3rd gen gauge cluster in 2nd gen truck?

Alright everyone im getting the half of a 5 year loan itch! and am in need of doing something to my truck! As always with boredom at work I searched the web and looked at 2012 interiors which brings me to my question. Does anybody know at all if the 3rd Gen digital gauge cluster fits into the second gen at all? thanks

 

3rd gen?

 

'12 is still 2nd gen. Little bit of work and it's there. If you have got the skills and tools, why not.

 

You don't have to laugh out loud, it's a fact.

 

they introduced the new instrument cluster part way thru the '11 model year IIRC.

That said - I have no idea if you can just drop a newer one into an older truck.

 

i want too...

 

I haven't seen this digital cluster and am having a hell of a time finding a pic, could someone help me out?

 

from the future of 1980 we bring you the new digital cluster!

 

Beat me to it.

 

No the new cluster will not work. It uses data lines to the ECU (that contain all annunciator and gauge signals) while the older cluster uses signal wires directly from each sensor.

 

To clear things up

1st gen:







2nd Gen:





There is no 3rd generation. The differences within each generation are mainly facelifts

 

I laugh because of all the "digital advanced electronics" and yet there is a bubble compass on the dash!

^^^^ ditto. The newer model 2nd gens use data lines for transmitting information for the gauges. They are not cross compatible.

 

Hahahah I failed epically!!
On the up n up though I got the answer I was looking for thanks to Truffle Shuffle.
You can make the older 2nd gens look like the 12's and up!

http://www.blackcatcustom.com/toyota_tacoma.htm

 

I want the steering wheel of the current on my 2008- Dealer told me it would not work!! My dealer has been trying to coax me into a new 2013. but the more I thought about it-the only diff was the steering wheel and the gauges- not enough in my book to switch!! Plus mine is spotless with 48,500 miles. A TRD Baja maybe,but they don't seem to exist in the south!!

 

BTW after looking at what data is transmitted over the bus lines, you could theoretically add two wires from the data port by the drivers side kick panel to the cluster and it might work on a 2010 Tacoma. I'd test this out if I has access to a 2012 cluster. Depends on the trucks firmware differences.

 

googled 2014tacoma, I believe this will be the beginning of the 3rd gen.

 

Buss communications are different in most cases from year to year, though some close year models may have some interchangability. Each "module" (i.e. ECU, cluster, radio) have a specific identifier to it, and as the vehicles are built, they are set to only communicate with the ones that have that ID set. These are not like USB plug-and play modules. For example, if a truck was built one year with a standard cluster, the other computers would never have been set up to communicate with a cluster. By simply plugging in a newer "smart" cluster, the other computers would still not communicate with it, because they don't know, not expect it, to exist. Hopefully I explained that enough to make sense...lol.

 

That's when the firmware/software comes into play. Most likely it would still be the same hardware if opened up.

As far as the cluster goes, it appears to be one way communication with the ECU, just displaying annunciators and gauge information from the same data lines that a device such as a scangauge pulls data from the OBD port.

THEORETICALLY haha. I'd love to test it out if I could get my hands on a cheap 2012 cluster. Only other problem would be the mileage as it is stored on the cluster.