Speedo / Instrument Cluster

Dashboard / Rev Counter / Gauge

Often refered to as an Electronic Instrument Cluster or Digital Dash, the Instrument Cluster is a set of guages or readouts (analog or digital) typically located on the drivers side of the vehicle behind the steering wheel.

Typical features that an Instrument Cluster might contain are a Fuel Guage, Rev Counter, Speedometer, Tachometer or even a Trip Computer. Most vehicles today have a combination of analog guages and digital readouts.

A Trip computer is a digital display that contains information about factors such as outdoor temperature, travel direction, fuel economy, RPM, odometer (total mileage reading), or distance to empty.

Some features (particularly digital displays), are now being moved to the centre console, with the arguements for this being that it will save money for manufacturers who make left and right hand drive versions of their vehicles.

Typical Instrument Clusters now may contain the immobiliser curcuit for the vehicle, which is a security system used in cars to identify when a correct key has been inserted into the ignition; and will then start the engine appropriately.

As an additional security measure, many Instrument Clusters are now coded to the vehicle, which means they cannot be forceably removed from their currect car, and then replaced onto another, without transfering the code (this is typically only allowed by using a diagnostic tool or some equipment possessed by the main dealer of the vehicle).

This is also done to ensure people cannot swap mileage readings by replacing the dash.