Want rev counter clocks but have a mechanical speedo?
Posted: Thu Sep 15, 2005 10:12 pm
Well you need to convert to an electronic speedo
Apparently this is only possible if you have ABS or a gearbox transducer...total cr@p!!!
I am under the impression that all clocks with tacho\'s have an electronic speedo, or the majority do. Which is a problem if you have cable drive!
You will need a screwdriver (Philips), new clocks with rev counter, a flat-blade screwdriver OR a small torx T3 bit.
Remove 3 screws under the column shroud, and 2 at the front. Remove shrouds.
Remove 2 screws securing the clock trim and remove.
Remove the clock securing screws and release the clocks by depressing the tab. Pull the clocks away and release the speedo cable by depressing the clip and pulling it off.
Now this is where the fun bit begins.
Unclip the face of the clocks by prising the black tabs, and the clear face comes away leaving the back and the separate parts (fuel temp speedo etc). Turn the clocks over and look at the centre speedo section. Around where the speedo cable plugs in you will notice 4 screws that secure the speedo to the clocks case. Remove these, unplug the small flexipcb plug and pull out the speedo.
Pull of the speedo needle and then remove the face by removing the 2 screws on the front. Your left with a small unit with the protruding speedo drive connector.
Now remember the small black plug you unplugged before? You need to chop this off, along with some flexipcb (about an inch and a half is good)
Plug the black plug back into the speedo unit and solder 3 wires to the flexipcb, one on each track. This is accomplished by scraping away the varnish to reveal bright copper which the solder will adhere to. Don\'t apply excess heat else it will melt.
Trim the wires to about a foot length, looking from the front of the small speedo unit, the bottom wire should be black, the middle red/blue and the top brown.
You now need to unclip the multiplug from the dash which the clocks plug into, this is done by depressing the clip and pulling.
On the plug you need to locate the following wires..
Black (Ignition
Brown (Ground)
Red/Blue (Speed Pulse)
Using an appropriate method (splicing and soldering is what I did) attach each flying wire you made to the appropriate wire on the multiplug. It is easy when using colour coded wire. Insulate well.
You now need to reconnect the speedo cable to the small speedo unit and get the speedo unit located somewhere behind the clocks where it is held secure and will not move/rattle. I found this easy by just experimenting, and after a few seconds i managed to wedge it in nicely.
Refit your new clocks and turn on the ignition. You should see the speedo needle move a tad to initialise it. If not then you have made a wiring mistake with the brown and black wires.
I would now recommend going for a drive to test it works fine, you will notice a working tacho with no wiring needed, and also the speedo.
Refit trim as per removal and admire your work (and my research!)
With reference to speedo accuracy, i did this to a mates 1.2 8v LS and fitted 1.4 sport clocks. The end result was they under read by 2mph. They were spot on when tested with another car with an electronic speedo, and also they under-read so there\'s no chance of you going through a camera. You can test this to double check if you like.
Any queries post below and i will answer every one of them!
Maybe this could be made a How-2??
Andy
Apparently this is only possible if you have ABS or a gearbox transducer...total cr@p!!!
I am under the impression that all clocks with tacho\'s have an electronic speedo, or the majority do. Which is a problem if you have cable drive!
You will need a screwdriver (Philips), new clocks with rev counter, a flat-blade screwdriver OR a small torx T3 bit.
Remove 3 screws under the column shroud, and 2 at the front. Remove shrouds.
Remove 2 screws securing the clock trim and remove.
Remove the clock securing screws and release the clocks by depressing the tab. Pull the clocks away and release the speedo cable by depressing the clip and pulling it off.
Now this is where the fun bit begins.
Unclip the face of the clocks by prising the black tabs, and the clear face comes away leaving the back and the separate parts (fuel temp speedo etc). Turn the clocks over and look at the centre speedo section. Around where the speedo cable plugs in you will notice 4 screws that secure the speedo to the clocks case. Remove these, unplug the small flexipcb plug and pull out the speedo.
Pull of the speedo needle and then remove the face by removing the 2 screws on the front. Your left with a small unit with the protruding speedo drive connector.
Now remember the small black plug you unplugged before? You need to chop this off, along with some flexipcb (about an inch and a half is good)
Plug the black plug back into the speedo unit and solder 3 wires to the flexipcb, one on each track. This is accomplished by scraping away the varnish to reveal bright copper which the solder will adhere to. Don\'t apply excess heat else it will melt.
Trim the wires to about a foot length, looking from the front of the small speedo unit, the bottom wire should be black, the middle red/blue and the top brown.
You now need to unclip the multiplug from the dash which the clocks plug into, this is done by depressing the clip and pulling.
On the plug you need to locate the following wires..
Black (Ignition
Brown (Ground)
Red/Blue (Speed Pulse)
Using an appropriate method (splicing and soldering is what I did) attach each flying wire you made to the appropriate wire on the multiplug. It is easy when using colour coded wire. Insulate well.
You now need to reconnect the speedo cable to the small speedo unit and get the speedo unit located somewhere behind the clocks where it is held secure and will not move/rattle. I found this easy by just experimenting, and after a few seconds i managed to wedge it in nicely.
Refit your new clocks and turn on the ignition. You should see the speedo needle move a tad to initialise it. If not then you have made a wiring mistake with the brown and black wires.
I would now recommend going for a drive to test it works fine, you will notice a working tacho with no wiring needed, and also the speedo.
Refit trim as per removal and admire your work (and my research!)
With reference to speedo accuracy, i did this to a mates 1.2 8v LS and fitted 1.4 sport clocks. The end result was they under read by 2mph. They were spot on when tested with another car with an electronic speedo, and also they under-read so there\'s no chance of you going through a camera. You can test this to double check if you like.
Any queries post below and i will answer every one of them!
Maybe this could be made a How-2??
Andy