Gauge swap into my 89 Ciera SL....pic intensive!

[a1veedubber]

Hello all, I just finished swapping the full gauge cluster into my 89 Ciera and would like to say two things: Success!! Easy!! I took a few pics that may help someone doing this swap. It was much as Skalor said originally, I just added a coolant temp sender, changed my oil pressure switch over to a sender and plugged in the new cluster.

Here is the first pic, the unsuspecting interior. The new steering wheel was "donated" by a 35k mile Cutlass Supreme:D

http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z269/a1veedubber/89%20Ciera%20SL/Theunsuspectinginterior.jpg

Here is the plug covering the hole for the coolant temp sender. It is exactly in the middle of the picture. It has a hole in the middle for a 1/4 inch drive socket wrench. Warning: It is in there tight, do not use an extension on your wrench as it WILL snap off in the hole! (see the shavings where I had to drill out the remnants of my extension:mad:?

http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z269/a1veedubber/89%20Ciera%20SL/CoolantTempSensorplug.jpg

Here is the temp sender installed:

http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z269/a1veedubber/89%20Ciera%20SL/CoolantTempsensorinstalled.jpg

I did not get any pict of the oil pressure sender install as it was hard to photograph, it was easy though and it is located under the power steering pump on the top of the oil filter bracket.

Next is removing the interior bits! Items to remove are in this order: Boot around base of steering column where it meets the dash, trim panel under bottom of steering column, trim panel containing the a/c vents,trim panel around gauges & radio. These are all pretty straightforward but remember to remove the two outermost a/c vents first & remove the 7mm screws behind them!

http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z269/a1veedubber/89%20Ciera%20SL/Removingscrews.jpg

This is the gear selector clip on the bottom of the steering column. It is important to remove it! (It pushes off with s screwdriver)

http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z269/a1veedubber/89%20Ciera%20SL/Gearselectorclip.jpg

This is what you will now see. The cluster is held on with four 7mm screws, one on each side and two on the bottom. You can see the two bottom ones in this pic. In my 89 with an electric speedo the cluster then just pulls out.

http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z269/a1veedubber/89%20Ciera%20SL/Oldcluster.jpg

I then just pushed in the new one and screwed it down. It is important to note that the gear selector wire uses a small hole to the right of the channel it originally used (due to changed placement of the gear selector in the new cluster) You can clearly see it running down into the hole in this pic! Also, I clearly need to get a new oil pressure sender or check that I connected it back up as the pressure gauge is not reading.....its 2:30AM though and I'm going to bed!:D:D

http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z269/a1veedubber/89%20Ciera%20SL/GEDC0060.jpg

Now just put everything in the interior back together again! If anyone has questions just let me know!!


Edit: After looking at these pics I just realized that I now have a trip odometer! Sweet!!

[notsoslimshady76]

nice! a long awaited topic taken care of

[BignastyGS]

I almost pulled a cluster out of an XC or something like that at Harrys U Pull it a couple months ago,but didn't know if anyone would have been interested in it.

[CieraSL92]

SON OF A BITCH! SWEET! Kay, so, pop over the sending units, plug it in, BAM Guage cluster. Sweet sweet sweet.. So you used a 90 cluster and went into an 89?

Sweet... This is awesome dude.

Also, Your service engine soon light is on.

[Tonglebeak]

Why can't it be this simple for the 88 :(

[CieraSL92]

Shit you know what? I already have a coolant temp sending unit where this dude does. It's for my shitty basic cluster.. I have a temp guage too though. Noticed this dude doesn't (thought all of them did?)

[Tuddi]

I am thinking in the same terms, but beyond something easily adapted.

You have suceeded very well with this project, and it's a whole different world to look at the new gauges rather than the old ones.

I am intent on changing the whole dashboard for a modern day dash from some not so common vehicle... have everything customized and unique.... but I have to find the right people that can deliver what I want.

[Duke George V]

I have a temp guage too though. Noticed this dude doesn't (thought all of them did?)
Basest of base models had a velocity and fuel gauge, and idiot lights for everything else, likely until the 3100.

[LordDurock]

dang man i wish i could do that i'd kill for temp and oil, let alone a tac. lucky. looks good

[SexySilhouette]

dang man i wish i could do that i'd kill for temp and oil, let alone a tac. lucky. looks good

I know where a 1986 Century is with a full cluster.

[LordDurock]

well it work in a 82 century

[Tonglebeak]

You're going to have to swap out the connectors, either replacing the entire harnesses (have fun with that) or splicing.

[CieraSL92]

I gotta do this to my Ciera within the next couple of weeks. Not trying it with the cluster I got though.

To the original poster.. My Oil pressure sending unit has a tiny leak, I was intent on replacing it anywho.. But what the hell socket do you use on that? 340MM? Its huge! Doesn't look like you'd get a wrench of any sort in that SOB.

[CieraSL92]

Also, I've seen this on a few tachs.. My 89 Jeep has a full cluster. Like this one though, it has a small yellow line at the 5000 RPM mark. Both redline at 5500, the ciera and the jeep. Why did both use little yellow marks there before the redline? To indicate the redlines coming up? Seem's kind of pointless.

[a1veedubber]

But what the hell socket do you use on that? 340MM? Its huge!

LOL! Seriously though, its probably about a 25 or 30mm, it seemed as big as the axle nut! I ended up using a short crescent wrench I have...the sender I got from the JY car seems to be junk though as it isnt reading.....I am getting a different one on Thursday & hopefully it will be working then!

[BignastyGS]

In my never ending quest to locate a set of rear discs for my Century GS, today I visited a local junkyard and found one of these dash clusters in a 89 CL.The car is white,maroon interior, and the cluster has 122,581 miles showing. The complete dash is disassembled and all it would take is to remove the screws and wiring and its out, Steering column is gone so it would be a 5 minute job..I asked the guy who owns the yard..35 bucks and I can get it. I would go back to help someone and would ship it to them for actual shipping along with the 35 to buy it.I looked in real nice condition. If I had a Ciera andwanted to do this I'd get this for sure..

[notsoslimshady76]

Nothing personal. I think the gauge is really ugly and dated. But then again, so are our cars lol. And it does show information more than my base gauge

[CieraSL92]

I agree that the newer clusters (the same your 91 my 92 have/speed coolant fuel) look a little more modern. But I'd rather look a little dated with a full guage set.

[CieraSL92]

Also, Skalor said the 90+ clusters are the onyl one that are plug n-play with 89 and up. One of these posts.. Its around somewhere.

[BBrip84Oatsie95]

So I could do it? What about the tachometer? Where does that bs hook up to?

[CieraSL92]

The tachometer is already wired into the harness. It's plug and play except for those two sensors that need to come from the donor car.

Dunno, but your ABS might stop functioning. The guage clusters have no ABS light..

[a1veedubber]

Also, Skalor said the 90+ clusters are the onyl one that are plug n-play with 89 and up. One of these posts.. Its around somewhere.

I used an 89 cluster in this project, not a 90! Also, if you look closely in the pics of both clusters on the previous page they both have abs lights on the top right.

[CieraSL92]

Maybe, but the circuity would not be in place for it to illuminate. Even if it is, I don't see an airbag light (he has a 95)

Qoute From Skalors thread on guages:

After looking at the pinout schematics in the '89 and '90 GM Service manuals it looks like '89 U31 clusters were unique. The good news is that they changed the cluster to be generic in '90 and it was renamed to UB3. If you have a '90+ UB3 cluster it should work in any 3300 powered Ciera without having to repin the connectors. That includes using it in an '89 Ciera that had a base cluster. So, if you want to use the '89 cluster you have to repin. If I were you I would just look for a '90+ cluster

[a1veedubber]

Qoute From Skalors thread on guages:

After looking at the pinout schematics in the '89 and '90 GM Service manuals it looks like '89 U31 clusters were unique. The good news is that they changed the cluster to be generic in '90 and it was renamed to UB3. If you have a '90+ UB3 cluster it should work in any 3300 powered Ciera without having to repin the connectors. That includes using it in an '89 Ciera that had a base cluster. So, if you want to use the '89 cluster you have to repin. If I were you I would just look for a '90+ cluster

I remember reading this and wondering what I was getting myself into....However, My 89 Manual shows the pinout for the standard & ub6 clusters as the same. Where my manual was incorrect was the placement of the coolant temp sender.

[BBrip84Oatsie95]

What about the 3100?

[skalor]

That's weird that it worked when the factory GM service manual had different schematics for each cluster.

[Tonglebeak]

skalor, can you please post pics of the pins shown in the 89 service manual for base and guage?

[skalor]

Sure, I'll try to get to it this weekend.

[a1veedubber]

I gotta do this to my Ciera within the next couple of weeks. Not trying it with the cluster I got though.

To the original poster.. My Oil pressure sending unit has a tiny leak, I was intent on replacing it anywho.. But what the hell socket do you use on that? 340MM? Its huge! Doesn't look like you'd get a wrench of any sort in that SOB.

I just got back from the Jyard today with my new (to me) oil pressure sender, and I found a FAR easier way to remove it! I accessed it through the fenderwell and removed the four 13mm bolts holding the oil filter bracket to the engine. It came out with the oil filter bracket! Much easier! Also, this one was on so tight I couldent get it off the bracket while it was on the car....

[CieraSL92]

Hey. Fantastic idea. I'll probably wind up doing that. Don't forget to replace the oil filter to bracket gasket if anyone else takes this route.

[CieraSL92]

Err, second read: I meant oil filter adapter to timing chain cover gasket.

[87Cutlass Ciera]

OK!! Question!
I love the full instrument cluster, always wanted it in my car. But i've got a 2.5, and I've never seen the full cluster in a 2.5 except for this one I saw on cardomain, but the buddy never replied to me. Please let me konw if it's possible to do, cause I want to do it!!

[Tonglebeak]

Sure, I'll try to get to it this weekend.

bump :P

[a1veedubber]

I do have a quick thing to add, I got my oil pressure sender installed and all my gauges work perfectly now. The SES light went out as well! I drove it on the Interstate for the first time today (I got a new job here in town & the tank has been on full the last 3 weeks!) and the tach & everything function perfectly. Also, the odometer & speedometer are not "off" by any mph.

[CieraSL92]

Pretty sure your donor cluster needs to have the same engine as yours, otherwise the tach would be off. Not positive. I have seen 2.5 A-bodys with tachometers though.

[86euro]

Pretty sure your donor cluster needs to have the same engine as yours, otherwise the tach would be off. Not positive. I have seen 2.5 A-bodys with tachometers though.

Not so much the same engine, just the same amount of cylinders.

[Tonglebeak]

Still annoying the hell out of skalor (c'mon!)

[SCREECH]

can you please post pics of the pins shown in the 89 service manual for base and guage?

Well, this isn't from the 89 service manual, Tongle (I don't really feel motivated enough to go dig mine out of the garage at sub-zero temps at the moment, sorry), but here's what Mitchell has to say on the matter. I hope it'll do for now. I hope you're not too disappointed. ;) Also, since your Ciera's an '88, you may be interested in the '87 and '88 cluster diagrams (http://screech.ws/miscpics/87-88ciera_clusters/) I posted on the old forum. Enjoy!

http://www.screech.ws/miscpics/89ciera_clusters.jpg

[billkandi]

Any way to get the original pictures posted again?? Please??