Hey guys. need some help.

short version: does anyone know which factory instrument clusters are compatible with a 97 SE?

long version: I posted a thread a while back about the VSS code (0104). The sensor has been replaced but is still throwing the code. I also tried the recommended fix of taking it apart and cleaning the connections and tightening the screws; all to no avail. I'm down to replacing the instrument cluster as a last resort. Went to a junkyard today but all they had for max's was a 95, 96, and 99; all GXEs I think (black gauges). They pulled out the 99 for a looksie but the plugs on the back weren't exact. This may have been because of the digital odo but not sure. I have seen gauges for a 97 online but am kind of in a hurry. My tags are expired because I can't pass emissions with this code present.

Do you think the 95/96 GXE gauges will work? The junkyard was closing so we didn't have time to yank those out. Or if anyone else has any thoughts on how to get rid of this code I'd love to hear them.

Thanks,
Gavin

 

95-97
98-99

 

Thanks, Kevlo. Aside from the appearance, does the trim level make any difference function-wise?

 

SE = white faced guages.
GLE/GXE = black face

That is all.

 

great! Thx again!

 

I have a 96 and if i had to do it again i'd get a '95-'96. I put in a 97 the cruise control stopped working. Might be that the speedo heads are not compatible with '95-'96 or i just got lucky and bought one with a bad speedo head.

 

I put in the 96 cluster. Everything worked for 7 miles or so and then the odo stopped updating. But 50 miles later still no VSS code. Just the very happy 0505. The ECU still isn't 100% ready so there's still a chance it'll come back; just hoping it'll hold on until i can pass my emissions... then i'll put the old cluster back in.

 

so all the plugs were the same for the 97, but the 95/96 fuel gauge is going in the other direction?

 

No. ALL 95-97 are the same. I have seen NO DIFFERENCE. I have both in my parking lot.

 

hmmm i must have been thinking of orange needs, or do 95/96 black face have them too?

 

95-97 GXE/GLE = Black face, white needle

All white face have orange needles I believe.

 

no, i know the 95/96 se have clear needles.

 

Hey guys, I've got a semi-related problem:
My 97 max 5speed has been throwin the VSS code 0104 since I got it. It had the bens ecu mod, but the wire was patched back up (I also tried using a switch but I stopped hoping it'd fix this code, no good). I don't think its actually a bad VSS because the speedo and odo seem to work fine? Cruise control works fine when the 0104 code is off, but once it comes on the cruise usually wont work. Any ideas what could cause this?

 

That really sounds like a bad connection. Perhaps you should check the wiring between the cluster and the ECU.

 

Correct. The 95-96 SE's had white faces with clear needles. The 97 SE's were the only ones that had orange needles and a mechanical odometer. The 98-99 SE's Had orange needles with digital odometers. The 99 SE-Ls gauges were the same as the SE's but they light up differently at night.