Hi All,

I am new to the forum and I wonder if anyone can help me.

I am helping a friend with a instrument cluster swap on a 53 1.6 Stilo, the original item having completely failed.

I have located and fitted a replacement cluster from a similar age and engine size donor. I also checked for a good match on the part number and software revision however it now seems that the donor vehicle had parking sensors and ASR fitted which the receiving vehicle does not.

My question is, will a garage equipped with Examiner be able to turn off the visible in dash fail errors that now come up for the ASR and reverse sensors (not fitted) whilst perhaps also aligning upwards the mileage to match the original, without being able to technically access the original which is completely dead and un-responsive, or do I need to look for another cluster from a vehicle without ASR and reversing sensors?

Very many thanks in anticipation. I didn't want to risk an hours time for dealer diagnostics to find out this was impossible!

I would think those items wouldn't cause any problems for someone who knows what they're doing with an Examiner as you have the all important match with part number

The mileage data is stored in the instrument cluster AND in the vehicle body computer so it shouldn't be a problem synching those figures across into the donor cluster

Thank you very much for your prompt reply.

I am interested to know from experience, have other forum members generally found their Fiat main dealers willing and knowledgeable in how to do this kind of reprogramming on used components rather than programming up brand new and unused items.

Or for this type of project would I be better trying to hunt down a suitably equipped independent garage?

Thanks again

Answer for both question is If they can do it - then they can do it

Independant specialists have much more diagnostics gear now than they used to so there's more choice and the choice is yours!

I'd guess some dealers will and some won't, my local dealer, a Stoneacre Fiat dealer is very much a fan of replaceing every part that could go wrong in order of most expensive first without really caring about the cost to the customer.

I'm sure other dealers are much more accomodating. As said above, if the process CAN be done then they can do it for you if they choose to.

Do be aware that they wioll always be unwilling to as they won;t be able to make the huge wad of cash on the part, and then the wad of cash on the labour.

PS - They won't offer any guarantee as the part is supplied by the owner, so check carefully any work done before you pay.

Recent conversation at my local dealer:

Me: "Is all of the work done, and has it been checked to make sure the problem is solved?"
Them: "It must be the card is all filled in, that'll be £XXX please, card or cash?"
Me: "So you're sure it is all done and working then?"
Them: "The cards done, it must be, card or cash sir?"
Me: "Lovely."
Popped outside - nothing has been done, nothing has been fixed at all.
Me: "Erm, it hasn't been fixed, can I speak to the mechanic about why not."
Them: "The cards been filled in, the mechanics have all gone home." (4.00 in the afternoon)
Me: "Manager then please."
Them: "Gone home too."
Me: "Just lovely"


Point is check before you pay, don;t pay if work not done!

Andymacselespeed said:

Me: "Is all of the work done, and has it been checked to make sure the problem is solved?"
Them: "It must be the card is all filled in, that'll be £XXX please, card or cash?"
Me: "So you're sure it is all done and working then?"
Them: "The cards done, it must be, card or cash sir?"

Click to expand...

Heh, been there done that got the t-shirt. Service reception staff often seem exceptionally dim or uninterested, and it's a relief if someone will come out from the workshop and talk to you. I'm fed up of it and won't take my car to a main dealer again.

Thanks for all of the replies and advice.

I rang around a couple of garages today who I knew to have the Examiner test gear.

They both said that they had only previously done this type of work on brand new clusters and didn't know what could or might happen to a used cluster with existing data.

Basically they said for £50 or so they could do a proxy align and see...

One said it was not simply a case of them switching erroneous cluster options on or off within Examiner, the option to them was only "proxy align" and that was it!

Has anyone on here personally tried to fit a used cluster and then had un fitted vehicle options eg ASR show up as "faulty" and then managed to remove the dash fault messages after a basic proxy alignment?

yes, you can fit a used cluster from another car - by doing a Proxy alignment the original configuration of your car stored in the bodycomputer is copied to your cluster to provide the original options you had before changing it.
You also can do a cluster replacement procedure with the Examiner with one restriction: you can't adjust the mileage downward (only upward) so you have to find a cluster with less or equal miles on it.

Hello, it's not as difficult as many dealers make you believe -
plug in Examiner, start with cluster replacement procedure - read stored values from old cluster and write them down (total miles, miles to service,days to service and number of remaining electronic service stamps) -remove old cluster, fit new (used) cluster, enter values written before (other values are possible too as long as you do not try to enter a lower miles value - if you enter 0 service stamps you will not get any service reminder messages anymore) -
your mileage will blink to show you the present configuration is incorrect -
then choose Proxi alignment (under "Body computer") - the Examiner will show you that the cluster needs an alignment) - perform the Proxi alignment procedure (the Examiner reads the original configuration file of your body computer and writes it in the cluster memory ) -after that your cluster will have the same options as you had before - all options that your car don't have will be disabled , i fitted an Abarth color matrix cluster in my 1.6 Stilo this way ! (no oil pressure / temperature , no parking sensors warnings etc.)
Good luck and don't let them tell you all kind of "not possible" stories....
Regards,
Yellowstilo