Dashboard cluster modification (w/ pics)

firzen · 10-23-2008, 12:30 AM

So I have a S5 T2. I'm currently doing my interior right now I figured I could swap in the NA's 9k tachometer in place of my stock 8k tach (I know it shouldn't rev that high but it's a clean and easy modification).

So I find an S5 NA cluster. I take both apart and figured I could hold onto by old odometer and lose the stock boost gauge in favor of the voltmeter. (Already got an aftermarket boost gauge)

During the disassembly, I notice that there are some subtle differences between the PCB boards and began to wonder if they were interchangable. I check the FSM and notice that there isn't any significant wiring variations except that the boost gauge has some outputs.

So my questions are:
1) Would there be problems if I were to use the NA cluster?
2) Is it possible to build a frankenstein instrument cluster out of combination of NA and Turbo cluster components? (i.e. swap PCB boards)

And for the record, I took several pictures to show the differences between the components of NA and turbo models.

Pictures of the clusters' rears (For screw location patterns)
I think the NA was missing a couple screws..?

The disassembled clusters.

Gauge differences and detail:
Boost/voltmeter and oil pressure

Tachometers

Note the PRND plastic bezel for the automatics on the turbo tach.

PCBs

turbovert91 · 10-23-2008, 08:41 AM

That's a good question, I don't know if the voltmeter would work with the TII dash harness. Check the fsm for the vehicle specific wiring to tell where the volt reading comes from in the NA model, you may have to wire it that way yourself if there isn't a provision for it already in the harness. Other than that I would think the NA cluster would work fine in a TII.

yeti · 10-23-2008, 10:14 AM

I'm pretty sure i read somewhere that the volt metre works.. I'll have to find my source..

Well this isn't my original source but googling "s5 na gauge s5 tii t2 voltmeter boost" yields:
http://forum.teamfc3s.org/archive/in...p/t-23790.html search for volt and the second result will say the volt meter works just fine on a t2 (plug and play)

firzen · 10-23-2008, 12:06 PM

Good to know. I'll get the cluster reassembled tonight then.

Thanks!

mazda_wes · 10-23-2008, 07:42 PM

i wired a separate volt meter in my car, which i think that you could do in this case. this is the cluster swap that i am going to do in my car soon.

firzen · 10-23-2008, 09:31 PM

Yes, I could use a separate, aftermarket voltmeter but I like the stock NA's clean look. That compounded with stock T2 boost gauge's poor accuracy is even more reason for me to use the NA's instrument cluster.

need RX7 · 10-23-2008, 09:41 PM

If you figure it out, be sure to post a dumbed down step by step how-to for it.

I'd like to do this eventually, for the same reasons you stated, but all the electrical stuff goes right over my head.

classicauto · 10-24-2008, 09:46 AM

I believe it is entirely possible. Silverrotor a friend of mine has done it on his TII, but I'm unaware of exactly how he did it. I don't know if he's a member over here yet....

firzen · 10-24-2008, 12:53 PM

There's actually not too much electrical stuff involved- if you look at the FSM, it appears that only the T2's boost gauge has a couple other connections over the NA's voltmeter.

I ended up swapping just the tachometer and voltmeter/oil pressure into my T2 cluster- the rest of the things remain the same. Hopefully that will get installed this weekend. I'll take pictures and post up my findings.

firzen · 10-26-2008, 10:28 PM

Alright, first gremlin encountered! (Not including myself

)

The voltmeter and tachometer works great, although the tach doesn't seem to be as sensitive as my T2 8k tach. I'm guessing this slight difference is due to the extra 1000 rpms and the needle movement is not as fine.

The other gauges seem to work fine. I haven't tested to see if the speedo/odometer works yet since the steering wheel is out but it should be fine.

HOWEVER. For some hilarious(?) reason, the water temperature gauge is now acting funny- it goes up and doesn't stop until it reaches the top. I'm going to pull the cluster out tomorrow and test the connections. It worked fine before so I'm curious what the culprit is. If anybody's got a clue, let me know.

misterstyx69 · 10-28-2008, 09:22 AM

maybe "that " water gauge is not compatible with the Sender In the car,maybe Faulty??.Is the gauge sender's wire connected.loose.Dirty?..

yeti · 10-28-2008, 09:58 AM

I don't beleive he changed the water temp gauge. So that wouldn't be it..

firzen · 10-28-2008, 10:52 AM

I didn't change the water temp gauge. I suspect it might a wire or grounding issue but haven't had time to check it out.

StarSpeedRacing · 01-14-2009, 03:52 AM

It can be done,
I have seen it and I know it was easy but never had to do it myself yet.

Skatelement · 01-14-2009, 04:21 AM

You can use an s5 pannel to replace the s4 pannel but you will need to pin the sub harness that plugs to the pannel.
Also the nonturbo s4 pannel can be used in A turbo car just use the na sub harness and plug it in the turbo car harness and you have A volt meter.
By sub harness I mean the short harness that plugs to the pannel with the round plugs and connects behind the pannel to the car main harness.

10-23-2008, 12:30 AM	#1
firzen Rotary Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2008 iTrader: (2) Posts: 231 Rep Power: 17	Dashboard cluster modification (w/ pics) So I have a S5 T2. I'm currently doing my interior right now I figured I could swap in the NA's 9k tachometer in place of my stock 8k tach (I know it shouldn't rev that high but it's a clean and easy modification). So I find an S5 NA cluster. I take both apart and figured I could hold onto by old odometer and lose the stock boost gauge in favor of the voltmeter. (Already got an aftermarket boost gauge) During the disassembly, I notice that there are some subtle differences between the PCB boards and began to wonder if they were interchangable. I check the FSM and notice that there isn't any significant wiring variations except that the boost gauge has some outputs. So my questions are: 1) Would there be problems if I were to use the NA cluster? 2) Is it possible to build a frankenstein instrument cluster out of combination of NA and Turbo cluster components? (i.e. swap PCB boards) And for the record, I took several pictures to show the differences between the components of NA and turbo models. Pictures of the clusters' rears (For screw location patterns) I think the NA was missing a couple screws..? The disassembled clusters. Gauge differences and detail: Boost/voltmeter and oil pressure Tachometers Note the PRND plastic bezel for the automatics on the turbo tach. PCBs

10-23-2008, 10:14 AM	#3
yeti Rotary Fan in Training Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Morristown, TN iTrader: (0) Posts: 70 Rep Power: 17	I'm pretty sure i read somewhere that the volt metre works.. I'll have to find my source.. Well this isn't my original source but googling "s5 na gauge s5 tii t2 voltmeter boost" yields: http://forum.teamfc3s.org/archive/in...p/t-23790.html search for volt and the second result will say the volt meter works just fine on a t2 (plug and play) __________________ 1989 vert, RB header and presilencer (looking for a catback), SAFC-II, custom fiberglass speakerbox, 130 amp alternator sweetness. Parts Interchangeability List

10-23-2008, 09:41 PM	#7
need RX7 Clean S4 Nutswinger Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Sterling Heights, MI iTrader: (0) Posts: 485 Rep Power: 17	If you figure it out, be sure to post a dumbed down step by step how-to for it. I'd like to do this eventually, for the same reasons you stated, but all the electrical stuff goes right over my head. __________________ -Ted -1986 Mazda RX7 Sport [DD/beater]: engine finally let go at 205k. parts car status. -1986 Mazda RX7 base [resto-mod project]: S5 n/a swap in progress.

10-28-2008, 09:58 AM	#12
yeti Rotary Fan in Training Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Morristown, TN iTrader: (0) Posts: 70 Rep Power: 17	I don't beleive he changed the water temp gauge. So that wouldn't be it.. __________________ 1989 vert, RB header and presilencer (looking for a catback), SAFC-II, custom fiberglass speakerbox, 130 amp alternator sweetness. Parts Interchangeability List

01-14-2009, 03:52 AM	#14
StarSpeedRacing StarSpeedRacing Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: California iTrader: (0) Posts: 34 Rep Power: 0	It can be done, I have seen it and I know it was easy but never had to do it myself yet. __________________ StarSpeedRacing Parts Development & Discount Parts! GB:FD Intercooler Kit GB:Stainless Non Turbo Headers Contact: StarSpeedRacing@gmail.com

10-23-2008, 08:41 AM	#2
turbovert91 Rotary Fan in Training Join Date: Mar 2008 iTrader: (0) Posts: 40 Rep Power: 0	That's a good question, I don't know if the voltmeter would work with the TII dash harness. Check the fsm for the vehicle specific wiring to tell where the volt reading comes from in the NA model, you may have to wire it that way yourself if there isn't a provision for it already in the harness. Other than that I would think the NA cluster would work fine in a TII.

10-23-2008, 12:06 PM	#4
firzen Rotary Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2008 iTrader: (2) Posts: 231 Rep Power: 17	Good to know. I'll get the cluster reassembled tonight then. Thanks!

10-23-2008, 07:42 PM	#5
mazda_wes Rotary Fan in Training Join Date: Sep 2008 iTrader: (0) Posts: 79 Rep Power: 17	i wired a separate volt meter in my car, which i think that you could do in this case. this is the cluster swap that i am going to do in my car soon.

10-23-2008, 09:31 PM	#6
firzen Rotary Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2008 iTrader: (2) Posts: 231 Rep Power: 17	Yes, I could use a separate, aftermarket voltmeter but I like the stock NA's clean look. That compounded with stock T2 boost gauge's poor accuracy is even more reason for me to use the NA's instrument cluster.

10-24-2008, 09:46 AM	#8
classicauto crash auto?fix auto Join Date: Feb 2008 iTrader: (0) Posts: 816 Rep Power: 17	I believe it is entirely possible. Silverrotor a friend of mine has done it on his TII, but I'm unaware of exactly how he did it. I don't know if he's a member over here yet....

10-24-2008, 12:53 PM	#9
firzen Rotary Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2008 iTrader: (2) Posts: 231 Rep Power: 17	There's actually not too much electrical stuff involved- if you look at the FSM, it appears that only the T2's boost gauge has a couple other connections over the NA's voltmeter. I ended up swapping just the tachometer and voltmeter/oil pressure into my T2 cluster- the rest of the things remain the same. Hopefully that will get installed this weekend. I'll take pictures and post up my findings.

10-26-2008, 10:28 PM	#10
firzen Rotary Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2008 iTrader: (2) Posts: 231 Rep Power: 17	Alright, first gremlin encountered! (Not including myself ) The voltmeter and tachometer works great, although the tach doesn't seem to be as sensitive as my T2 8k tach. I'm guessing this slight difference is due to the extra 1000 rpms and the needle movement is not as fine. The other gauges seem to work fine. I haven't tested to see if the speedo/odometer works yet since the steering wheel is out but it should be fine. HOWEVER. For some hilarious(?) reason, the water temperature gauge is now acting funny- it goes up and doesn't stop until it reaches the top. I'm going to pull the cluster out tomorrow and test the connections. It worked fine before so I'm curious what the culprit is. If anybody's got a clue, let me know.

10-28-2008, 09:22 AM	#11
misterstyx69 .drives like MrMagoo! Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Smiths Falls,Ontario iTrader: (5) Posts: 198 Rep Power: 17	maybe "that " water gauge is not compatible with the Sender In the car,maybe Faulty??.Is the gauge sender's wire connected.loose.Dirty?..

10-28-2008, 10:52 AM	#13
firzen Rotary Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2008 iTrader: (2) Posts: 231 Rep Power: 17	I didn't change the water temp gauge. I suspect it might a wire or grounding issue but haven't had time to check it out.

01-14-2009, 04:21 AM	#15
Skatelement Senior Member Join Date: May 2008 iTrader: (0) Posts: 13 Rep Power: 0	gauges You can use an s5 pannel to replace the s4 pannel but you will need to pin the sub harness that plugs to the pannel. Also the nonturbo s4 pannel can be used in A turbo car just use the na sub harness and plug it in the turbo car harness and you have A volt meter. By sub harness I mean the short harness that plugs to the pannel with the round plugs and connects behind the pannel to the car main harness.