Jim, I'm impressed! I'd never have the nerve to tackle that job. I'll
stick with sheet metal and paint.
KerryP
Patch panels fabricated
Pinkertonk@xxxxxxxxx
dte.net/57imperial
Imperials -- 50 Limo, 57 roadster, 61's, 62, 68 Convert, 73, a 66 300 and a
bunch of lesser marques
----- Original Message -----
From: Jim Gathmann <jim_gathmann@xxxxxxxxx>
To: 3.3 3.3 <mopar33lv6@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Cc: EEK EEK <eek@xxxxxxxxxx>; ImperialList ImperialList
<mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Sunday, April 27, 2003 10:27 PM
Subject: IML: Digital Cluster
> Subject:
> Ever wanted a digital dash in your analog
> Dynasty/Imperial/etc?
>
> Summary:
> I did it (I think)!
>
> Installed a digital dash in my (what was analog
> cluster) AC/AY.
>
> Man. What a job that was. Started friday at around 5
> pm, and I'm just now about finished (and did 2
> all-nighters with only 4 hours of sleep, lol).
>
> It appears to be a possible swap without exchanging
> body computers, etc.
>
> TEXT:
> Basically I took my FSM, looked at how the analog
> cluster wires up, and how the digital cluster wires
> up. I noticed that several of the digital wiring
> (about 8 or 9 of the 13 wires going to the digital
> cluster) are the same as some of the wires going to
> the analog cluster. Some analog cluster wires are not
> used by the digital dash...
>
> I then figured out what the remaining 3-4 wires were,
> and how to tie them into the car's electrical system.
>
> I then remved my dash trim, analog cluster, battery
> cables, etc.
>
> I cut off the old analog cluster connector harnessesd
> (2), while leaving about 1.5" of wire still attached
> to the old connectors. Lacking the connector which
> plugs into my digital dash, I took the cluster apart,
> and used a sodering iron to remove the pins on the
> back of the cluster. I then directly sodered wires to
> the PCB.
>
> Then I spiced into the analog cluster's wiring as
> needed, and ran two wires for the CCD (computer code
> transfere buss for these cars- basically it goes to
> the diagnostic port and the diag readers use the CCD
> to collect info on the car- the digital dash
> translates this code and uses it to know what to
> display on the gauges), a few other odd-ball wires,
> etc and put the cluster in. To get the +12 volt inputs
> for the cluster, I went and taped into the radio fuse.
>
> Turned the key, blew my 40 amp rade fuse.... no one
> sells fuses in 2 AM sat night (dope!). So I ran off of
> a different fuse for testing my connections.
>
> Turned the ignition switch on- dash light up, worked,
> idiot lights all worked, turning on the headlights
> dimmed the backlite gauges... all good thus far.
>
> Volt meter, fuel level, odometer all worked- couldn't
> check speedo, temp, oil psi without running the
> engine... turned on the engine- temp and oil worked
> (didn't drive the car- so speedo not checked yet-
> couldn't drive with no dash, and soooo many wires all
> over the place that I couldn't GET to the gas pedal!).
>
> So all apeared good and done. Well- kina. One glitch.
> There is an electric buzzer under or in the dash
> somewhere on the passenger's side. When you leave your
> lights on, doors open, keys in, etc., you get that
> buzzer going off. Well, for some reason, with the
> cluster in and working, I get a constant buzzer sound
> (that high pitched, ear piercing siren). Ok, so I
> could play the radio so I don't hear it- BUT, the
> buzzer stays on EVEN when the ignition switch is in
> the off position (??).
>
> Looked over the FSM- the body computer uses fuse 8 in
> several circuits- some of the idiot lights, the car
> message centre (picture of a car by the headlight
> switch- when a door is open a red LED lights on the
> picture...), and a few other things (including the
> cluster). With 8 inplace, I get the buzzer- with 8
> removed, no buzzer- so I went to find the buzzer so I
> could just pull it (and then everything would work,
> and no sound and electric draw when car is off). WHERE
> is the buzzer? Spent some 12 hours taking off parts of
> the dash, felling around- could not find it. Checked
> all 4 fuse/relay boxes (yes the AC/AY's have 4- two of
> which you can get to without removing the dash!).
>
> So I'm slowly re-wiring each circuit so it doesn't use
> fuse 8-- one circuit at a time. Once I hear the
> buzzer- I know which circuit is the problem.
>
> So far, I've re-wired the cluster so it uses a
> different fuse, most of the idiot lights.
>
> Next to do are the rest of the idiot lights and the
> message center (<-Which is what I suspect is the
> problem). So I called it quits until next weekend- put
> the car back together, cluster in and appears to be
> working. Tomorrow I see if the speedo works when I
> drive to work...
>
> Looking back, I would have gotten the other end of the
> cluster's harness so I wouldn't have to take apart the
> unit and re-wire the PCB! I wouldn't advise this
> upgrade unless you all have the FSM handy, already
> know how your dash is pretty much wired, AND are very
> fimilar with electronics.... this was not easy for me
> (took almost 3 days and 2 nights) and I can build just
> about anything with electronics....
>
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