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I posted this in the escape cluster thread, but figured it probably deserves its own thread because it is not an escape swap.
I finally got a chance to install my explorer platinum 12” cluster. I started off with an escape 12” cluster that I got cheap locally. It worked great and was only 600 miles more than my odometer at the time. So I waited until I was over the escape’s mileage and then installed it in my 2024 Maverick XLT FX4. I was able to increase the mileage on the escape cluster to match my current odometer. I didn’t realize at first that I would lose tow/haul mode and snow/sand mode. I struggled to get the drive modes to work on my truck. I followed all of the recommendations in this post with forscan and spen at least another hour trying different settings. I could select a drive mode and it would work as long as the truck wasn’t started. Once I started the truck I couldn’t change the drive mode. Not even go back to normal.
So with that issue and losing the 2 modes I decided to find an explorer cluster. It was harder to find a deal on the explorer one, but got a decent deal on eBay. Unfortunately they didn’t list mileage on the listing, so I didn’t know what I was getting. When I received it I found that the mileage was about 30,000 more than my current odometer. I messaged Dave with @Clusters by Livnitup. I had Dave do 2 previous clusters for me in the past for my F-150s. He said he wasn’t sure if he could correct the explorer mileage, but would give it a shot. Luckily he was able to adjust the mileage to match my predicted odometer reading when I would receive it back.
Last night I removed the escape cluster and tried to install the explorer cluster. I kind of had a feeling based on other people’s experience the explorer cluster wouldn’t mount with out some modifications. The main issue with the explorer cluster is the clear lens housing for some reason is a little bigger than the escape/maverick cluster. I figured it was worth a shot to swap the lens from the escape cluster to the explorer cluster. That worked with a little trimming of the plastic tabs where the bottoms bolts mount to the dash. I also had to make the aluminum tabs for the bottom bolts a little smaller. The explorer cluster has 2 bolt holes in the bottom tabs and the escape/ maverick only have one bolt hole. I used a cut off wheel on a dremel to trim the aluminum tabs. After cleaning the cluster and lens really good to remove the debris from the cutoff wheel I test fit it. Luckily with the slight modifications it fit just as it should.
Once installed I tested the drive modes and all of the drives modes were there as they would be on a stock maverick cluster. I also test starting the truck and selecting and going thru the drive modes. Everything worked as it should.
So for anyone curious the explorer cluster will work with all drive modes. Down side is the slight modifications. I preferred not to modify the truck and that’s why I modified the cluster.
I'm attaching some photos, I wish I would’ve taken more pics. But you can see in some of them how the bottom tabs are different between the two vehicles. The pictures of the cluster removed show the explorer Lens on the escape
My only real gripe is that the normal mode doesn’t have the tach on the right side like the escape cluster does. Different modes have it on the right. But not normal or eco mode. I’m wondering if a firmware update would change that. But I doubt I’ll ever be able to get the firmware updated.
I finally got a chance to install my explorer platinum 12” cluster. I started off with an escape 12” cluster that I got cheap locally. It worked great and was only 600 miles more than my odometer at the time. So I waited until I was over the escape’s mileage and then installed it in my 2024 Maverick XLT FX4. I was able to increase the mileage on the escape cluster to match my current odometer. I didn’t realize at first that I would lose tow/haul mode and snow/sand mode. I struggled to get the drive modes to work on my truck. I followed all of the recommendations in this post with forscan and spen at least another hour trying different settings. I could select a drive mode and it would work as long as the truck wasn’t started. Once I started the truck I couldn’t change the drive mode. Not even go back to normal.
So with that issue and losing the 2 modes I decided to find an explorer cluster. It was harder to find a deal on the explorer one, but got a decent deal on eBay. Unfortunately they didn’t list mileage on the listing, so I didn’t know what I was getting. When I received it I found that the mileage was about 30,000 more than my current odometer. I messaged Dave with @Clusters by Livnitup. I had Dave do 2 previous clusters for me in the past for my F-150s. He said he wasn’t sure if he could correct the explorer mileage, but would give it a shot. Luckily he was able to adjust the mileage to match my predicted odometer reading when I would receive it back.
Last night I removed the escape cluster and tried to install the explorer cluster. I kind of had a feeling based on other people’s experience the explorer cluster wouldn’t mount with out some modifications. The main issue with the explorer cluster is the clear lens housing for some reason is a little bigger than the escape/maverick cluster. I figured it was worth a shot to swap the lens from the escape cluster to the explorer cluster. That worked with a little trimming of the plastic tabs where the bottoms bolts mount to the dash. I also had to make the aluminum tabs for the bottom bolts a little smaller. The explorer cluster has 2 bolt holes in the bottom tabs and the escape/ maverick only have one bolt hole. I used a cut off wheel on a dremel to trim the aluminum tabs. After cleaning the cluster and lens really good to remove the debris from the cutoff wheel I test fit it. Luckily with the slight modifications it fit just as it should.
Once installed I tested the drive modes and all of the drives modes were there as they would be on a stock maverick cluster. I also test starting the truck and selecting and going thru the drive modes. Everything worked as it should.
So for anyone curious the explorer cluster will work with all drive modes. Down side is the slight modifications. I preferred not to modify the truck and that’s why I modified the cluster.
I'm attaching some photos, I wish I would’ve taken more pics. But you can see in some of them how the bottom tabs are different between the two vehicles. The pictures of the cluster removed show the explorer Lens on the escape
My only real gripe is that the normal mode doesn’t have the tach on the right side like the escape cluster does. Different modes have it on the right. But not normal or eco mode. I’m wondering if a firmware update would change that. But I doubt I’ll ever be able to get the firmware updated.
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