Digidash to analog cluster swap?

[Tony Lum]

Huw,

Oops, I read that article the wrong way!.  * Switch back to analog from digital.*  You'll need the 2 connectors that plug into the back of the analog cluster and you'll need to get the speedo cable from the tranny to the cluster.  I don't know if that's NLA.  Still with the crimp on bullet connectors it will be a much easier task especially if you make a mistake and you could go back if another digital cluster becomes available.  Its much easier if you remove the steering wheel and the cluster to get room to reach the wiring.

Luckily, the '86 should have the wiring to make the trip computer work.  The orange color digidash does not need any connections to the fuel injection system other than fuel and speed.  The correct red lit cluster must get the signals from the air flap pot on the side of the mass airflow meter and the ecu fuel enrichment signal to work properly. The fuel and coolant temperature sensors should work straight across.   My 87.5 coupe GT came with the red display from the early '87 CIS-E motor.  My MPG meter constant read 15.6 MPG and started blinking the low fuel warning way too early. I was lucky to get the orange display and its been working ever since. Even the optical sensor works once I replaced the photo transistor sensor on the left side.
 

Tony


--- On Mon, 2/7/11, Huw Powell <audi at humanspeakers.com> wrote:

From: Huw Powell <audi at humanspeakers.com>
Subject: Re: Digidash to analog cluster swap?
To: "Tony Lum" <tlum at flash.net>
Cc: quattro at audifans.com
Date: Monday, February 7, 2011, 11:32 AM



> The connector on the autocheck computer on Type 44 cars is the same
> connector used on the digidash.  Plenty of those in the wrecking
> yards.  Cut it from the main harness and you'll have all the pin
> contacts you'll need.  Made myself a test tool to work on the cluster
> out of one of these connectors.

I think that's going the wrong way, but still a useful data point.  Or do you mean it will plug into the car, so all the splicing to the analog connector can be done on the bench?

> Crimped bullet connectors are probably quicker that soldering, but
> only if you have the correct ratcheting crimp tool and not one of
> those stripper screw cutting so called crimp tool.

A job like this should be done slowly anyway.

If I didn't mention it already, this job is definitely a "steering wheel off" one, probably best to remove the binnacle over the cluster, too.

-- Huw Powell

http://www.humanspeakers.com/audi

http://www.humanthoughts.org/