This page is to document the steps taken to install a genuine STi Version 6 dash gauge cluster in my 2000 Impreza RS. The unit had to be modified to work with the stock RS wiring harness, and this modification was graciously done by Trey Cobb at Cobb Tuning. Without his help, this modification would not have been possible, and I cannot thank him enough. You can pick up one of these units directly from Trey. The major immediate benefit is the large tachometer is moved to the center of the cluster, with the speedometer moved to the side. Your odometer reading will be changed if you do this swap- I went from 43,101 miles to 8 kilometers (about 5 miles) after the swap; the cluster reads in Kph, so you have to get used to that as well. If you should have any questions or comments, please feel free to email and ask.
As usual, I felt compelled to pull this thing apart before I even had it out of the box, and the following are some photos of the cluster in various states of disassembly. Click on a thumbnail for a larger photo.
Ok, getting back to actually installing this thing. Make a note of your mileage, as it will be changing when you install the new cluster. Also make a note of your gasoline level, as you want to make certain the gas gauge reads correctly on the new cluster. With that done, it's time to start. The first thing to do is to remove the stock gauge cluster. You will find 2 phillips head screws if you look up at the underside of the gauge surround. I've labelled them 1 and 2 in the photo. You will need to remove these.
With those two screws removed, the only thing holding the gauge surround in is two clips. Of course you cannot see them from the front, but I've labelled their locations with numbers 1 and 2 in the photo above. Pull out towards you at these locations, and the surround should pop right off.
This photo is here to show you what those tabs look like and what you are up against. It is of the backside of the gauge surrond once it has been removed.
In this photo, you will see letters A and B- this is where those clips on the gauge surround clipped into, and will become important when you reinstall everything. For now, the numbers 1, 2, and 3 are important, as you need to remove these three phillips screws in order to unplug all the connectors on the stock gauge cluster.
With the three screws removed, tilt the cluster down in order to access the connectors for the gauge cluster. There are 3 connectors on the stock cluster, and they are all green. Their locations are shown below.
One is in the upper left corner, just above the buttons for adjusting the clock.
One is in the center, but it is very hard to see. It is behind the tab that held screw #1 (from the photo 2 above this one).
The last screw is in the upper right hand corner, just above the tachometer.
This is a photo taken with the cluster out of the car, to better illustrate the locations of the connectors. It is taken from above and in front of the cluster.
With the three connectors unplugged, you pull the stock cluster out. You will have to wiggle the cluster around to get it out and around the steering wheel. I found that if I pushed the left edge over to the left and up a bit, I could pull the right side down and out towards me, then pull the whole thing out. From here out, you just plug in all the connectors on the STi unit, and slide it back into the dash.
The new cluster is the same size and shape as the old one, just with a nice, large, center mounted tachometer. Time to stop admiring how far you have gotten though. Check that all your "idiot lights" work by turning the key to the position just before start. You should see at least "gas", "airbag", the "battery" symbol, the oil light, a funny symbol like "((!))" if your parking brake is applied, and a few more. Check that the seatbelt light goes off and that your "open door" indicator works. Check that your directionals work, and that the gas gauge matches the reading on your old cluster. Ensure the tach works, and ensure the speedometer works (it will not work in reverse gears) by taking a quick spin around the block. If everything is working properly, it's time to replace all the screws and put your dash back together!
Like I said, your odometer will read whatever the cluster read in the car it came out of. In my case, it could not get much newer! The odometer and speedometer will now read in kilometers, so you are looking at my new cluster reading 8 km, or about 5 miles! This thing was brand new!
The finished product, with my Air Fuel ratio gauge and my Exhaust Gas Temperature gauge back in place. The only thing I have to learn to get used to is converting kph to mph. It would be great to see the look on the police officer's face when he asks "how fast were you going" and I say "about 130." It equates to about 80 miles per hour, but it will be fun all the same!
Standard Disclaimer: Modification of your car involves risks and may void your warranty. I can not be held responsible for the modifications you consciously decide to undertake nor for the results of doing so.
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