Well I finally put that 05 cluster in my 03, but noticed several strange things:

1. I always turn the foglights on in my car as soon as I get in, it lights up the cluster and all the interior button lights. But with the new cluster the light is always on for the cluster and when I turn the fogs on, the interior buttons do not turn on. Even when I use the headlights the interior lights dont turn on.

2. The interior button lights will only come on, when its dark outside so that the sensor picks up its dark. Kind of like when you do not use auto lights, but it will tell you 'headlamps suggested'. The car has to know its dark, then the interior buttons light up with the fogs or headlamps.

I know in 04 and beyond they use a differnt stalk that controls the foglights. Anyone have this problem who has upgraded there cluster in a 2003?? Not a big problem, just kind of annoying as I can never turn the gauge cluster lights off unless I turn the car off.

This is normal behavior. All the CTS's with the chrome trim guage cluster behave like this.

This is normal behavior. All the CTS's with the chrome trim guage cluster behave like this.
so all CTS's with the chrome rings light up the instrument cluster no matter what time of day or whether the lights are on or off?

so all CTS's with the chrome rings light up the instrument cluster no matter what time of day or whether the lights are on or off?

If I remember correctly, all the loaner 05 and 06 CTS's that I've had do this.

if you dont mind me asking, how much did it cost for the new cluster and is it plug and play?

if you dont mind me asking, how much did it cost for the new cluster and is it plug and play?
it cost me 100 for the cluster from a junk yard. It cost me 80 dollars to be reprogrammed to my current mileage and I installed it myself. It looks 100x better. Its plug an play.

it cost me 100 for the cluster from a junk yard. It cost me 80 dollars to be reprogrammed to my current mileage and I installed it myself. It looks 100x better. Its plug an play.

cool, thanks bro :thumbsup:. im kinda sick of the orange.

im really interested in the 05 gauge cluster, can u give links and maybe post pictures please

im really interested in the 05 gauge cluster, can u give links and maybe post pictures please
i'll go out in a bit and take some pics

This is normal behavior. All the CTS's with the chrome trim guage cluster behave like this.
My 2004 is like this as well (no chrome trim, looks basically the same as the 2003 but with white backlighting). The instrument cluster is always illuminated. $100 for that 2005 cluster is a good deal. I love the look of them and have considered this mod myself.

still planning on posting those pics?

still planning on posting those pics?
yeah man hopefully tonite, sorry I dont have a digi cam I borrow a freinds usually. All you need to know is its 100x better.

yeah man hopefully tonite, sorry I dont have a digi cam I borrow a freinds usually. All you need to know is its 100x better.

haha pretty much, all i need to know it that its not orange anymore..
:thumbsup:

Caddy Man - Would you mind documenting the basic gauge cluster removal / installation procedure? I couldn't find anything on the FAQ site and we could all benefit from it. Thanks!

It's pretty simple actually. I did mine a few months after buying the car using an '04 instrument cluster. It looks identical to the '03 except for white backlighting and a proper temp guage instead of the old analog clock.

You need to pry the clamshell housing surrounding the steering column/ignition switch (don't use a screwdriver or you'll damage the plastic).

Once you've separated the top half, it will expose two bolt heads (10mm?) which you need to remove. Insert a putty knife between the top of the IP and the dash to pop the clips.

The IP comes straight back and out connected by only a single electrical connector. Undo the connector by lifting the retaining clip and it comes right out.

You'll have to have you're new IP programmed (dealer can't do it) to your current mileage before you do it all, though. The new IP's are plug and play, other than the mileage, and if you had the analog clock, the temp guage works transparently.

Thanks Ody! Those look like easy to follow directions. You should make sure the get put up on the faq page.

Ody was the one that showed me how to remove the cluster it was easy and once I did it once, I was able to remove that thing in about a minute. The bolts holding it in are acutally 7mm.

I'd love to see the difference int the cluster guys, any photos????