I have a 2016 Explorer XLT and would like to swap a gauge cluster from a platinum. I found a cluster and bezel and got all the as built programming figured out. There’s a video on YouTube showing this exact swap, the only issue is he says a “support” need trimmed to make the cluster fit. To me, it looks like he cut the duct that feeds the front air vents. Has anyone else done this swap? What did you do to gain clearance for the platinum cluster? Thanks!
Link to video?
@RD4154 tried doing this on his 2016 Explorer. Maybe he can chime in and see if he had to trim anything?
I did try this, I ran into a few issues, the car wouldn’t recognize the ipc though the plug on the backside was identical, 2. The ipc itself is larger than the stock PIU one so the fit it super tight if not pushing up on the dash and won’t secure right, 3. My car was a police model so the dash board itself was built differently in certain places than a civilian one so you might get lucky over me there. 4. Dont try and update the ipc until its working right lol youll brick it. Hopefully all the data cables are in the same pin locations for the xlt theres also the issue with the platinum having different steering wheel buttons so theres a potential for having to need those buttons/wheel. I tried transplanting them but they buttons wouldn’t work im assuming because of the police cars sccm module. You may have better luck having a civilian model again.
So youll need to make sure it bolts up right
Make sure your bezel fits right over the ipc you may need to clip something off
You may need a sccm from a platinum
Check your programming
I think this is the video he is refering to…. Should be the 7 min mark.
Yep. That’s the video I was talking about.
I don’t think programming is an issue. I went through the as built and turned off all the stuff mine doesn’t have (lane keep, blind zone, etc.). Everything seems to be working on it. Tach, fuel gauge, temp gauge all seem to be reading correctly. It looks like the top two bolts line up, but it won’t sit on the pegs for the bottom two bolts. I do have the bezel from a platinum (I’ve read that they’re different, but I can’t see a difference. Part Number: FB5Z-78044D70-CA). The video I referenced in my original post (2016-2019 Ford Explorer Platinum Instrument Cluster Upgrade How To) shows he trimmed a “piece of plastic” from behind the cluster to make it fit. It looks like he cut open the duct that feeds the front vents. Is that duct different on the platinum’s or is the dash different?
Hey @big_mange, ik I’m 16 days late but am just now seeing this post. Did you ever get this resolved? I did the exact same swap on my 16 Limited. The part that was cut was not the duct but just a part of plastic that runs the length from bolt to bolt just behind the cluster as described in the YT video. I made the cut and everything was fine.
Thanks for sharing the info about the bezel though, that had been driving me nuts as I had no clue it was different, just thought I hadn’t secured something properly. It still works with the current bezel however there is a little piece of the cluster that will show up top (hardly noticeable but if you are meticulous it will drive you insane).
I also just finished my Sync2 to Sync 3.4 update this weekend and am still working through a final bug I can’t narrow down. If you haven’t done that yet, highly recommend 
I haven’t finished the swap yet. The cluster I bought has about 3,000 more miles on it than my explorer. I have to wait until I have more miles than the cluster. I have the cluster as built all done and ready to go though. And thanks for clearing that up about the plastic behind the cluster. I’ll have to pull my cluster out again this weekend and see what plastic piece you’re talking about. I was really hoping I wouldn’t have to modify that air duct.
And the sync 3 upgrade was one of the first things I done. I found a sync 3 screen and APIM from a 2017 limited explorer at a local junk yard for 75.00. What issue are you having with yours?
Cluster was installed and set up in about 30 minutes time so that should be a quick deal for you when you get your milage up. I do have to say its the most beautiful clusters of them all.
I’ve been trying to get my front camera working since the swap. I did a deep dive into my As Built, cant seem to get the front camera going though. I hit the button on my dash and nothing. When I am in reverse, those cameras work just fine, I was able to tweak my rear split view, all good there. Just dead on the front camera. EVERYTHING else is working as it should be so this one has turned in to a PITA. I also need to go in and configure my signature lighting as DRL, reverse mirrors, and global windows and I should be done with ForScan mods.
When I was in ForScan I enabled all the areas and ended up with a dash fault for Front Camera Malfunction (didnt have that issue when I went from Sync2 to Sync3). Im thinking it has to be the APIM because that’s the only change I made and I believe its coming down to a setting in Module Configuration as opposed to the As Built.
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