[Caddy Man]

I dont really like my instrument cluster in my 03 cts, anyone know of any way I can get one of the newer ones for free under warranty? I like the metal around the bezels and the engine temp guage. Reminsd me of the liscense plate bezel that would get water in it, dealer replaced it for free with the colored ones. Anyone gotten it under warranty or did u pay for the new cluster?

 

[odysseus]

I got a used one on EBay for something like $50 last year. I had the very early '03 with the clock. I got an '04 (no chrome rings) with the proper temp guage. You may be able to find one on EBay, if you look. They're a direct swap, however, you'll need to send it off to get your mileage programmed into it, otherwise it shows the previous cars mileage.

Specmo does this for something like $100, but you'll have to send both your old and new one in for them to verify the miles. I took mine to a dealer who verified the miles in my car, and then only had to send the new one in for programming. It was back in two or three days.

 

[Caddy Man]

I got a used one on EBay for something like $50 last year. I had the very early '03 with the clock. I got an '04 (no chrome rings) with the proper temp guage. You may be able to find one on EBay, if you look. They're a direct swap, however, you'll need to send it off to get your mileage programmed into it, otherwise it shows the previous cars mileage.

Specmo does this for something like $100, but you'll have to send both your old and new one in for them to verify the miles. I took mine to a dealer who verified the miles in my car, and then only had to send the new one in for programming. It was back in two or three days.

very helpful post...THANKS!

 

[tomm]

I got a used one on EBay for something like $50 last year. I had the very early '03 with the clock. I got an '04 (no chrome rings) with the proper temp guage. You may be able to find one on EBay, if you look. They're a direct swap, however, you'll need to send it off to get your mileage programmed into it, otherwise it shows the previous cars mileage.

Specmo does this for something like $100, but you'll have to send both your old and new one in for them to verify the miles. I took mine to a dealer who verified the miles in my car, and then only had to send the new one in for programming. It was back in two or three days.

Is the mileage not recorded in the computer anywhere? This is actually scary that you can buy a digital cluster from a Salvage yard and change your mileage that easy. Heck for someone with a lease thats over quite a bit they can easily find a cluster with less miles.

 

[wait4me6920]

Is the mileage not recorded in the computer anywhere? This is actually scary that you can buy a digital cluster from a Salvage yard and change your mileage that easy. Heck for someone with a lease thats over quite a bit they can easily find a cluster with less miles.

I also swapped out mine for an '04 module - from one the the many, many salvage dealers out there - do a google search & you'll find whatever you need... I took mine to my dealer & had them send in the '04 unit to get correct mileage reading...

I don't think it is tracked by the car internally (other than odometer), but if you're getting your checkups/maintenance done by your dealer, they'll note any significant change in mileage (ie - six months ago, the workorder stated 35,452 miles & today the speedo reflects 12,671 miles... Hmmm!) Not a good idea to install without going the certification/correction route as far as warranty is concerned...

 

[AsAkAs]

I also swapped out mine for an '04 module - from one the the many, many salvage dealers out there - do a google search & you'll find whatever you need... I took mine to my dealer & had them send in the '04 unit to get correct mileage reading...

I don't think it is tracked by the car internally (other than odometer), but if you're getting your checkups/maintenance done by your dealer, they'll note any significant change in mileage (ie - six months ago, the workorder stated 35,452 miles & today the speedo reflects 12,671 miles... Hmmm!) Not a good idea to install without going the certification/correction route as far as warranty is concerned...

Other things like the monthly diagnostic checkup with onstar will also report your mileage.

As of 9,000 miles my cadillac has had zero problems and 2 checkups with the onstar doctor, she's healthier than ever :-D

The 05' Cluster is in my opinion the best, the chrome surrounds, and the backlighting is much nicer in white, than amber. Although, i've heard the LED's can be switched out to white and some members may have done this. (with the center stack also)

 

[Caddy Man]

so we know the 04 cluster will work with the 03, but will the 05 pair up with the 03?

 

[TCSisOFF]

Yes, changing the mileage is that easy.. haha!
Loop-holes like this will come back to bite cadillac in the arse when people have rear ends fail 20 miles out of warranty

 

[TripleOught]

i'd like to know if the '05 will work in the '03 as well...

 

[AznPrydeRegalRyde]

Just curious, won't there need be some work hooking up an '04+ to an '03 with the clock? Won't you need to rewire for the engine temp guage to work?

 

[wait4me6920]

Just curious, won't there need be some work hooking up an '04+ to an '03 with the clock? Won't you need to rewire for the engine temp guage to work?

Nope - it's already taken care of by the buss interface...:thumbsup:

 

[odysseus]

What he said! Basically, the temp data is broadcast over the Class 2 serial bus (or another existing analog signal wire), so the new IP simply reads that message, rather than the time message for the clock. It's plug n play! No VIN resetting required. I plugged mine in to test it before I sent it off for the mileage reset (thats how I figured out the mileage was not stored somewhere else). It worked fine even then.

 

[wilx75]

Do the different instrument panels have different back lights besides the random orange back light? I could have sworn i test drove a 03 CTs with white back lights on the IP.

 

[wait4me6920]

Do the different instrument panels have different back lights besides the random orange back light? I could have sworn i test drove a 03 CTs with white back lights on the IP.

I'm not sure if it's true for all, but the '04 module I installed has white backlighting... Personally, I prefer it to the orange...

 

[TripleOught]

can someone with an 05 or 04 take a decent picture of their instrument panels? maybe one in the day and one with the back lights on?

that'd be grreeaaat, thanks.

 

[collapsed]

I'm not sure if it's true for all, but the '04 module I installed has white backlighting... Personally, I prefer it to the orange...

same here... the white back with chrome rings would look so much better in my car.

 

[MDR]

Will a 05 cluster work on my 03 CTS?

 

[curtc]

Bringing her back from the dead! 7 years! But yes, it will will work..but the mileage is stored in the cluster, you'll have to have the new one programmed to match...look into a company called Specmo for that.

 

[Kingoftypos]

Yes, all 2003 to 2007 clusters are plug-n-play between each other. However, you must realize that the mileage follows the cluster.

So make sure that you buy a cluster that closes matches your car's mileage. A little over or under, whoopie due. But if the mileage is hugely different, you can have it programed by http://www.specmo.com

KOT

 

[Firewalker]

It is true that mileage is not stored anywhere other than the instrument cluster. It is a easy swap and instructions can be found on this site. Instead of sending mine out for mileage calibration, I simply ordered one that had slightly higher mileage than my original and once I reach the mileage of the new one, I will be swapping them out. Save myself $100!