Pontiac G6 Forum banner

2010 Speedometer Swap HOW-TO

57985 Views 180 Replies 41 Participants Last post by  boomer
10
Here is my write up on how to upgrade your G6's speedometer cluster with the 2009.5-2010 cluster with the integrated DIC (Driver Information Center)

This is the OEM option to move the DIC from the stereo to the cluster so that you can run a full sized head unit without losing any factory settings or features. It's way nicer looking than the metra dash kits, way cheaper, and the wiring is actually pretty simple if you already have the factory cruise control.

Side Note: 2005-2009 G6's have a small speaker on the back of the gauge cluster that plays the turn signal sound and all of the chimes and tones.
2009.5-2010 run those sounds through the stereo.
As a result several modules exist to retain those chimes. Some modules also include RAP (Retained Accessory Power) and OnStar.

Here are three modules I found:
Axxess GMOS-LAN-03 Wiring Interface - Retains RAP, OnStar, and Safety Warning Chimes
Metra LC-GMRC-LAN-03 Wiring Interface - Only retains Safety Warning Chimes
PAC OS-311B Wiring Interface - Retains RAP, OnStar and Safety Warning Chimes (I used this one)

Now onto getting ready for your swap.
First you'll need to purchase the speedometer of your choice.
As far as I know there are two designs of the updated cluster with the DIC



and



That one is the actual picture of mine, I couldn't find a good clear one online and I didn't take one before I swapped the needles.
I chose this cluster because it looks just like my old one, The numbers are slightly larger. some idiot lights were moved, and the needles were the same as the other updated cluster, I decided to swap in the older ones to match it better.
As you can see it also lights up White. It's also fully lit up anytime the ignition is on with the lights off.

I decided to tint the backside of the gauge face with red tinted vinyl to make the lights match the rest of the car. It worked out well but makes it a tad darker.
I'll eventually be soldering new LEDs to the board.



You can see the gaps in lighting when the dimmer is turned down.


Once you found your speedometer you need to also get the new Info and Enter buttons so you can control the Speedometer DIC.

This can be found by looking for a 2010 Pontiac G6 Cruise Control Switch (This only fits the 3 spoke steering wheel, Older G6's with the 4 spoke steering wheel will not fit this button)
ACDelco D1952F


You'll also be adding a wire, So you'll need a specific pin to fit the connector on the cluster.
I ended up buying a connector with wires attached off ebay, since I only needed one I'll sell off the remaining wires to whoever else wants to do the swap. Look for it in the For Sale Section.

Here's the pin and wire.


And you will need to extend the wire so there is a little more play room behind the cluster.
I went with green to match everything better.


I have several pins/wires available for anyone wanting to do the swap. Here is the listing for them on ebay
http://www.ebay.com/itm/282357013875


Now that you have all your parts ready, You can get all your tools and anything else ready!
You will need:

  • 7mm socket with extensions (I used a nut driver with a couple of extensions)
  • Small Flathead Screwdriver
  • Torx Bits/Wrenches (If not available you can use Allen/Hex keys as none of the screws should be very tight)
  • Soldering Iron (If you plan to solder your wiring connection) (There's only one)
  • Wire stripper/cutter (crimper if not soldering)
  • Heat Shrink tubing or Electrical Tape
  • Little pokey stick, like a toothpick

Let me begin by saying that some minimal wiring is involved. And you have to remove the air bag module from the steering wheel.
I strongly advise that you disconnect your battery and wait a few minutes before starting just to be safe.

If you do not feel comfortable with doing any wiring to your vehicle then I don't recommend you undertake this project yourself.
You'll only be working on one small signal wire.
I am NOT Responsible for any damage or problems that may occur to your vehicle. This How-to is intended as only a guide to help aid you with your swap. Some trim levels and years may be different so I can't be absolutely sure this will work on every G6.
(However, the wiring diagrams from 2005-2009 for the cluster all look identical)


NOW WE CAN GET TO THE SWAP!

We'll start by removing the Gauge Cluster.

First you'll need to remove the Bezel around the Cluster.
To Begin there are two small Torx Screws at the top of the bezel.


There are then two panel clips behind the bezel at the bottom, It'll take a little pulling to yank them out. I tilted the bezel forward so I can reach a few fingers behind it to pop it out.
The two clips are located around where the red circles are:


Then you just need to remove the upper steering column cover, This can be done by pulling up on either side by the stalks

Once removed the bezel and steering wheel column cover can be removed as one piece.

I also pulled the steering wheel as far forward and down as I can for maximum room
See less See more
  • Like
Reactions: 1
61 - 80 of 181 Posts
@CruisinG6 , thanks for the detailed writeup, it was a big help.

I have a new to me 06 GTP with only 88k miles and in great shape, except for all the leather on the top of the steering wheel gouged out (ring damage), and a the factory head unit was replaced with (a decent 2016 model Pioneer) double-DIN, so no DIC.

So I figured I'd kill two birds with one stone, and get a good used leather wheel with the info buttons along with a DIC gauge cluster. Scored a primo leather wheel from an '09 Saturn Aura (complete with paddle shifters) and the fancy font gauge cluster, all for under $70 on Ebay. Ordered a wire from you the same day, but to my surprise, the cluster and wheel arrived in only two days even though Ebay said to expect them in 10 days, so your wire is still en-route.

Removed my stock cluster, tested the new cluster, DIC was displaying correct miles and outside temp (and low oil life, and door ajar, etc), so went on to step two, replacing the wheel. That went real easy since the Aura wheel already had the correct pin-out. (Disconnected the paddle shifters from the harness just in case, they're just there to fidget with now).

Did the splice from the green wire and fabbed my own field-expedient connector with a scrap pin on the old wheel harness, routed it, tested it, DIC works fine, can cycle, do all the things (reset oil life, remote start, auto-locks, horn on lock, etc), so I buttoned her up and went for a drive, cruise control also works.

(Side note, the backlight on the Aura wheel controls is a light amber/yellow...doesn't clash horribly, but I think I'm going to see about swapping the red bulbs from the old wheel).

So far, so good. But wait, there's more. For some reason now, my head unit never shuts off, used to work properly with RAP, open door kills power, as does the 10 minute RAP timer. Now, it stays on until I manually switch it off. And I have no chimes (that was expected).

Any suggestions?

Personally I suspect it's something to do with the CANBUS adapter the previous owner installed...it's an Axxess unit, but I think with the new gauge cluster sans chimes, the whole CANBUS system is behaving differently and I'll need the adapter for the newer cars. Oh well, gives me an excuse to get the steering wheel radio control module too.
See less See more
i can't answer your question but i was wondering if you used a saturn or pontiac cluster?
Well, never mind...disconnected the battery for a few hours because I took the airbag equipped passenger seat out to work on it today (recliner/folder stuck). When I buttoned the car back up, RAP was working properly with the head unit. Guess the BCM was just a little confused and needed a nap.
2
i can't answer your question but i was wondering if you used a saturn or pontiac cluster?
Pontiac cluster, Saturn Aura wheel.

Attachments

See less See more
  • Like
Reactions: 1
Too funny. Today on the way home from work, the turn signal stopped auto-cancelling. Time for a new stalk, wish it had went bad a week ago. :)
@CruisinG6 , thanks for the detailed writeup, it was a big help.

I have a new to me 06 GTP with only 88k miles and in great shape, except for all the leather on the top of the steering wheel gouged out (ring damage), and a the factory head unit was replaced with (a decent 2016 model Pioneer) double-DIN, so no DIC.

So I figured I'd kill two birds with one stone, and get a good used leather wheel with the info buttons along with a DIC gauge cluster. Scored a primo leather wheel from an '09 Saturn Aura (complete with paddle shifters) and the fancy font gauge cluster, all for under $70 on Ebay. Ordered a wire from you the same day, but to my surprise, the cluster and wheel arrived in only two days even though Ebay said to expect them in 10 days, so your wire is still en-route.

Removed my stock cluster, tested the new cluster, DIC was displaying correct miles and outside temp (and low oil life, and door ajar, etc), so went on to step two, replacing the wheel. That went real easy since the Aura wheel already had the correct pin-out. (Disconnected the paddle shifters from the harness just in case, they're just there to fidget with now).

Did the splice from the green wire and fabbed my own field-expedient connector with a scrap pin on the old wheel harness, routed it, tested it, DIC works fine, can cycle, do all the things (reset oil life, remote start, auto-locks, horn on lock, etc), so I buttoned her up and went for a drive, cruise control also works.

(Side note, the backlight on the Aura wheel controls is a light amber/yellow...doesn't clash horribly, but I think I'm going to see about swapping the red bulbs from the old wheel).

So far, so good. But wait, there's more. For some reason now, my head unit never shuts off, used to work properly with RAP, open door kills power, as does the 10 minute RAP timer. Now, it stays on until I manually switch it off. And I have no chimes (that was expected).

Any suggestions?

Personally I suspect it's something to do with the CANBUS adapter the previous owner installed...it's an Axxess unit, but I think with the new gauge cluster sans chimes, the whole CANBUS system is behaving differently and I'll need the adapter for the newer cars. Oh well, gives me an excuse to get the steering wheel radio control module too.
Sorry for the long delay in my reply. I'm glad you got it to work. The RAP not shutting down COULD be an issue with your door switch. But being an isolated instance hopefully it's not an issue anymore. Changing the cluster shouldn't change anything in how the canbus behaves. I think the main differences in stereo harness kits is the retention of chimes through an extra chime module.
I've had some funky BCM issues myself so I wouldn't be surprised if it needed a "reboot"


Too funny. Today on the way home from work, the turn signal stopped auto-cancelling. Time for a new stalk, wish it had went bad a week ago. :)
At least they're inexpensive, and I have a write-up for that too!
Great write up Cruisin. My situation is a little unique and I haven't found anyone that has attempted it and posted about it. I have a 2005 base G6, with NO factory steering wheel control support. In other words, my factory harness has 5 wires instead of 8 wires running to the steering wheel. I've already swapped my 4 spoke wheel to a 3 spoke, and I tore apart the entire dash and swapped in an 05 harness that supports steering controls. The controls still don't work, and I'm assuming I need the BCM flashed. Since I'm already planning to flash the BCM, I figured I would try to swap the speedometer to the 2010 version as well. My big question is: is there something that can be programmed into my BCM to allow support for this mod? I know someone has done this successfully in a 2006 model, but no one has mentioned an 05, let alone one that didn't have a correct harness from the factory. Any ideas before I have the BCM reprogrammed?
Great write up Cruisin. My situation is a little unique and I haven't found anyone that has attempted it and posted about it. I have a 2005 base G6, with NO factory steering wheel control support. In other words, my factory harness has 5 wires instead of 8 wires running to the steering wheel. I've already swapped my 4 spoke wheel to a 3 spoke, and I tore apart the entire dash and swapped in an 05 harness that supports steering controls. The controls still don't work, and I'm assuming I need the BCM flashed. Since I'm already planning to flash the BCM, I figured I would try to swap the speedometer to the 2010 version as well. My big question is: is there something that can be programmed into my BCM to allow support for this mod? I know someone has done this successfully in a 2006 model, but no one has mentioned an 05, let alone one that didn't have a correct harness from the factory. Any ideas before I have the BCM reprogrammed?
Expect a PM in the very near future. Just need to pour over some diagrams first.
So this will work in a 2006 G6 without any issues. Meaning no flashing of BCM.
So this will work in a 2006 G6 without any issues. Meaning no flashing of BCM.
I buyer on eBay that purchased a wire from me confirmed that it did work on their 2006 G6.
Seems the biggest issue with the 2006 g6 is some have the 4 spoke steering wheel and some have the 3 spoke steering wheel. It's only the 3 spoke that the cruise/dic buttons fit into.
Worked on my 3-spoke 2006 GTP. No reprogramming the BCM, but I do seem to be missing Instant MPG, and TPMS messages (for which I'm grateful!).

Everything else works (low coolant, ajar, and lights off warnings, Trip A/B, Avg MPG, Average Speed, Oil Life %, Odo/External Temp) is there, as is the ability to reset them, and set some driver prefs (alarm honk, auto door lock settings, etc).
As far as I'm concerned the 2005 and 2006 are basically the same... So I THINK it should go to plan. I got a speedo for a steal off ebay and have all the other parts coming. Should have it all installed within a month and can confirm/deny if it works without any modifications in a 2005.
I'm confident it'll work on the 2005, Biggest issue I see is all 2005's (if not most) have the 4 spoke steering wheel making the swap for the buttons more difficult. But you mentioned you already swapped wheels, so you're in the clear :D
I do have a potential option to use a dash mounted button set, but haven't been able to confirm anything with it yet.
I have the cluster about to buy the pin and looking for the cruise control buttons on eBay
Part# D1952F
Rock auto has it for $24.79
And I saw it on amazon for around $30
You're kidding... I bought one off ebay and overpayed!! I could have saved $5 ?
I made the same mistake when I got mine :(
Update: Got everything hooked up on my 05 and SURPRISE!! It works!! Only downside is no chimes... I need to figure out why my wiring interface for my double din stereo isn't doing what it's supposed to :???:
Update: Got everything hooked up on my 05 and SURPRISE!! It works!! Only downside is no chimes... I need to figure out why my wiring interface for my double din stereo isn't doing what it's supposed to :???:
Did you get a chime module for your aftermarket CANBUS wiring harness?

Because otherwise, well, there won't be chimes, since the old gauge cluster had the chime speaker in the back of the cluster, while the 2009.5+ does not, it instead plays the chimes through the head unit, via CANBUS signals, which your aftermarket head unit will never understand. The GM11 LAN box you need, from either PAC or Metra/Axxess would have a visible speaker grill in the box the wiring harness connects to.
Update: Got everything hooked up on my 05 and SURPRISE!! It works!! Only downside is no chimes... I need to figure out why my wiring interface for my double din stereo isn't doing what it's supposed to :???:
Which interface are you using?
61 - 80 of 181 Posts
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top