hoosier58

My '94 SC300 cluster has more than one backlight bulb out, and only the small needles light. There's a '93 SC4 at a U-pull near me. Are clusters completely interchangable? Should this just be a plug and play swap?

Also, my climate control does not light at all (the system works, I just can't see what it is doing). A while back I grabbed a used climate unit from a '92, put it in, and had the same problem. Is it likely that all of the bulbs, buttons and LCD, went out, or should I be looking elsewhere for my trouble?

Thanks

PS

If I swap clusters, will my odometer be accurate, or will it match the other car?

187

You can always send the cluster off to get repaired by lextech. The 400 cluster can go into the sc300 if the year is right but the tach with be off for sure and it won't show your original milage.

If I was you I would take the bulbs out and replace them with led strips. There is a guide on it called swapable clusters of something i'll try and find.

link
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sc-...klighting.html

As for the climate, you can also send that off to get fixed, havent had to play with mine at all.

hoosier58

Thanks for the answers about the cluster. That tach issue kind of settles it for me, unfortunately. I am trying to get the car ready for a quick sale this month, so sending my cluster off isn't really in my plans. I've also seen the DIYs on changing bulbs yourself, and will probably go that route. There is also a needle DIY, from another model, that involves soldering in a resistor and single LED at the tip. I have a second set of needles, but haven't tried them yet. If they don't work, I think I'll try the tip lighting mod.

I'm not sure if my climate question was answered. Is it likely that all of the lights in the unit would be out, meaning I need all new bulbs? Or if everything is out, is it more likely that something else, not the bulbs, is causing it?

hoosier58

Are you certain about the tachometer issue? I've found used clusters that claim to be for SC3 or SC4.

I did read the led strip thread. I don't need the changing colors, just one. That sounds easier and cheaper than replacing all the bulbs. Of course, I still have the needle issue, and followed a link in that thread to a needle thread. O.L.T. made a pretty good case for why not to do your own needles.

Does the Lextech service include needles and backlighting for one price? Or could I save money having them do the needles, then do the backlight strips myself?