harness.  If I remember there are 4 wires to tap and switch them to ground to activate the different DIC functions.

I never did remove the added switches when I install the wheel with the switches.

[alwhite00]

Can I just run it with no DIC?

LK

[Main One]

I didn't have a DIC in my '04 when I bought it.  Really wanted the tranny temp gauge so I got a denali cluster.  I do a lot of towing and not overheating the transmission is kind of important to me.

The DIC will be in the cluster and will work, if you tap the right wires and install some switches.  Or you could go the more expensive way.  Buy a new clock spring kit (wiring harness for the steering wheel) and a steering wheel with switches.  I think the clock spring kit was $160 when I bought it.  The advantage to that is, it all just installs and works.

I've done both.  First just added the switches and next bought a used steering wheel for $50 from someone that upgraded to a hardwood wheel.  With the addition of an aftermarket radio, I have full use of all the switches on the wheel.  I would have had to have something reprogrammed (BCM?) to control the factory radio. 

If your interested, I could dig up the info for tapping the harness.  If I remember there are 4 wires to tap and switch them to ground to activate the different DIC functions.

I never did remove the added switches when I install the wheel with the switches.

Waz:

I'm interested.  I've installed a hardwood wheel, with the switches, even though so far they are totally inoperable.  (Replaced my stock wheel after having a highway-embedded road reflector anchor come through the windshield, which was deflected away from me after hitting the wheel.  Stock wheel probably saved my life.  Pics used to be on another Avalanche web site.)  Would be interested in at least getting the DIC functionality.

[waz]

Can I just run it with no DIC?

LK

The simple answer,  Yes.

There's no reason you have to hook up anthing to access the DIC.  I'm not sure but, you may be able to at least use the two trip odometer even without any of the switches.  It's been a long time but, I think you can cycle through the trip meters with the reset button.

[waz]

Waz:

I'm interested.  I've installed a hardwood wheel, with the switches, even though so far they are totally inoperable.  (Replaced my stock wheel after having a highway-embedded road reflector anchor come through the windshield, which was deflected away from me after hitting the wheel.  Stock wheel probably saved my life.  Pics used to be on another Avalanche web site.)  Would be interested in at least getting the DIC functionality.

No problem, I'm sure I still have all the information,,,  at home.  I'll dig it up, hopefully tonight.

One little piece of information that I would have liked to have while installing the clock spring kit was, GM changed the part number.  Now there is only one harness.  I spent a lot of time trying to figure out where to plug one of the connectors in.  Turned out there wasn't a place for it,,,   unless you have quadrasteer. 

Did you replace your steering wheel yourself?  If you did, then you already know the deal with disabling the airbar and pulling the wheel.  After that, it's really not that bad.  If not, I downloaded the instructions from autowoods.  I think you can still do that but, I probably still have those instructions. 

I'll find it. 

[waz]

OK, now for some not great news.  By not great I mean this price increase sucks.

I looked up the part number for the clock spring or "coil kit".
Part # 2610-1829 GM parts direct wants $293.26

The other part to get the radio cotrols to work with an aftermarket head unit is,
PAC SWI-X you can find that for around $45.

[Main One]

I am still interested in doing this, even if it costs me $300.

I tried to follow the autowoods instructions last time.  I don't think I followed the proper procedure for disabling the airbag.  Someone told me to just disconnect the battery for a minute before starting, which is what I did.  Other than that, changing the wheel wasn't too bad of a job.

Thanks for the tip about the quadrasteer connector!

[oHIobellboy]

I am still interested in doing this, even if it costs me $300.

I tried to follow the autowoods instructions last time.  I don't think I followed the proper procedure for disabling the airbag.  Someone told me to just disconnect the battery for a minute before starting, which is what I did.  Other than that, changing the wheel wasn't too bad of a job.

Thanks for the tip about the quadrasteer connector!

I think I've read that a 15 min delay after disconnecting the battery to drain residual energy is the norm.

[waz]

I've looked around on my computer and it appears that I have all the information to install switches that are not on the wheel.  I couldn't find anything on my computer about the wheel switches other then the part numbers I already posted. 

From what I remember (after digging for a while) the coil kit came with instructions.  I have a few places to look for those instructions but, I'll give you a basic overview. 

Take off the dash bezel then the steering wheel.  Once you get the wheel off you have to separate the cover that's around the steering column.  I think I took the knee panel off too.  Then start disconnecting the existing coil kit (There is one, for the horn and ABS wires. It also connects to the ignition switch.)  Some of the connectors for the harness go pretty far down the steering column and into the dash area.  Then install the new coil kit and put everything back together. 


The two tricky parts I remember are:

Making sure the part of the coil kit is lined up in the right place.  This isn't bad, there's a break off piece that holds it until it's mounted.  The instruction also tell you what to do if the tab gets broken off before it's in place. 

The other thing that took a little coordination was the connector for the ignition switch.  I can't remember exactly what made it tricky but, it was either the angle the connector needed to go in or the position that it and/or the switch needed to be in. 

If I had to guess how long this would take.  I'd say 1.5 to 2 hours.  I spent a lot more time for a few reasons.  I was the only one home at the time and I didn't have the right puller to remove the wheel.  Instead of putting the AV back together to go get one, I made a puller from a steal plate and some bolts (there are threaded holes in the steering wheel).  Then I spent at least an hour looking for the quadrasteer connector in the AV and another hour or so online until I found out what it was for. 

If you replaced the steering wheel and have ever wired an aftermarket head unit in.  This will actually be fairly easy for you.  Everything plugs in.  It's just how big your arms are for one or two of the connector.  My arms aren't small and I did ok.

That's a lot of typing for how little I just said.  I'll see if I can find those instruction.  It might take a couple of days for that, it's been a while, they could be buried pretty deep by now.

[Main One]

Thanks Waz!

I'm 6'3", 265 pounds.  I don't consider my arms to be very small.  If I have problems, I've got daughters.   

[waz]

Your welcome.  I'm pretty sure I'll be able to find those instructions.  I don't throw things like that out.  Heck, I'm sure the original coil kit is in that box. 

[waz]

Well, I haven't given up completely but, I have had no luck finding the instruction that came with the coil kit.  I found a lot of things that I thought they should/could have been with but, no coil kit or instructions.