Replacing instrument cluster

[Shadious]

My IC is terribly bubbled and the service center wants $1500 to replace. I took apart the dash to find the part number and ordered a replacement from EBay. Here are a few before pics. My understanding is that it is plug and play if I push an update after installation. The removal was pretty straightforward with a Youtube tutorial. I”ll let you know how it shakes out ...

 

[Bueno]

I have had to change my IC for the same issue. When I powered up the car it said take to service center or something like that.... I took the screen back out and removed the rear cover and swapped my board into the good IC put it back and put it back in. No more service center visit for me. It was a simple swap of the boards if I remember right there are only like 2 or 3 ribbon cables.

I picked up my screen for about $150 BTW

 

[Shadious]

I have had to change my IC for the same issue. When I powered up the car it said take to service center or something like that.... I took the screen back out and removed the rear cover and swapped my board into the good IC put it back and put it back in. No more service center visit for me. It was a simple swap of the boards if I remember right there are only like 2 or 3 ribbon cables.

I picked up my screen for about $150 BTW

Was your first screen a gen 1 and the second one a gen 2? I have heard that if you swap it that way you have to reprogram them. I’m hoping gen 2 to gen 2 will be plug and play

 

[Bueno]

My car is a Dec 2014 build. I have the same TPN part number as your pics above. So I believe 2nd gen as its the higher res screen. So it would be 2nd gen (original in car) purchased 2nd gen replacement, received error showing "Software Update Required Unable to start car" and my car name was not showing under. It was showing "Ed" as car name instead of mine. Also showed "Car needs service unable to start car". I took out the replacement screen and removed the back cover (Just a few torx screws) and swapped the boards then put it back in to my car with Original board and replacement screen. All errors are gone no issues swapped on 12/5/2018 (looked back at my pics in my phone).

 

[Shadious]

My car is a Dec 2014 build. I have the same TPN part number as your pics above. So I believe 2nd gen as its the higher res screen. So it would be 2nd gen (original in car) purchased 2nd gen replacement, received error showing "Software Update Required Unable to start car" and my car name was not showing under. It was showing "Ed" as car name instead of mine. Also showed "Car needs service unable to start car". I took out the replacement screen and removed the back cover (Just a few torx screws) and swapped the boards then put it back in to my car with Original board and replacement screen. All errors are gone no issues swapped on 12/5/2018 (looked back at my pics in my phone).

Oh wow- that is really interesting. Do you remember if you did a software update after the installation? My plan is to disconnect the 12v battery, remove the screen, put the new one in. Then reconnect the battery and download the newest update. If that does not work, I am going to swap the screen and board like you suggested. Thanks so much for the advice- always good to have a backup plan!

 

[MP3Mike]

I'm pretty sure that you have to re-program the new IC computer or swap the board. There are car specific files on the PC in the IC and they need to match your car.

I wouldn't try to do an update first, I have seen at least one person brick their car by attempting an update when they had uncleared faults.

 

[Bueno]

Oh wow- that is really interesting. Do you remember if you did a software update after the installation? My plan is to disconnect the 12v battery, remove the screen, put the new one in. Then reconnect the battery and download the newest update. If that does not work, I am going to swap the screen and board like you suggested. Thanks so much for the advice- always good to have a backup plan!

I did not complete a software update post IC install. I keep my car on the latest software all the time so I know for sure I didn’t have a install pending when IC swap was performed.

 

[Bueno]

These are the errors post install without swapping my Original board onto screen. All errors were gone when I put my board on the good screen.

Let me know if you need any other tips.

 

[Shadious]

I'm pretty sure that you have to re-program the new IC computer or swap the board. There are car specific files on the PC in the IC and they need to match your car.

I wouldn't try to do an update first, I have seen at least one person brick their car by attempting an update when they had uncleared faults.

Well damn, that is contrary to what I was told by others who did the screen swap prior to pushing an update. I have searched the topic a number of times and have not seem this reported. Do you remember when those posts were, or have a link to them? Bricking the car is a MAJOR deal, meaning that the entire system shuts down and cannot reboot. This would be a catastrophic fail...

Maybe swapping the new screen to other old motherboard is the safer way to do this..

 

[Shadious]

These are the errors post install without swapping my Original board onto screen. All errors were gone when I put my board on the good screen.

Let me know if you need any other tips.

Thanks for the information. The other post has got me SUPER worried. Maybe I’ll just swap the screens for safety sake...

 

[Bueno]

let us know if everything worked out for you.

 

[Shadious]

let us know if everything worked out for you.

The screen will be here tomorrow, so I will install this weekend and let you know how it goes. I am going to try to swap the unit as a whole, do the update and see if it works. I am curious if this is a solution. If not, I will do what you did and replace the screen only.

 

[McGillUSAF]

I have a 2013 P85 with the orginal IC. I'm upgrading to the 2nd Gen IC as well. Hopefully everything goes smooth.... I dont have any updates pending but i can always call the SC and have them push the last one.

 

[McGillUSAF]

Fyi....

 

[Shadious]

So I just finished the screen replacement. I learned a few things. Contrary to some thoughts, pushing out a new update with a different IC will not brick your car. Also, contrary to posts I have read on these forums, pushing a new update to the replacement IC, will NOT make it Sync to your MCU. So, going with Buenos suggestion, I used my old motherboard and married to the new screen. There were about 8 small torx screws and a couple of ribbon connectors that needed to be removed. After that is was plug and play.

I wish Tesla would start selling parts, this job was super easy and no need for a computer reboot nor a need to throw away a perfectly good motherboard. BTW, that goo was terrible, but simple rubbing alcohol took it off. If/when the MCU screen goes, I plan on doing the same thing- very quickly. That goo is horrendous! Posting a couple pics with part #s in case anyone is considering it. I saved $1260 by doing it myself.

 

[Shadious]

View attachment 454377 View attachment 454378 Fyi....

I’d be careful going from gen 1 to gen 2. You will likely need Tesla to do the necessary software update (not likely just a new update, but one specific to the IC replacement). I’d be sure they will do it before you purchase the IC. It did not work for me (gen2 to gen2). You could gamble with your electronics married to the new screen- not sure it that would work or not. I’d love to see your results- our community needs to know how to fix our vehicles that are out of warranty!!

 

[Shadious]

Yes, I had gen 2 (late 2014 build date). You can tell very easily, gen 1 has a small fan, gen 2 has a heat sync.

 

[Bueno]

Glad to hear you got it fixed up. Also for future people trying to do this note that you cannot marry a gen 1 board to a gen 2 screen the boards are physically different. The fan as well as the ribbon cables are different.

 

[FPLPowered]

Just did the Gen2 screen replacement on my bubbling screen.

Used the Youtube video in the following post to take apart the dash:
Instrument cluster fan replacement

Bought this infatable leveling tool at Lowes to take the upper part of the dash off without breaking anything:
https://www.lowes.com/pd/Calculated...-Leveling-Tool-1-5-in-Pocket-Level/1000236865

I didn't find any pictures of the actual ribbon cables and motherboard. I took pictures of the T10 screws you take out of the back of the new/old screens and you can see the ribbon cables on the top and bottom of the board.

Also took a picture of one of the connectors that I had trouble with in the back of the screen. The larger black connector has a piece that you push down in the middle and a small arm that swings left to right while the middle piece is pushed down. I had to use a small flathead to push it down.

Plugged the old motherboard into the new screen and plugged it back into the car and everything looks/works great

 

[Shadious]

That plug was a bear to get off, for sure! Once you figure it out, it is pretty easy, just very different from other plugs. Also the smaller ribbon cable has a “cap” that has to be pulled upwards gently to open, that one made me nervous as well.