Things Needed for Installation:
Ratchet
Ratchet Extension
7mm Socket

Level of Difficulty:
EASY

Here is a photograph of the 2004 Cadillac Escalade cluster we received in the mail ready for installation. Most OEM factory Chevrolet Tahoe clusters are missing the transmission temperature gauge you can see on the left side. We got lucky with our Chevrolet Tahoe with a factory installed one but most don’t come with it so this is a common swap to gain one. If yours does not come with the factory transmission temperature gauge your Tahoe is wired for it still. This means a Cadillac Escalade gauge cluster will plug right up and operate. That makes this a great aesthetic modification along with a towing upgrade.

Under the speedometer you will notice a new digital section not found on our Tahoe cluster. This converts our P/R/N to a digital display which is fully functional once installed in the Chevrolet.

Here is the cluster we are removing from the Chevrolet Tahoe. You can see the difference in the P/R/N display above on the cluster. You can see that the factory Tahoe cluster is very cluttered and lacks the clean silver bezel borders which are found on the Cadillac Escalade. The panel you notice missing is easy to remove since it just pops into place. Pull on the corners and the quick connect tabs will come undone allowing you to get to the 7mm bolts holding in the cluster. To remove the panel you will need to put the steering wheel all the way down and move the gear shifter into 1. DO MAKE SURE your parking brake is fully engaged so you don’t roll away.

A 7mm socket will quickly remove the four bolts holding in the gauge cluster. You will probably need an extension to reach a few of the bolts.

You should be able to remove the cluster and rest it on top of the steering wheel/dash like seen above in the photograph. This will allow you to quickly disconnect the single plug/harness in the back.

We quickly placed it back into the factory position and started to put the four bolts back to complete the installation.

Here is the functional P/R/N display that is in now in digital after our Cadillac gauge cluster swap. We also gained an Instant Economy Gas Mileage reading which was not on our Tahoe that operates perfectly.

Here is the final look once the quick installation was complete. The Cadillac Escalade installation was super simple (about as easy as car work is going to get) and really makes the interior look fantastic.

If you would like some information on how the factory temperature gauge operates we scanned in the important information from the manual. Just keep it under 265 degrees F and you should have no issues while towing.

http://www.wreckedmagazine.com/images/ChevyTahoe-TowVehicle/chevrolettahoe.factorytransmissiontemperaturegauge.information.jpg

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