Will a '15 Ltd. Instrument Cluster work in a '16 PIU?

[Steve8316]

The only junk '11-19 I've found so far is a '15 Ltd., and I've been raiding it for the luggage rack, hitch receiver, A- & B-pillar covers, sunlight sensor, carpets, front seats (rears were gone), floor console/shifter (I hate the column), wiring pigtails (to add terminals on mine), etc. It has a really nice-looking cluster, which prompted this question. I haven't pulled mine yet to see if the connector is the same shape & pinout, but it was pretty easy in the 15 because the column shroud is permanently attached to the cluster bezel, and I have to change the shroud when I delete the column shifter.

 

[peterk9]

Hi Steve, I don't know for sure if they are interchangeable. I understood that the 2016 Explorer refresh came with a new electrical architecture.
Perhaps someone who has attempted this can chime in.

Peter

 

[PlatinumOwner]

It will not. 11-15 model years use a different electrical architecture vs 16-19 (CGEA 1.3) and introduced an HS3 CAN bus which the instrument cluster now uses. The PATS system is also different and was managed in the instrument cluster (IPC) but is now in the body control module (BCM.) Only 16-19 model year modules will be interchangeable, provided the parts are properly reprogrammed to your VIN.

 

[Steve8316]

It will not.

Thanks for an absolute answer.

11-15 model years use a different electrical architecture vs 16-19 (CGEA 1.3)...

Seems like they're both 12VDC-gnd.

...and introduced an HS3 CAN bus which the instrument cluster now uses.

That seems like the main reason they're not compatible. I guess I'll throw the '15 cluster on eBay.

The PATS system...was managed in the instrument cluster (IPC) but is now in the body control module (BCM.)

Does a PIU even have PATS? My '99 CV P71 didn't, and the 4 keys for this PIU don't appear to have pills.

...the parts are properly reprogrammed to your VIN.

Can that be done with ForScan after the "wrong" cluster is connected to my '16?

 

[PlatinumOwner]

Thanks for an absolute answer.

Seems like they're both 12VDC-gnd.

That seems like the main reason they're not compatible. I guess I'll throw the '15 cluster on eBay.
View attachment 462163

Does a PIU even have PATS? My '99 CV P71 didn't, and the 4 keys for this PIU don't appear to have pills.

Can that be done with ForScan after the "wrong" cluster is connected to my '16?

It does have PATS and it’s part of the BCM on the 16 but I’m sure how it’s configured on a PIU. The BCM is the same as the civilian model so any of those features that are off can be turned back on.

 

[syncceduppp]

Does a PIU even have PATS? My '99 CV P71 didn't, and the 4 keys for this PIU don't appear to have pills.

See this thread about PIU PATS enablement. The 11-19 PIU, in most (all?) configs, typically has a PATS-ready BCM and often a transceiver, but lacks the wiring between them. They're nearly all ordered with fleet keys which wouldn't work with PATS anyway. But because of the shared architecture and components with the Explorer platform, PATS can be activated by installing the three missing wires, turning it on, and running an initialization. That's also a good time to rekey the ignition. Finding the right keys is a bit tricky - there won't be an entry in key compatibility databases at the various key sellers because this setup isn't an official Ford config, so the right chip keys need to be tracked down manually.

It does have PATS and it’s part of the BCM on the 16 but I’m sure how it’s configured on a PIU. The BCM is the same as the civilian model so any of those features that are off can be turned back on.

Afaik, at least on the later 5th Gen Explorer platform, there are two variants of the BCM: one has the internal park assist module (PAM) and the other omits PAM. Low-spec Explorers and most (all?) PIUs use the latter, as they lack parking sensors. I'm not aware of any other feature differences between them.

 

[Steve8316]

It does have PATS...

I realize that you know a lot more about these vehicles than I do, but these keys are the same as my '97 F250 uses - no PATS pills in them.

...any of those features that are off can be turned back on.

So PATS could have been turned off at the factory?

...PATS can be activated by...

Good to know, but I have no interest in activating PATS, or changing the keys. I have 10 vehicles right now, and only the '98 Taurus has any theft-prevention (PATS). But there's no crime around where I live (I've been listening to gunfire all day by my neighbors, so criminals know better than to mess around here), so I don't always lock them.

Back to the issue of a '16-19 instrument cluster swap into a '16 PIU...
Would installing a cluster from a PATS-functional vehicle require me to make PATS functional on mine? Or could I just use ForScan to put my VIN in the donor cluster, and roll?

Are '16-19 Explorers the only donors for nicer clusters that will fit? I see Mondeo/Fusion, MKC/Z, & Edge mentioned frequently, and listed in the spreadsheet. And some of them are more-common in the JYs around here. If I can swap one of them, can I use ForScan to load Explorer firmware? Is the firmware free from Ford?

Thanks for all the info so far. I washed a lot of parts today, including the roof rack. Did these come with crossbars?