looking for advice..
I am working on 97 v6 Camaro it was brought to me because the heat hand was redlining . I am suspecting it's the cluster itself... Not jsut the issues with the heat hand but the Speedometer needle is 30mph off and the RPM pegs out as well. I have also hooked up my OBDII reader and confirmed the are is NOT overheating.

• Are the clusters bad to go out ?
• also I have been told any 1997- 03 Cluster should work , can anyone confirm that ?
• am I right in assuming it's the cluster ?

any thoughts,advice etc ?
anyone have a good cluster for sale , willing to ship ha ha
thanks in advance

 

Looking in the Parts Manual, the book shows there was one domestic and two export clusters used for the V6 in 1997. I've attach a pdf of the Parts Manual pages showing instrument clusters available in 1997. Have not removed one yet, but I looked into what was involved in the service manual. From what I remember, you'll have to loosen or drop the column, remove the cluster bezel, then unbolt the cluster from the dash and unplug the connector.

 

Thanks peterpar for the PDF , i didn't realize that they could possibly be 3 different clusters

do you think the issue is in the cluster or something else causing the electrical issues ?
Dont wanna have to buy something I don't need ?

Thanks

 

With all cluster problems you mention, chances are the trouble is in the cluster, but I don't have any experience with instrument clusters to say for sure. I would suggest downloading a copy of a service manual and using one of the individual troubleshooting charts for symptom's like you list to help isolate your problem. There isn't a 1997 manual available online that I know of, but the 1996 or 1998 should be close. Here are links to get a pdf copy the 1996 Service Manual and another for the 1998 Service Manual. If I remember right, you'll find the troubleshooting charts in section 8A Instrument Clusters.

 

Most people aren't familiar enough with the Acrobat Reader program to be able to know how to navigate these manuals to find what they are looking for. Just in case some here may fall into that category, here's a guide to how use the bookmarks to get to the correct information without thumbing from page to page. Follow the instructions in the number text boxes and you'll find just how easy it is use these manuals.