Document Revision #3
INSTRUCTIONS
The following instructions can be viewed on my webpage. I have added the following 5 pages for the convenience of having them on paper. If you have any trouble viewing something on here, you can see all pictures on
First, obtaining one is not too hard. The best place to go is and search for a 200sx SE cluster under the category "speedometer." You have to look for one with similar miles on it as your car. They will usually go for about 50-100 dollars.
Preparation: Before you start, UNPLUG YOUR BATTERY!! Trust me on this one. You will also need a tiny flat head screw driver, Phillips head screw driver, spare 18 gauge wire, and simple wire splicing tools.
Now you need to remove the old cluster from the dash. Lower your steering wheel and remove the 2 screws from the top of the opening. Pull the border out of the opening. Unscrew the 4 screws from around the cluster and pull it out. Unplug the 3 harnesses and remove the wires from the harnesses using the wiring method on
Rearrange the wires within the harnesses according to the picture on the first page of this document.
Now, during the swap, you will end up having one EXTRA GND (ground) wire and you will end up one SHORT on the IGN (power +) wires, so here's what you do: Cut off one of the black GND wires and splice it onto a IGN wire.
Now, to access the Tachometer Signal, you need to tap into the signal coming from the ECU. The wire is blue with an orange stripe (not to be confused with a red striped one near it). You can find the signal behind the radio. Here are some pics to help out:
When you have tapped the signal wire you will run your wire (about 4-5ft. of it) under the dash until it comes out behind the instrument cluster. Follow this picture to connect the signal to the cluster:
Pic 1.Assuming that this is your signal wire for the tachometer (the spare wire you tapped from the ECU), you will take a wire stripping tool and strip about ¾” of the wire so that you will have ¾” of copper showing.
Pic 2.Also assuming that this is the correct location for the Tach signal (which it’s not in this example pic) you will feed the wire into the tach (blu/org/sil on the guide) slot. About 1/2” will come out the bottom.
Pic 3.Take the ½” of wire from the bottom and fold it up and around the harness.
Pic 4.The final result: the signal wire is securely inserted in place. The wire is in position to make contact with the cluster when the white harness is plugged in.
When everything's hooked up, secure the cluster into place but don't close everything up just yet. Start up the car and check all the lights and gauges (the fuel gauge should adjust itself). Don't get discouraged if it doesn't all work right away, that is almost always expected.
Troubleshooting, Q&A:
Q: I am having trouble finding this wire color, not all wire colors match up perfectly.
A: Not every model has the exactly the same wire pattern on each wire. Some wire colors may have also faded. I have noticed that this diagram works perfectly for some while others have a few wires out of place. It is impossible for me to actually find every scheme for each situation; there are some differences depending on year, trim, and transmission. I suggest you do the wires that match up first, then try to define the ones that don't match up exactly, most of the codes will not be off by very much. Most should not have very much trouble at all.
Q: What about my odometer? I want my miles to match up on the new cluster.
A: By all means, I would suggest you first hunt out something with similar miles. You can also find a cluster with slightly higher miles and hold off on the swap until you have driven the car to where they match up. The best source is trying and look under the keyword "Speedometer."
If you have no luck finding one, you can do an odometer swap, however it is very delicate work because you must remove 2 needles (1 from each cluster), you must take your time.
BTW, I offer the odometer swap free of charge. Just overnight me both clusters with the money to overnight them back. Once again, email me for the details.
Q: Everything seems to be hooked up correctly but a lot of things aren't working.
A: Check your fuses. If you didn't unhook your battery like I mentioned you should do, you probably blew a fuse or 2. First, check the fuse labeled "Meter." If that doesn't work, check others under the dash and by the battery.
Q: Can I use an SR20 cluster? A B13 Cluster? Cluster from another car model?
A: SR20 Cluster: As long as the cluster came from a B14, the SR20 cluster has the exact same wiring as the 1.6 tach cluster (it would be plug and play if you already have the 1.6 tach). Unfortunately, the 2.0 speedometer goes to 150mph while the 1.6 only goes to 130. Being that the odometer and the speedometer are one unit, it is impossible to swap your old odometer into the new cluster. If you really want an SR20 cluster THAT badly, you better hunt for one that matches your mileage.
B13 cluster: Only the '93 and '94 models work because the 91 & 92 used a mechanical speedometer. The B13 has been known to work in the B14 but I believe the wiring diagram I have on this website will not help you (I think the B13 cluster has 4 plugs while the B14 has 3).
Other cluster: If you're looking to do your own custom thing with aftermarket gauges or a cluster from a different model (such as a 240sx or a JDM Sunny), this is something you will have to figure out on your own. As for a cluster from a different car model, I'm positive you will not find another one with the same wiring pattern nor can I guarantee it will even physically fit in the dash.
Q: My cluster came with an alarm light inside the tachometer. How do I make it work?
A: I am well aware of the alarm light, I kinda wish I had a cluster with one in it. I honestly have no idea if it will work right off the battery. I have a hunch that it'll work by itself once everything is all hooked up, but if it doesn't, just try to run a 12V + and - lead to it and see what happens.
Q: I have a manual, what about the OD off light? What does "OD off" mean?
A: OD off is used on automatics, meaning "overdrive off" or 3rd gear when we need that extra pulling power. If you happen to have a manual transmission, you don't really need to worry about the light. Manual cars won't even have that wire.
Q: How do I remove my radio to get to the tach (blue/orange) wire?
A: You actually don't need to remove the radio like I did in the picture; the wire can be reached from underneath (on most models). From the floor of the passenger side, look up underneath the radio (right above the ECU). You should be able to find that same harness right against the plastic trim. You can search out the wire from there.
Remember DON'T CONFUSE IT WITH THE BLUE/RED WIRE WHICH LOOKS ALMOST THE SAME, THE CORRECT COLOR IS BLUE WITH AN ORANGE STRIPE.
Q: There are 4 black GND wires, which one do I cut off to make the new IGN wire?
These 2+ wires have the exact color scheme, which one's which?
A: Real simple, if two or more wires have the exactly the same coloring pattern, they are all the same. You can mix them around all you want and it won't matter. This also means it doesn't matter which black/-/silver wire you cut, they are all the same.
Q: Looking at the diagram, the left one (w/out tach) has a wire marked "(no label)yel/red/sil," the right one (w/ tach) has "(-check)yel/red/sil." Wouldn't this mean that they are both the "-check"? Why does the left one say "no label"?
A: Correct, it is the same wire, it does the same thing. I wrote "no label" on the left cluster because there is no label physically on the back of the cluster. The right cluster has it physically labeled as "check" so therefore, I wrote "-check" in the diagram to note what the back of the cluster says. The '-' symbol of course indicates that the wire is a negative source.
Q: This guy says this cluster came from a 1.6 Sentra and NOT a 200sx SE, how is this possible? I thought all 1.6 Sentras were tachless.
A: Only the XE/GXE models come without the tach.
The models that DO come with a tach:
B13:
>1.6- 91-94 SE
>2.0- 91-94 SE-R
B14:
>1.6- 95-98 200sx SE
>1.6- 95-99 Sentra GLE
>1.6- 99 Sentra GXE-Limited
>2.0- 95-98 200sx SE-R
>2.0- 98-99 Sentra SE and SE-L