Pontiac Montana 2004 Instrument Cluster Replacement

One of the first complete step by step instrument cluster replacement procedure on a 2004 Pontiac Montana. Most clusters went bad during that time period. Be prepared though, it's not an easy task to take on.

[@herbannana]

Thank you very much, I have a 2004 Chevy Venture. Had a temperature gauge that would peg out like a limp 70 year old 😆 I found a service on eBay that I shipped the cluster to. After shipping it, it cost about $80 for a rebuild. Thanks to your video I didn't get into trouble taking too much apart, or breaking anything. You're appreciated sir. God Bless

[@laffilmfest3759]

Thank U Herb! U have a good weekend Sir!

[@willphillips2883]

Hi from Alberta really appreciated ur video and courage to tackle it arose LOL... also your ramblin keep doing it so well done Thank you. Will🦁🔥💨

[@laffilmfest3759]

Hello Will from Alberta! That was a tough project but it has worked great ever since, if KZbin would allow me to edit the video once I posted it I would go back in and definitely point out the importance of disconnecting the battery first, I'm sure u r chillin' up north right now...way down here in Southern Indiana it has become brisk...it encourages me to keep on splitting up the firewood :) cheers my northern brother!

[@paulchristian1094]

Thank you for your video and additional comments. I too have a 2004 Pontiac Montana and need to replace the instrument cluster. Will do it on Wednesday AFTER I disconnect the battery.

[@laffilmfest3759]

Paul...yes on the battery! At least that is what I could research after the fact. I appreciate your comment sir! I sure love my 2004 Montana. Just telling someone yesterday I would hate for someone to hit it ...insurance would not give me what it's worth...ultra smooth machine :)...enjoy ur day :)

[@pe00100]

Thanks for putting this video together. I’ve own a 2002 Pontiac Montana for 20 years and my cluster is cracked so this video is gonna be handy. I might use a sharpie and paint black that darn red air bag light; can’t clear the code with scan tool and don’t want to see it.

[@panzerfaust5046]

This helped a lot for my Pontiac Aztek, damn stepper motors

[@EdwardHicks-t1x]

I like you man. I'm hooked !

[@laffilmfest3759]

Thank you...I appreciate u letting me know and I'll continue to put out good films...enjoy ur day :)

[@pe00100]

Ok, so at the end of the video all the comments around the fuel gauge working got me thinking. My Pontiac fuel gauge has been lying to me for about 10 years, but it behaves differently, mine goes to full gauge when I fill up, and then at some point it goes to zero fuel gauge. My diagnostic was it needs a new fuel pump, and I have to remove the fuel tank (lots of work); I wonder if the problem is the cluster? Much easier.

[@laffilmfest3759]

Hello...I'm thinking it might be the float in the tank, seems if it was a fuel pump your Montana would quite running...just a guess...if u attempt changing the cluster make sure u unhook the battery first, I did not and caused me some problems...like making the air bag light come on, I did not think this was a big deal until I learned with the light on the airbags are not operational, so I took my 2004 to a certified shop where they were able to get the codes to reset the bag light...and got the radio to work again, I would attempt it again but be real careful of the mistakes i learned..I sure do like my Montana:)

[@quantumspinup7418]

FYI: if you need to replace the fuel pump, cut a hole in the floor board under the back seat. This allows access to the pump from inside the car. I replaced my fuel pump in one hour through the hole in the floor board.

[@laffilmfest3759]

QuantumSpin.....great advice! I plan to crisscross across this beautiful country of ours and i'm betting a fuel pump repair will show up on mile marker 286 :).....thank you!

[@1sclera]

Big help. Thanks a lot.

[@laffilmfest3759]

U r very welcome...to me that was a mammoth task, but I could not find another video on the subject so I jumped into the water and swam with it...I wish I could edit the video and say disconnect the battery first but youtube doesn't allow that...thanks for ur comments :)

[@PearComputingDevices]

I have a slightly newer, refreshed if you will Saturn Relay level III. It's got all the goodies of like a 2002 model sold in 2006. It's always drove like a drunken horse. Especially when snowy. But it's also fairly reliable. But getting to that cluster is a lot easier. Hint the cluster is just a dummy panel, things like mileage is actually stored in the computer. At least on the refreshed "uplander" versions this is true. I swapped one out of a newer model that I found in the junkyard. Worked like a charm. Thankfully. I was worried I would have to take it to the dealer to get programmed like so many parts these days.

[@laffilmfest3759]

R.a. Wheeler thank U for great info!.....

[@laffilmfest3759]

Please SUBSCRIBE.....Thank You!!!

[@perrylee2324]

Hello, did you disconnect the battery before connecting the new instrument cluster? Just wondering ... thanks!

[@laffilmfest3759]

I did not disconnect the battery at all which lead to a problem, it triggered my air bag light! So i definitely recommend disconnecting the battery from start to finish......thank you for asking :)

[@perrylee2324]

Thank you for your response. So how did you resolve the airbag coming on? Your video is very helpful. Thanks!

[@laffilmfest3759]

Perry Lee i had to take the Montana to a local repair shop where they hooked it up to their machine, they told me they had to call GM to get a code, youtube will not allow Creators like me to go in and add to our videos, i wish i could add a segment at the very beginning to let folks know they have to unhook the battery......something about the montana computer thinks a theft is going on when u dont unhook the battery first.....thanks for asking

[@perrylee2324]

Thank you LAF!! I appreciate your responses. So what you are saying is that additional issues could have been avoided if you disconnected the battery before installing the new cluster? Thanks!

[@laffilmfest3759]

Perry Lee that is what i kind of gathered by watching a ton of videos on youtube, now the mechanic i went to said it was going to deny the airbag system and radio no matter if i disconnected the battery or not, the mechanic also said he had to call GM for a new code to reset the airbag system......but i have seen videos that dispute that claim too.....o boy! I'm just glad it all works and i can cruise on down the highway :)

[@kevinemanuel5862]

Gracias

[@laffilmfest3759]

Kevin Emanuel de nada !

[@laffilmfest3759]

Kevin Emanuel desengancha la batería a primera hora

[@kevinemanuel5862]

@@laffilmfest3759 thanks for your video, thanks to you I was able to make the job easier, blessings

[@kevinemanuel5862]

@@laffilmfest3759 By the way I already did

[@intercommradio7372]

👍 I don't cuss but cluster F**k you mean lol no one wants to fool with it. thanks for sharing and the only vid i found ( Georgia ) :0

[@laffilmfest3759]

@intercommradio7372 yes on the cluster F! I can't go in and edit the video on KZbin but if I could I would add u Must unhook the battery first(which most people except me do), the montana has an anti theft mechanism that will lock up the radio and disconnect the airbags...it cost me about $150 to take it to a mechanic and they somehow unlocked both, ....hello Georgia coming back at u from southern Indiana! I love my montana for sure :)

[@markolp8206]

good info but would have been nice if you could cut out some of the rambling. I feel like the necessary info could have been shared in ten to fifteen minutes.

[@laffilmfest3759]

Yea...I hear ya...I do ramble

[@sseryoga]

'Hi you can get a new one from eBay but then you got to do millage correction. Or you can get old one fixed. Hope this helps www.upfix.com Here is the service link www.upfix.com/product-category/repair-return/icp-instrument-cluster-repair/

[@laffilmfest3759]

Sseryoga.....thanks for the info!........sometimes it's nice knowing can save some dollars here and there..... :)

[@lextmb]

my message center didnt work and no check engine light or abs , also didnt work spido , fuel and coolant temp. what it can be ?

[@laffilmfest3759]

Pike I'm guessing it's the instrument cluster, they are notorious for going bad. Sorry I can't be of more help...maybe a local mechanic won't charge too much to run a computer read out. You could also join the Facebook page "Pontiac Montana mini van owners" and throw out the qustion to the members... a lot of smart folks are on there...enjoy your day!

[@lextmb]

@@laffilmfest3759 thanks