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Mon Nov 10, 2008 2:08 pm

Hi -

The mechanic says the pin connector for my temp gauge is broken - and they did not have any available option for a replacement part. Obviously I don't want to drive a Vanagon without a temp reading... so I am trying to figure out what to do about this.

The dash on my 85 has the clock set-up. I picked up a tachometer supposedly from another '85 a while back, but the mechanic says that they are not compatible - that I would need a whole new instrument cluster (see linked photos.) Should I just put my tachometer back for sale on Craigslist?

I have searched and reviewed a number of threads about oil and water temp gauges. I imagine that I can't do without some sort of water temp gauge, even if I did install an oil temp gauge. It sounds like there is not a easy way to install the sender for an aftermarket water temp gauge as an alternative to my broken dash gauge. Or might there be anywhere to try to get parts for my broken gauge/pin connector? If there is something I might venture to try myself, I am interested (but reticent as well.) Alternately, I have another mechanic that I greatly prefer, and who I might go to in order to try to work a solution... but I would at least like to have some ideas of my own when I go.

I am looking for second opinions and possible options... I am not experienced with auto mechanics at all beyond oil changes and swapping a wiper motor once. I am greatly intimidated by the thought, but I feel like I need to force myself to at least try to tackle some of my mechanical issues - and this is number one right now. I do have a rather unused Bentley manual. (fyi - I also need to replace fuel lines, reseal the fuel tank; and I am told that upper ball joints are ripped, clutch slave cylinder leaking, oil pressure switch leaks, and there is corrosion on fuel injector connectors - aaargh :? .)

Thanks to any and all for your help or opinions!

Mon Nov 10, 2008 6:07 pm

The simplest answer is to get another 1985 cluster complete except for maybe the speedo since yours can be switched. You can always sell the second speedo if it comes with one.

It won't matter whether you get a clock type or tach type as long as it is an 85 cluster. Later years can be made to work easily enough but won't be just a simple plug it in deal. Earlier years should be avoided.

Mark

Onion wrote: Hi -

The mechanic says the pin connector for my temp gauge is broken - and they did not have any available option for a replacement part. Obviously I don't want to drive a Vanagon without a temp reading... so I am trying to figure out what to do about this.

The dash on my 85 has the clock set-up. I picked up a tachometer supposedly from another '85 a while back, but the mechanic says that they are not compatible - that I would need a whole new instrument cluster (see linked photos.) Should I just put my tachometer back for sale on Craigslist?

I have searched and reviewed a number of threads about oil and water temp gauges. I imagine that I can't do without some sort of water temp gauge, even if I did install an oil temp gauge. It sounds like there is not a easy way to install the sender for an aftermarket water temp gauge as an alternative to my broken dash gauge. Or might there be anywhere to try to get parts for my broken gauge/pin connector? If there is something I might venture to try myself, I am interested (but reticent as well.) Alternately, I have another mechanic that I greatly prefer, and who I might go to in order to try to work a solution... but I would at least like to have some ideas of my own when I go.

I am looking for second opinions and possible options... I am not experienced with auto mechanics at all beyond oil changes and swapping a wiper motor once. I am greatly intimidated by the thought, but I feel like I need to force myself to at least try to tackle some of my mechanical issues - and this is number one right now. I do have a rather unused Bentley manual. (fyi - I also need to replace fuel lines, reseal the fuel tank; and I am told that upper ball joints are ripped, clutch slave cylinder leaking, oil pressure switch leaks, and there is corrosion on fuel injector connectors - aaargh :? .)

Thanks to any and all for your help or opinions!

Mon Nov 10, 2008 6:24 pm

This might be of some help (if you haven't seen it yet).

http://www.oldvolkshome.com/late_van_cluster_install.pdf

Mon Nov 10, 2008 6:43 pm

That is a very useful link for many (80-84) but not very applicable to this case since his 85 has the later wiring scheme already and won't need to reposition any existing wires on the 14 pin connector. Some steps he might need for 85 are not shown, such as if he wants to use a tach cluster.

Mark

tortuga wrote: This might be of some help (if you haven't seen it yet).

http://www.oldvolkshome.com/late_van_cluster_install.pdf

Tue Nov 11, 2008 10:00 am

Thanks for the responses. I will see if my favored vanagon mechanic might have sources or ideas for a new cluster, or other ideas... I'm not sure if I know where to start on this.

Tue Nov 11, 2008 10:10 am

Check E-bay, Craigslist and the classifieds here. I see them for sale all the time. You can also call Van Cafe in Santa Cruz or Go Westy in SLO and ask them if they have any used clusters. They don't advertise their used parts, but if you call I'm sure you can find one. I doubt you can get one new.

Tue Nov 11, 2008 12:48 pm

Quote: The mechanic says the pin connector for my temp gauge is broken

The fuel and temp gauges are seperate parts. They have fairly stout threaded connectors compared to the rest of the cluster. I find it hard to believe the pin is broken. The temp gauge should be interchangeable between the tach and the clock. Where it gets a little more complicated is with the circuit foil. They are not as interchange able. When my foil went bad, I made up jumpers for each circuit. I used this until I was able to get a complete cluster and installed it per the directions listed in the link. It is a very simple circuit to trace. You need a wiring diagram though. Cheers.

Tue Nov 11, 2008 2:27 pm

crazyvwvanman wrote: That is a very useful link for many (80-84) but not very applicable to this case since his 85 has the later wiring scheme already and won't need to reposition any existing wires on the 14 pin connector. Some steps he might need for 85 are not shown, such as if he wants to use a tach cluster.

Mark

tortuga wrote: This might be of some help (if you haven't seen it yet).

http://www.oldvolkshome.com/late_van_cluster_install.pdf

My 85 has the cluster/tach from an 84. The wires on the connector need to be moved around, but it will work.

Tue Nov 11, 2008 3:06 pm

The rare 84 tach cluster is pin compatable with the 85 tach cluster and only 1 wire different from 85 clock cluster. The 80-84 clock cluster is not pin compatable with 85 type wiring for either type, off by 12 wires or so.

Owners who do their own work can adapt most any cluster to provide basic functionality on almost any other year van. Paying a shop to fiddle around is another matter.

Mark

tortuga wrote: crazyvwvanman wrote: That is a very useful link for many (80-84) but not very applicable to this case since his 85 has the later wiring scheme already and won't need to reposition any existing wires on the 14 pin connector. Some steps he might need for 85 are not shown, such as if he wants to use a tach cluster.

Mark

tortuga wrote: This might be of some help (if you haven't seen it yet).

http://www.oldvolkshome.com/late_van_cluster_install.pdf

My 85 has the cluster/tach from an 84. The wires on the connector need to be moved around, but it will work.

Tue Nov 11, 2008 4:06 pm

It'd be much appreciated if anybody might chime in as to how hard it would be and where I might get the info I need to install a cluster from a different year? There is a samba classified for a 1986 cluster with a tachometer for $120. But just looking at the photo of all the wiring on the back makes me dizzy :?

I found nothing on Ebay. I will try Vancafe and my mechanic too.

Thanks.

Tue Nov 11, 2008 4:31 pm

You can use any 85 or 86-91 cluster with from no mods needed to slight mods needed.

The simplest thing is to get another 85 clock cluster to replace your same original. A 84/85 tach cluster will plug in and work fine, other than the tach needs one wire if your van does not have it already. You could just leave the tach not working for the time being since everything else would work and you don't have a tach now.

If you get any 86-91 replacement the exact details will depend on which one and how complete it is but not hard either way. The 86-91 clock cluster would be the cheapest to buy.

Your speedo will fit any of the above and so you can get a cheaper cluster that way.

Mark

Onion wrote: It'd be much appreciated if anybody might chime in as to how hard it would be and where I might get the info I need to install a cluster from a different year? There is a samba classified for a 1986 cluster with a tachometer for $120. But just looking at the photo of all the wiring on the back makes me dizzy :?

I found nothing on Ebay. I will try Vancafe and my mechanic too.

Thanks.

Tue Nov 18, 2008 2:51 pm

Hi - reawakening this thread because I found an '85 cluster with Tach. I also found a temp gauge alone... and the Tach cluster is a LOT more money... but I think it may be worth it... I am trying to decide which fix to go with.

Question: If my 85 with clock will take another 85 instrument cluster with tach, then shouldn't I be able to use the (supposedly) 85 tachometer that I previously bought (pictured earlier in thread) and hook it up with my existing cluster? Or is the foil completely different between the two, while the pin sequence is not?

I wonder if I am thinking about this correctly...

Thanks :)

crazyvwvanman wrote: You can use any 85 or 86-91 cluster with from no mods needed to slight mods needed.

The simplest thing is to get another 85 clock cluster to replace your same original. A 84/85 tach cluster will plug in and work fine, other than the tach needs one wire if your van does not have it already. You could just leave the tach not working for the time being since everything else would work and you don't have a tach now.

If you get any 86-91 replacement the exact details will depend on which one and how complete it is but not hard either way. The 86-91 clock cluster would be the cheapest to buy.

Your speedo will fit any of the above and so you can get a cheaper cluster that way.

Mark

Onion wrote: It'd be much appreciated if anybody might chime in as to how hard it would be and where I might get the info I need to install a cluster from a different year? There is a samba classified for a 1986 cluster with a tachometer for $120. But just looking at the photo of all the wiring on the back makes me dizzy :?

I found nothing on Ebay. I will try Vancafe and my mechanic too.

Thanks.

Tue Nov 18, 2008 6:15 pm

The two 85 foils are different in important ways. Since the clock version has the temp gauge and fuel gauge in different locations than the tach version there is no provision for the electrical connections both gauges need when they are mounted to the tach. Also the tach needs electrical connections that are not present on the clock foil.

It is possible to hack things such as to get the tach working on the 85 foil but that is something for people with electronic experience.

Mark

Onion wrote: Hi - reawakening this thread because I found an '85 cluster with Tach. I also found a temp gauge alone... and the Tach cluster is a LOT more money... but I think it may be worth it... I am trying to decide which fix to go with.

Question: If my 85 with clock will take another 85 instrument cluster with tach, then shouldn't I be able to use the (supposedly) 85 tachometer that I previously bought (pictured earlier in thread) and hook it up with my existing cluster? Or is the foil completely different between the two, while the pin sequence is not?

I wonder if I am thinking about this correctly...

Thanks :)

crazyvwvanman wrote: You can use any 85 or 86-91 cluster with from no mods needed to slight mods needed.

The simplest thing is to get another 85 clock cluster to replace your same original. A 84/85 tach cluster will plug in and work fine, other than the tach needs one wire if your van does not have it already. You could just leave the tach not working for the time being since everything else would work and you don't have a tach now.

If you get any 86-91 replacement the exact details will depend on which one and how complete it is but not hard either way. The 86-91 clock cluster would be the cheapest to buy.

Your speedo will fit any of the above and so you can get a cheaper cluster that way.

Mark

Onion wrote: It'd be much appreciated if anybody might chime in as to how hard it would be and where I might get the info I need to install a cluster from a different year? There is a samba classified for a 1986 cluster with a tachometer for $120. But just looking at the photo of all the wiring on the back makes me dizzy :?

I found nothing on Ebay. I will try Vancafe and my mechanic too.

Thanks.

Tue Nov 18, 2008 11:14 pm

Onion wrote: Hi -

The mechanic says the pin connector for my temp gauge is broken - and they did not have any available option for a replacement part. Obviously I don't want to drive a Vanagon without a temp reading... so I am trying to figure out what to do about this.

I am looking for second opinions and possible options...

Thanks to any and all for your help or opinions!

V-D-O

Wed Nov 19, 2008 6:53 am

The cluster parts you need show up on Ebay a lot. Here is an example from a few days ago.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi...;viewitem=

Mark

[quote="Onion"]Hi - reawakening this thread because I found an '85 cluster with Tach. I also found a temp gauge alone... and the Tach cluster is a LOT more money... but I think it may be worth it... I am trying to decide which fix to go with.

Question: If my 85 with clock will take another 85 instrument cluster with tach, then shouldn't I be able to use the (supposedly) 85 tachometer that I previously bought (pictured earlier in thread) and hook it up with my existing cluster? Or is the foil completely different between the two, while the pin sequence is not?

I wonder if I am thinking about this correctly...

Thanks :)