Instrument cluster swap - will this work?

[TheInsanity1234]

Hello folks. First time poster in the technical forum!

So I've recently bought a '60 Kia Picanto 1 with the 1.0.

Obviously, the boggo spec one doesn't come with a rev counter in the instrument cluster, just a speedo and a fk off massive fuel gauge.

Now I like to have a rev counter, so I was wondering how easy it would be to take an instrument cluster from a higher spec car and swap it with the one in mine? The instrument clusters are definitely swappable. in terms of being able to fit them in physically, and the plug sockets on the back of the clusters seem to be the same regardless of what dials are actually in the cluster. The part numbers seem to be the same from what I've seen of pictures.

Will it just be as simple as plug and play, or will there have to be bodging to make the rev counter work?

Thanks in advance!

[TheInsanity1234]

tapkaJohnD said:

The signal that drives the rev counter doesn't get to the gauge by magic, it needs a connection to the engine or ECU. Consulting the relevant wiring diagrams would help, as the manuafacturer might have installed the same loom for high and low spec cars.

John

Yes, that was my guessing. Far more logical to just simply use the same loom for everything, and have the same ECU reading the same data, and then just omit to display said data by not having a rev counter needle, than it would be to change the fundamental electronics of a car just to have a more basic car without a rev counter!

Any suggestions as to where I could find wiring diagrams online, I'm a bit of a newbie at all this. I assume the manufacturer's manual should have one, but I don't have access to it right now.

Butter Face said:

It's likely all pre-wired and plug and play TBH.

Yeah, the plug sockets on the two different instrument clusters are identical, and the part numbers seem to be identical bar one digit, but then I'm not entirely sure which number on the label is the important one!

For ease of advice, this is an example of the cluster fitted to my car currently, and this is an example of one I'd get to put in.

[TheInsanity1234]

Thanks John, I'll do some further googling of my own, but that looks useful!

I'll probably just go ahead and do it, but will keep digging through the internet for info!

[TheInsanity1234]

5Cylinder said:

Will the new cluster not need to be coded to the car/ecu?

I had wondered about that... I'm hoping that because it's such a basic car that they won't have bothered with anything as complex as "coded" ecus, and will just use a very basic system!

I can't seem to find any suggestion that the clusters need coding though. Will have to peruse the handbook... Assuming it comes with one!

[TheInsanity1234]

InitialDave said:

As an alternative, you could also use a secondary display that reads from the OBD2 port?

Not fond of the idea of additional displays really.

In a stroke of luck, I stumbled across the entire collection of service manuals for the 2010 Kia Picanto, specifically the 1.0, and in the instrument cluster section it says that the wiring loom has an input for the tachometer, input number 5 on connector A, so I assume that it will just be a plug and play kinda thing. See screenshot below:

[TheInsanity1234]

Thanks for all the advice - I'll get on to sorting it out and update the thread with results!