Moving instrument cluster?

[Chris333]

Hello, I'm new here and thinking about getting a 2008 Yaris HB.

From what I've seen there is a glove box in front of the steering wheel. Is there a way to move the speedo cluster to there? and has it been done before.

I can make some sort of center channel speaker to fill in the old hole.

That dash is the only thing keeping me from pulling the trigger.

Thanks
Chris

[Betrivent]

You can't really move it without a LOT, and I mean a MONUMENTAL amount of plastic fabbing, cutting, and welding. And it won't look good, at all. It's practically impossible really. You can however get a mini instrument cluster set up with speedo, rpm and so forth and mount that behind the wheel in addition to having your center one.

Or you can get a 2012.

[Altitude]

Buy it. The center cluster will become second nature and you'll grow to appreciate it.

[CTScott]

I agree with atlitude that it's one of those things that you'll grow to like, but to answer the question, it would actually be fairly easy to move it.

There are two connectors with a total of about 30 wires that you would need to lengthen to move it. On "Crashy", my snowplowing Yaris I lengthened them to let me experiment with an Australian digital cluster, which has the connectors on the opposite sides.

[TRDMarty]

Give it a try.
We would all like to see your thoughts and ideas.
What an amazing idea
You can do this, please document your progress with plenty of photo's
for the rest of us to learn from.
Think of it, you could start something completely new for YarisWorld.
Please keep all of us posted !!!

[MadMax]

Originally Posted by TRDMarty

Give it a try.
We would all like to see your thoughts and ideas.
What an amazing idea
You can do this, please document your progress with plenty of photo's
for the rest of us to learn from.
Think of it, you could start something completely new for YarisWorld.
Please keep all of us posted !!!

Yeah, so the rest of us will learn from your mistake!

Seriously, buy the dang car and drive it a while before such a major undertaking. I love the centerline dash, those who badmouth it really haven't given it a chance. I can't see the speedo in most cars I drive, about the only thing that comes close are a few Honda models that have it up near the bottom of the windshield.

And honestly, I use a Garmin Nuvi 50LM which has all the info I need and more up on the windshield, so I don't find myself looking at the cluster too much except when I need to check the status of the gas aboard (which isn't too often!).

Cheers! M2

[Chris333]

I'm sure it is fine for seeing what is going on while driving. I just can't stand the way it looks. (sorry) and they changed it for 2012 because it was their biggest complaint. So I'd change it for looks more than function. Really surprised no one else had done it.

[TRDMarty]

Originally Posted by Chris333

I'm sure it is fine for seeing what is going on while driving. I just can't stand the way it looks. (sorry) and they changed it for 2012 because it was their biggest complaint. So I'd change it for looks more than function. Really surprised no one else had done it.

Chris333, just do it
You know what you like, remember to post progress pics
Even MadMax could'nt resist to look at your thread when you posted.
And when you repost with progress pics, he'll be looking again.
Remember, your idea would be the 1st to be done for the Yaris.
Best of luck.

[Altitude]

Originally Posted by Chris333

Really surprised no one else had done it.

That should tell you something...

[Dadams]

If you could pull that off.... Id be pretty damn impressed. I personally was the same as you when I first got mine, about 7-8 months ago. I hated the center console, in fact I hated the yaris! I was only getting it because it was the most affordable thing for a college student at the time. I was going to pay it off as fast as possible and then trade it in. Now 7-8 months later I'm completely in love with it!! I've sunk probably over 1500 into it, maybe more on cosmetics alone! My advice, give it a few months before you completely deface it. buy some other cosmetics like rims or lowering springs. It wont kill you to try it out for that short of time, and if you still hate then go for it! I would love to see someone try it and succeed! And yes pleeeeease post pics if you do! there are not enough DIY's with ample pics to back up the project.

[MadMax]

Originally Posted by TRDMarty

Even MadMax could'nt resist to look at your thread when you posted.
And when you repost with progress pics, he'll be looking again.

Yeah, kinda like a train wreck, you can't help but watch!

If you're willing to risk it, then go for it! Definitely post pics and I hope you do prove me wrong, but I still contend that you'll end up chopping your dash to hell and have a complete mess as a result!

I wish ya all the best, but I hope you realize what you're doing and have a well thought out plan before taking a blowtorch to anything!

Cheers! M2

[parrisvpreston]

The center instruments freaked me out the first week or so, I would look down at night and think my console disappeared. But it definitely grows on you.

[MadMax]

Originally Posted by parrisvpreston

The center instruments freaked me out the first week or so, I would look down at night and think my console disappeared. But it definitely grows on you.

Bwahaha! Same thing happened to me, I was driving a Yaris sedan rental in Tampa and was going onto MacDill AFB at night. Turned off the lights at the gate and once I was through I turned them back on and was wondering where in the hell the instrument cluster went?!?

But a month later when I bought my hatchback I found it to be the optimal place for it. The steering wheel blocks my view of the instruments in all our other vehicles, but on my Yaris I have no problems whatsoever!

[Betrivent]

If you can manage to get the interior to look OEM after you move the cluster I would be SUPREMELY impressed.

[Dadams]

Agreed :P

[cali yaris]

I would never do this unless the cluster includes the tach (09+?).

The tach is the only thing worth looking at.

[DnACustomFab]

This is actually quite simple... just need to have time.. take the whole dash out. lengthen the wires. set up the clusther where you want it, build brakets to set it in place. then fiberglass the whole thing, you can fiberglass the hole where the cluster used to be shut too.

its basically just as simple as molding a gauge pod on your dash, do the brackets, mock up... then wiring, then fiberglass everything hell you can even carbonfiber it if you have ever worked with the stuff, msg me if you need any tips!

I have tough about doing it but since the yaris is our DD its a big no no.

[OTA'sTOY]

^ or if ou can find a complete dash off a XD w/cluster would be even simpler