Low spec to high spec cluster conversion

[oldskewel]

Originally Posted by andrewwynn

My low spec car had a coolant level sensor it just wasn't used. I am trying to remember if it had a wiring connector or nothing.

This here is the issue. At least the first issue to consider.

The coolant level sensor is "in" the coolant expansion tank. Generally new tanks come with new sensors, although they are easily removable and swappable between tanks, sold separately, etc. Even with a low cluster, your expansion tank may already have the sensor in it, if it is not original.

The high cluster is needed to display the coolant low message (or whatever exactly it is).

But in between, the not-surely known issue, is whether the wiring harness from a low-cluster car has the 2P connector to plug into the coolant sensor in the expansion tank.

My high cluster car (2001 3.0i) does have this, of course. If I had to guess, based on bad memory, I'd say the low cluster cars do NOT have this connector. And the connector immediately bundles into a thick bundle of wiring in my car. So I would not assume it will be an easy add-on if that connector is not already there.

The sensor itself is a little complicated regarding a float, magnets, and a reed switch. But it ends up as a simple open/closed switch showing either zero or infinite resistance. From my notes on this, the switch is open (infinite resistance) when the float is at the bottom (coolant level low). So if you were to run the high cluster with no sensor wired in there, you might get a constant coolant level low warning. But at that point, I don't know anything at all about the important details of ECU analysis of sensor readings and communication with the cluster.