DIY Chevy SS Cluster Swap

Electronic systems, stereo and Holden iQ, wiring, it all goes here....
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mnp
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Joined: Sat Oct 02, 2021 10:06 pm

DIY Chevy SS Cluster Swap

Post by mnp »

Huge thanks to Jonathan Stark for the work with this one... This guide is meant for those who want to swap a cluster out of a Chevy SS (2014-2017) into a 14+ Caprice. The disassembly can mostly be followed with my guide, and the specific values and locations can be found in Jonathan's guide. This guide will not let you change the graphics on the cluster, that has to be done in actual programming.

My Guide:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1oXRN7L ... XI9Kk/view

Jonathan's Guide:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ur_gYb ... Io0YYIVLms
Lord Vader
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Joined: Wed Aug 18, 2021 10:44 pm

Re: DIY Chevy SS Cluster Swap

Post by Lord Vader »

I tried this. I think I corrupted the BIN file, Does anyone happen to have a BIN file around for an SS IP? Thanks for any help!
Bill.kurman
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Joined: Tue Oct 19, 2021 5:54 pm

Re: DIY Chevy SS Cluster Swap

Post by Bill.kurman »

Glad to see I wasn’t the only one with issues mine worked but it made the ecu beep at all times and there was a bcm to cluster security code put the old cluster back in and it went away
Lord Vader
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Re: DIY Chevy SS Cluster Swap

Post by Lord Vader »

There's comfort in numbers Bill!
Bill.kurman
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Re: DIY Chevy SS Cluster Swap

Post by Bill.kurman »

I also emailed white automotive with zero help pretty much said sucks to suck and told me they probably wouldn’t even take it in cause I touched it but they have to talk to the owner to confirm that was a month ago no reply since
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elc32955
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Re: DIY Chevy SS Cluster Swap

Post by elc32955 »

Bill,

Well, what happens when you try to do it yourself is that you end up owning the results - good or bad. White Automotive is a bang-up awesome company and we've supported their work whole-heartedly from the start of the system. Chris is wonderful to deal with - and guarantees his company's work.

DIY'ing is a tricky business. If you're not very familiar with these systems it's easy to grok them up non-recoverably and then it is rather difficult to make roses out of recycled sewage. If you want it done correctly get a working compatible SS cluster, send it to a specialist provider along with your VIN and what the odometer reading should be along with the appropriate fee and have them do the turnkey programming for you.

To expand for a second, many shops are gunshy about taking things in other folks have previously worked on (and possibly irreparably damaged before they see it) - they get blamed many times for either making the problem worse, not fixing it in case it cannot be fixed, or being incompetent if they give you free advice that for whatever reason does not fix the problem - regardless of your ability or lack thereof to execute it correctly. These are for-profit companies that exist to make money & support themselves. In all fairness they have absolutely no obligation to pull your feet out of the fire. Good shops can be expensive and a lot of times rightfully so considering how much institutional knowledge, training, and expertise they bring to the table to provide a quality product and maintain a decent business reputation based on jobs they've successfully completed.

I'm not trying to discourage you from doing your own work if you feel so inclined, but there is a risk-reward benefit there that can be a two-edged sword as well as a learning curve. Either keep experimenting on what you have, get another cluster & try again on that one, or just pay once to have it done and install it from a known good provider - end of problem.

Good luck!
Eric
System Manager and your tour guide for the day. 2015 Caprice w/LFX, former NC DPS staff car. Partial hybrid G8/SS/Camaro SS interior mods, SS MyLink radio upgrade, 2016 Camaro V6 rims, GMPP Malibu chrome exhaust tips, otherwise bone stock for now.
Bill.kurman
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Re: DIY Chevy SS Cluster Swap

Post by Bill.kurman »

I’ve been a tech for a long time I’m no amateur It might have been messed with prior to me I’ve programmed the stock ppv clusters with no issues the vin is correct and the mileage isn’t stored in the cluster so that doesn’t matter I can send you the emails to show you granted I was not talking to Chris his employees should be able to handle it just as he would l told them I have no problem paying even just for the solution one thing they did say was that guide is incomplete
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elc32955
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Re: DIY Chevy SS Cluster Swap

Post by elc32955 »

Hi Bill,

Based on what you've stated I've put in a request to have the data in both guides checked for accuracy. If you tripped a security feature in your cluster I honestly don't know for sure if that's a recoverable fault, but anecdotally I've heard that it is permanently written.

I can tell you WAMS is very backed up at the moment with both individual and commercial business. It's an extremely likely possibility that they're just up to their eyeballs with other jobs, I suggest that you consider moving on to other sources if you need assistance in a timely manner. Just as a recommendation, try the Commodore forums down in Australia - there's a number of guys down under that live & sleep that stuff. They might be willing to share expertise if asked VERY nicely. The link to the Commodore forums is in our links section.

Good luck
Eric
System Manager and your tour guide for the day. 2015 Caprice w/LFX, former NC DPS staff car. Partial hybrid G8/SS/Camaro SS interior mods, SS MyLink radio upgrade, 2016 Camaro V6 rims, GMPP Malibu chrome exhaust tips, otherwise bone stock for now.
Lord Vader
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Joined: Wed Aug 18, 2021 10:44 pm

Re: DIY Chevy SS Cluster Swap

Post by Lord Vader »

With help from mnp, I was able to get this to work. I bought another cluster then read and programmed the new cluster per the two instruction sheets in the first post. I then wrote the bin to the other (first) cluster and that one worked too. I can't get the oil temperature and pressure screen to work because I don't know the code and location in the bin for that page. I'm still very happy with the new cluster. Thanks for your help mnp!
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