TheSamba.com :: View topic - New improved dash foil for '86

Mon Jun 19, 2023 6:32 am

i dint read the whole thread but im hoping that there is a solution for euro jx 1.6 td dashes?!

Mon Jun 19, 2023 8:54 am

kguarnotta wrote: Ok - so to make sure I'm understanding you correctly - the white thing on the back of my speedo is probably some sort of VSS.
Yes
kguarnotta wrote: Wires going to the VSS - Red is power, Black is ground, and Gn/Yl is the VSS signal. They are somehow sending a signal back to the ECU through the foil? The blue/red wire - no idea what that is for?
Unless someone can say what those foil solder points are for certain, you're going to need to verify with a meter. To their credit, the chap who made your VSS appears to have used conventional wire colors for power (red +, black -), leaving the odd one (Gn/Yl) for signal. But you will need to verify.

The pin polarity of the voltage regulator is known, so you could verify that the red and black wires' solder points on the foil have continuity to the correct pins of voltage regulator (meter should 'beep' continuously or be close to 0Ω resistance). When you meter from the red solder point to the "+10V" terminal it should have continuity. When you meter from the black solder point to the "Ground" terminal it should have continuity. IF that holds true, we can deduce two things: your Green/Yellow wire is the VSS signal and Blue/Red is Ground (since it shares solder point with Black).

Continuing with the prior assumptions, you'll have to see what's at the other end of the Blue/Red wire that is needing the Ground (could be a repair or another added feature). The other oddity is the VSS signal. The cluster/foil normally doesn't need a VSS signal, and the purpose of tieing it to the foil is unknown. Whatever the case, at some point the VSS signal must leave the foil on its trip to the Subaru ECU, so you probably have another wire on the foil somewhere that is making that journey. It's also possible they reappropriated an unused pin on the cluster connector and the VSS signal makes its way to the ECU from there.

Mon Jun 19, 2023 9:01 am

It looks like someone found a clever way to provide the 3 wire VSS signal to the Subaru ECU.

The 10v voltage reg doesn't feed that row of pins in the foil.

That row of pins on the blue foil has switched 12v and ground along with the not needed high pressure oil switch wire that leads back to the engine compartment.
So the way it was done requires minimal intrusion and uses an existing wire to feed the VSS signal all the way to the back.

Subaru engines only have the low pressure oil switch so that allows the high pressue switch wiring to be converted to another use, like the VSS signal.
Only applies to 86+ vans.

As to what was done to deal with the now missing dynamic oil warning board, who can say.
Need more photos.

Mark

Mon Jun 19, 2023 9:17 am

I think I should have waited for crazyvwvanman's comment, as usual. Great insight.

So the next question for the thread will likely be: where to connect the VSS wires onto the replacement foil?

Mon Jun 19, 2023 10:10 am

I would avoid making any solder connections to the foil. Preference would be the wire harness leading to the white connector. 12V is on pin 8, GND is pin 3 and your VSS signal on pin 12. I do not have the "good book"in front of me but maybe someone can chime in with the corresponding wire colors.

Since it appears as the dynamic pressure board is missing from your speedo, you can insert the connector as per normal and run a strip of tape along the back of the foil.

Tue Jun 20, 2023 5:52 am

ok - please excuse my ignorance on this - but do I have this right?
I traced the wires - and think this is what I should do based on what you all are telling me -

I'm still trying to figure out the 4th wire (it is blue/red) that has been soldered to the dash foil - if it was to fix a broken connection on dash or not? Looking around for diagrams of the dash foil - i think it was put in to fix a ground. I guess my dash cluster does not have the oil pressure control thingy - so this extra wire is to add a ground?

Tue Jun 20, 2023 5:55 am

No, don't get power from the clock feed, that is on always.
Get power from the black wire (ignition) so it turns off when the key is off.

Mark

Tue Jun 20, 2023 7:38 am

ok - like this -

Tue Jun 20, 2023 8:49 am

Kevin, could you post a photo showing the other end of the blue/red wire?

Tue Jun 20, 2023 11:58 am

outcaststudios wrote: i dint read the whole thread but im hoping that there is a solution for euro jx 1.6 td dashes?!

It's the same foil as the 2.1, just an orange LED for the glowplug.

Tue Jun 20, 2023 3:59 pm

ok - here are two photos that show each end of the red/blue wire. It looks like the one end is the same as the black wire from the Hall Sensor - which makes me think it is a ground wire.

Tue Jun 20, 2023 4:05 pm

ALIKA T3 wrote: outcaststudios wrote: i dint read the whole thread but im hoping that there is a solution for euro jx 1.6 td dashes?!

It's the same foil as the 2.1, just an orange LED for the glowplug.

sweet! my buddy disconnected my temp gauge, and swapped my oil temp light with my trailer brake light indicator, because he broke the foil on my current dash. with 'help' like that , who needs an old car?!

Tue Jun 20, 2023 4:06 pm

Yes you are right Kevin, it is a ground wire. I suspect the trace in the foil is questionable so they jumped it.

Tue Jun 20, 2023 4:25 pm

ok - so if it is a ground wire, do I need to replicate for the new foil?

AM I understanding this correctly - typically there is a oil pressure control outlet that the foil plugs into. Mine is missing - and is probably not needed - as I'm running a subaru 2.2.

Actually as I type this - I'm wondering if that blue/red wire was installed to somehow get the original oxs sensor light to act as the check engine light - or if it was to fix a non-existent/faulty ground? Whoever did the conversion set the OXS light up as the check engine light...This conversion was done to meet CA requirements.

Tue Jun 20, 2023 5:18 pm

No, you do not need to replicate the blue/red wire.

THe dynamic oil pressure connector is just a 2 stage pressure alarm that has an annoying buzzer associated with it. You still have a single stage sensor which is wired directly to the dash LED.

R0ckyMtnCamper did a nice drawing (earlier in the thread) showing how to hijack the OXS LED to use a "check engine light". That wire is pin 14 on the white connector.

Tue Jun 20, 2023 11:37 pm

Maybe this will help:

Thu Jun 22, 2023 5:09 am

ok - first off, thanks to all of you helping and for your patience...especially greg - who suggested I look at that diagram from R0ckymtncamper more than once. I have looked at it, and will study it some more...it just seems like it is not related to my situation -

What is kind of unclear to me, or maybe I am not asking it correctly - again, please excuse my ignorance on this foil - and the way a converted vanagon is wired...

The original dash foil was mostly working - my issues were related to the dash lights, and the tach. My OXS sensor light has already been changed to act as the CEL. This was done during the conversion - to comply with CA requirements (at least that is what I think happened, as this was all done before my van became my van). And as far as I know and experienced - this CEL was working as it should.

So I am replacing the foil to get a fully functioning dash cluster (IE so I can read gauges while driving at night). If the CEL was working properly before - and the changes that were done to the original dash foil (that I asked about) are not related to the CEL - then it seems I should be able to just put the new (amazingly designed and created) foil, right? IE the changes/wiring referred to in the diagram provided by R0ckyMtncamper would be more relevant if I were in the process of a conversion - and don't necessarily apply to my situation?

So the only changes I need to make - are to splice in the Hall Sensor - and as per your suggestions - I will wire them in according the diagram I posted above.

thanks again...

Fri Jun 23, 2023 5:55 am

I just installed one of Greg’s circuit boards in my’87 Westie to repair a non working tachometer. Fit perfectly. Works perfectly. Warning lights in my instrument cluster that haven’t worked in a while magically started working. I do need to tone down the high beam indicator-it comes on a little strong.

Thanks Greg!!

Sun Jun 25, 2023 1:22 pm

please, is there more information on what this hall sender is, and where to get one.
thank you.
kguarnotta wrote: ok - here are two photos that show each end of the red/blue wire. It looks like the one end is the same as the black wire from the Hall Sensor - which makes me think it is a ground wire.

Sun Jun 25, 2023 3:05 pm

I don't really know what it is - but I believe it may have originally been used for the models that came with cruise control.

I am guessing - based on feedback here - that my van (which is a subaru conversion) is somehow using the signal for it's ecu?