Questions about putting in 02 White Face X Sport Cluster...

[Blackout690]

First off, what kind of illumination is it at night? Is it like indiglo? Second, will the cluster (I may buy one on Ebay) bolt right up to my 1998 Explorer Eddie Bauer? Also, what do I do about my odometer? (The cluster Im about to buy has only 14,x.. miles, I have 50XXX)

Thanks dudes
Joe

 

[celly]

It's not like Indiglo at all. Sort of a green cast. I like the look myself. It should bolt right up, but I am not 100% certain about that. I seem to recall the '98 may be different so don't quote me on that.

Supposedly you can get your odometer rolled forward, either by professional or do it yourself. Might want to call around locally because when I did the research, I never did find a concensus on whether it can be done. One poster on this site did say it's pretty easy to move the numbers forward, so you might want to find his posts (sorry, can't remember who it was).

Or you can do like me and just lift the white overlays and red needles onto your existing cluster. Downside to this is that it takes a while to get your speedo and tach needles calibrated. I used a Scangauge to do mine. Drove around with the dash pretty much apart (including the lens) and tweaked the needles until they were pretty close to the readings on the Scangauge. Then closed it all up. I've got pics of this application in my registry, but it's on my old Sport. I did the same thing to my Eddie Bauer, but don't have pics.

 

[Blackout690]

cool, thanks for the help man, you seem to know your stuff.

The one I am looking at is this:

http://media.mainstreetcommerce.com/_image_sheet.aspx?domain=lkqonline.com&item-e1819aa26513

It looks like the Gear Indicator AND cable is attached, and I need that too, so it may be a good deal at $30.

And about the gauges, atleast with my explorer when I put the gauges back on, all of my gauges went back to the correct spot, without me messing with them! That was a huge relief. My fuel guage went to the correct spot. Even if I moved the gauge, it would instantly go back to the same spot, I thought that was cool (while cluster was plugged in, engine on, plastic cover off)

Anyways, I hope this cluster on Ebay will work, it would solve alot of problems for me


The seller makes it sound like in the ad that the odometer may revert to my explorers actual mileage? That would be nice

 

[Blackout690]

I have a 98 Eddie Bauer Explorer, but my bumper is the base one with the foglights. My truck is white/tan trim.

Ive been looking for a front bumper exactly like that, do you know where I can find something like that? specifically with the beige/chrome on it?

thanks man

nice ride, btw

 

[celly]

cool, thanks for the help man, you seem to know your stuff.

The one I am looking at is this:

http://media.mainstreetcommerce.com/3.9/media/item_image_sheet.aspx?domain=lkqonline.com&item_guid=34fa1d67-28ab-47df-bf7a-e1819aa26513

It looks like the Gear Indicator AND cable is attached, and I need that too, so it may be a good deal at $30.

And about the gauges, atleast with my explorer when I put the gauges back on, all of my gauges went back to the correct spot, without me messing with them! That was a huge relief. My fuel guage went to the correct spot. Even if I moved the gauge, it would instantly go back to the same spot, I thought that was cool (while cluster was plugged in, engine on, plastic cover off)

Anyways, I hope this cluster on Ebay will work, it would solve alot of problems for me


The seller makes it sound like in the ad that the odometer may revert to my explorers actual mileage? That would be nice

$30 is a great deal actually. White faced ones usually fetch a premium price. Act fast before someone steals it from you. After all, you are on by far the busiest Explorer site on the web!

The mileage will NOT revert to your mileage. This is a purely mechanical device when it comes to the odometer.

If you go my route, where you'll have problems with the needles is when you take them off completely. I took several digital photos before I got started so I knew where the needles were. I also started with a full tank of gas so the fuel reading would be easier to get. A salad fork is a great tool for getting the needles off. Provides the right amount of leverage to get them off. Oil pressure, temp and battery is pretty easy to do. Fuel gauge is touchy. Tach and speed definitely take time which is why Scangauge was so helpful. The overlays themselves come up quite easily. Just pry them off gently. I taped them back on using loops of masking tape believe it or not. I've heard crazy glue works well too. Just a few small dabs will do ya. Once you put the cluster back together, the overlays get cinched down pretty easily and they're easy to line up...unlike some aftermarket gauge faces I've read about.

I really didn't want to score a cluster with different mileage unless I could roll it up. I actually still own the cluster and it will go in when I catch up to it (about 35,000 km to go). That way I'll get black on white numbers. Otherwise, I'm pretty happy with what I have now. I have an issue with having mileage readings that aren't exact or at least close to exact.

I'd jump on that cluster. See if it plugs and plays. If it doesn't, salvage what you need from it like I did.

 

[celly]

I have a 98 Eddie Bauer Explorer, but my bumper is the base one with the foglights. My truck is white/tan trim.

Ive been looking for a front bumper exactly like that, do you know where I can find something like that? specifically with the beige/chrome on it?

thanks man

nice ride, btw

The bumper is standard issue on the '99 I presume. The Eddie was bone stock when I got it. I'd love to know the story on the past owners. The Eddie was getting about 5,500 miles/year on it and it's still got the original windshield. Windshields don't last long here with the gravel we use in the winter. I ran a background check on it and it always got maintained. Just someone that doesn't drive a lot. I just went over 36,000 miles (60,000 km) this morning. Not bad for a 7 year old vehicle, and especially for an engine with the reliability of the 302. I've since filled her up with Amsoil everywhere I can. I expect the Eddie to last a long while.

The Speed Grilles were salvaged off my Sport which is about the only thing that isn't stock on that grille. in the photo I've since added a Explorer Express Airdam to the front end (few months back). No photos yet. It was painted to match the gold trim (bought it that way, the guy also had an Eddie Bauer). Colour match was close, but not perfect.

I'm pretty happy with this Explorer. It is the 4th one I've owned (had a '93, '97 and a '00, all Sports). First one had OHV and other two had SOHC. I definitely prefer the V8. I scored the extra 2 doors not too long after my son was born. So much easier to get him in and out. The 2 door was a pain! I'd still be driving the Sport if I didn't have that issue.

EDIT

I see you're in SD. Get yourself some Torquemonster Headers! They're made in San Diego and the guy who runs the company is a great guy. I'd kill to be so close. Would save me a ton on shipping and duties etc.

 

[Blackout690]

Cool, thats more great info.

You mentioned earlier that it is not indiglo. Is that because you you took the overlay off and put it on your current cluster, or do they just not light up indiglo from the factory?

 

[celly]

Cool, thats more great info.

You mentioned earlier that it is not indiglo. Is that because you you took the overlay off and put it on your current cluster, or do they just not light up indiglo from the factory?

Stock cluster has all white bulbs inside. I don't remember the colour of my stock gels on the black faced cluster, but definitely not Indiglo. Chances are that if you're seeing Indiglo now, the gels are probably blue cast. The green cast of the white faced clusters might look out of place if all your existing gauges are blue cast. Mine had no blue. In fact, I scored a white faced overlay for the HVAC controls on my Sport with a blue cast to the controls and it looked out of place on the Sport. Might be something to consider. I've heard of people changing the colours of the gels, but I wouldn't have a clue how to do it. The OEM overlays are actually well made and I wouldn't want to mess with them.

 

[King$nake]

celly....Is your 01 X Sport Cluster an Analog Odometer (Not Digital) and would you happen to know how to roll back the odometers? I did a search on here, cant find anything.

 

[celly]

celly....Is your 01 X Sport Cluster an Analog Odometer (Not Digital) and would you happen to know how to roll back the odometers? I did a search on here, cant find anything.

It is analog. None of the 1st or 2nd generation Explorers ('91-'01) have digital clusters . 2nd generation includes the Sport up to the last year of it's existence (which went past '01, but the design is so similar to other 2nd gens). Sport Trac before the '07 redesign probably fits that category too. I think 3rd ('02-'05) and 4th ('06) have digital, don't they?

From what I understand, you will NOT find anyone out there that will roll back an odometer, but it is possible to roll them forward. I'm sure rollback is possible, just not legal.

Frankly, I couldn't find enough good information on rolling forward or back which is why I didn't bother swapping out my cluster and just migrated the overlays and needles over to my OEM cluster.

 

[King$nake]

Ok, I know you said this before, but what is the best way to remove the gauges off of the cluster? (Im going to practice with my old black cluster when I get the new one). I know you said to put a fork underneath the needles (like you said) but what is the best method to remove the gauges? And Im also going to take a picture of my gauges so I know exactly where the new ones go.

 

[King$nake]

It is analog. None of the 1st or 2nd generation Explorers ('91-'01) have digital clusters . 2nd generation includes the Sport up to the last year of it's existence (which went past '01, but the design is so similar to other 2nd gens). Sport Trac before the '07 redesign probably fits that category too. I think 3rd ('02-'05) and 4th ('06) have digital, don't they?

From what I understand, you will NOT find anyone out there that will roll back an odometer, but it is possible to roll them forward. I'm sure rollback is possible, just not legal.

Frankly, I couldn't find enough good information on rolling forward or back which is why I didn't bother swapping out my cluster and just migrated the overlays and needles over to my OEM cluster.

thats good news, because the Ebay ad said they were digital! And I could not tell in the picture. But if I am just going to use the white-faces gauges, I guess it does not matter...

 

[celly]

Ok, I know you said this before, but what is the best way to remove the gauges off of the cluster? (Im going to practice with my old black cluster when I get the new one). I know you said to put a fork underneath the needles (like you said) but what is the best method to remove the gauges? And Im also going to take a picture of my gauges so I know exactly where the new ones go.

Remove the needles by gently prying them off with a salad fork. The gauge face overlays are stuck on by some sort of adhesive that does let go fairly easily. Find something sharp and fairly fine to gently pry underneath and loosen the overlays. They will sort of pop right out, but you can damage them if you go too fast. Definitely a good idea to work on your black faced ones.