When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
I've searched and seen only one other post from a member on here who has had success with swapping the instrument cluster on their 08 g35 so far. Yes I could rework the circuit board for maybe $40 in parts to fix the flickering LED's....or I can get a 2010 g37 cluster for only $70 that has +/- 4000 miles compared to my current one. It should arrive next week. Stay tuned to see how it goes.
I don't think the G37 dash would ever work in the G35 due to the different bitrate for the CANBUS system unless it was a COMPLETE electrical swap including ECM/BCM, AC controller, everything. They all talk via CANBUS.
Same reason why people don't swap the VHR motors into the older chassis, different CANBUS.
Last edited by cleric670; Apr 9, 2021 at 01:07 PM.
VHR cars use a 500kb/s bitrate, the HR and DE chassis uses the 250kb/s CANBUS. This is why the HR swap is so popular for the DE chassis, it doesn't require anything special since the systems can still talk together so things like the AC and dash will still work.
Interesting. Thanks for your input, I didn't know that. Do you think the different signal rates could cause any damage? You already know where I'm going with that.....I'm going to either repair or replace the 08 cluster anyway. And since it's out.
Well, it has worked. Or so I believe. I'm getting good signals and response from all the gauges but I think there is now an issue with my clock spring as the airbag light will not reset and the vdc and slip lights are on. Also steering controls are inoperative. If anyone has any guidance on this, I would really appreciate it.
Update: I was able to get the vdc and slip lights off. I had the angle sensor off by maybe 360° so I used the backup camera to align it. Still working on the airbag light and then lastly the steering controls which I am genuinely stumped by.
Airbag diagnostic code is one long followed by two groups of two fast blinks. Not sure if that's code 12 or 122.
Update #2. It's confirmed that the ribbon wire in the clock spring is snapped. I don't have confidence that I can fix it so I'm going to seek a replacement.
Just draw a nice long legible match mark across the whole thing with a sharpie (and a ruler or straight edge) then transfer the mark to the new one.
Always start with the steering wheel perfectly straight.
You'll get it.
That's some good advice. Because I ordered the part used and can't be sure as to how the part was taken off compared to the steering wheel angle, my process is going to be as follows.
I'm going to park the car with the wheels and steering wheel completely straight. Install the new clock spring with angle sensor. Put the car in reverse and see where the angle sensor matches up. Once I get that lined up straight, I'm going to turn the clock spring by hand to make sure I can go in either direction the same amount. Return everything to the straight position and install the steering wheel.
Thoughts?
Update: Everything works! All calibrated, lights out and controls restored.
About 200 miles on the new cluster. Looks great and I'm very happy. So yes, it is possible to drop in a 2010 G37 instrument cluster to an 08 G35.
Remove the existing angle sensor then turn it clockwise until it stops moving, keep track of how many revolutions it turns, it will only turn I think 2.5 turns clockwise (starting at the exact middle point where the steering wheel is centered) until it bottoms out. Now turn the new sensor until it stops on the clockwise rotation, then turn it backwards until it is at the same starting point as the original. Now you just have to transfer the alignment mark over and it's in the EXACT same position as the old one.
Just make absolutely sure to keep track of exactly how many rotations the existing sensor made, from far CCW to far CW it's a little over 5 complete revolutions iirc, 2.5 each direction if you started at the middle.
EDIT: Just realized you are done and it works, congrats! Glad it all worked out.
Also, interested in that G37 cluster swap you did, everything works PERFECTLY ???
Remove the existing angle sensor then turn it clockwise until it stops moving, keep track of how many revolutions it turns, it will only turn I think 2.5 turns clockwise (starting at the exact middle point where the steering wheel is centered) until it bottoms out. Now turn the new sensor until it stops on the clockwise rotation, then turn it backwards until it is at the same starting point as the original. Now you just have to transfer the alignment mark over and it's in the EXACT same position as the old one.
Just make absolutely sure to keep track of exactly how many rotations the existing sensor made, from far CCW to far CW it's a little over 5 complete revolutions iirc, 2.5 each direction if you started at the middle.
EDIT: Just realized you are done and it works, congrats! Glad it all worked out.
Also, interested in that G37 cluster swap you did, everything works PERFECTLY ???
Yea the old one was all in pieces in my toolbox to determine it was broke. But I did use the old angle sensor to zero that in. Once I figured the half way point on the clock spring, in order to not mess that up, I plugged in the old angle sensor and set that, plugged in the new clock spring making sure not to move the position.
No issues at all with the new cluster. Everything works perfectly.
