Vanagon instrument cluster question

[jeff.appel]

Hey all, my speedometer finally ground to a halt after 318,000 miles. I’m replacing it with the GoWesty electric speedometer and the GPS VSS.

I am trying to remove the old mechanical speedometer from the instrument cluster, but it’s connected to a flexible, blue, plastic thingy with circuits. Sorry, I don’t know the name of this thing, it’s like a circuit board but plastic.Anyway, it runs through the back of the instrument cluster and connects to various inputs on the speedometer, for lights, and the tachometer.

The GoWesty instructions offer no guidance on what to do with this thing. Should I simply cut it from the old mechanical speedometer since the new one will have a separate power source?

Thanks

[hdenter]

Don't cut anything! Call go westy and ask for clarification or better instructions. It doesn't sound like you have the necessary skills/experience to be poking around in your instrument cluster... Is there a samba member near you that can help. Many of us have been known to work/help/observe for beer....

Hans
_________________
'79 triple white convertible bug
'84 sunroof vanagon
'85 weekender

[MarkWard]

It should unplug from the speedo head. Small screwdriver for prying. You can tape it safely aside. Problem is your oil warning system may not function correctly. Also, it looks like your old Speedo has a cruise control speed sensor attached. If your van has working cruise, it may not with the new Speedo. But yes contact GW to be sure.

[jeff.appel]

Thanks all. I emailed GW to get clarification.

@Hans I just replaced the entire front end suspension and the radiator by myself so I feel qualified to dig around in the instrument cluster I was being hyperbolic when asking if I should cut the circuitry connection, I should have said "disconnect" instead.

@Mark the van does have factory cruise control but it hasn't worked since I've had the van. Up until now i've had a Fast Forward SpeedPuls VSS plugged into that port in the back of the speedo. I am bummed to hear that the oil warning system may not work properly with the new GW speedo. Hopefully they have some workaround for this?

[crazyvwvanman]

That branch of the blue foil unplugs from the back of the speedo.
It has a black connector that you need to work free from the speedo.

There is a small circuit board hiding inside the old speedo and that is the oil pressure warning circuit board.
It isn't actually part of the speedo, it just hides inside the speedo.
That blue foil branch is the only thing hooked to the oil circuit board.

Mark

[Altoona]

From the GW website:

Important model application notes:
• Direct replacement for all 1980-85 speedometer types with the original blue printed circuit foil, or fitted with our Replacement Kit for Printed Circuit Foil.
• Direct replacement for all 1986-91 speedometer types ONLY when fitted with our Replacement Kit for Printed Circuit Foil.*

[jeff.appel]

Well frig, Altoona's right. GW just wrote me back:

"It looks like you have a late model Vanagon. You will need to replace that blue foil with this kit.
https://gowesty.com/products/instrument-cluster-ci...8064337061

There are little plastic tabs that the foil is attached with. You simply pop it off of those. There's a few sections on the back of the tach that require the removal of nuts and bolts.

The reason you need our cluster foil replacement kit is because the dynamic oil pressure electronics are located on the back of your OEM speedo. The GPS speedo doesn't have provisions to mount this board. The cluster foil replacement kit moves that circuitry to the center of the cluster."

Time to drop some more cash

[MarkWard]

Curious what engine using Fastforward VSS.

[crazyvwvanman]

You can remove the small oil warning circuit board from your old speedo and then plug it back into the stock blue foil just like it was, without hiding the circuit board inside the speedo.

The circuit board has no electrical connection to the old speedo, only to the blue foil.
VW simply hid it inside the speedo.
You can still use it when it is external to the speedo.

Mark

[16CVs]

Why not just send your factory Speedo out for a rebuild? It served you over 300K, it deserves to be put back and serve the rest of its life.

My .02

Stacy
_________________
1987 Syncro Westfalia Triple knob (bastard)
1989 Syncro Tristar Triple knob "Swedish"
2013 Jetta Hybrid a true "Zwitter"
Samba member # 14980
Call anytime number 650 722 4914 .
Keep Your van running and upkept tastefully for the love of the hobby.
Don't let your van end up in an "abortions" thread.

[Crooked Designer]

my 2¢ is upgrade the cluster wiring. My blue foil created tons of electrical gremlins in my dash. Replaced it with the one from vanagon.org (but the GW one is probably what you'll want if it is built to hookup to your new speedometer) but all of those issues went away after replacing the blue foil. Was very satisfying and hasn't had a problem in 7 years.
_________________
'85 Westy full camper, Subaru 2.5L, 5 speed SubiGears + 5speedbus shifter kit

[SoquelDude]

[willyok]

[kevinm]

If you decide to repair and keep the speedo, here's a foil replacement option for late models that's been discussed on other threads before. Looks like a direct fit:

https://smallcar.com/vanagon-instrument-foil-repla...jja-8dZfZr[/url]
_________________
90 Syncro Westy, "Ludwig"

[MarkWard]

[Ahwahnee]

I haven't used them for VW but they do show VDO among the list of what they service.

Maybe not the cheapest but the ones I think are best:

https://www.westvalleyinstruments.com/

PS - they're up in Reseda.

[do.dah]

I used https://www.nhspeedometer.com/
I himmed and hawed of who to send it to, and choose North holleywood speedometer.
Not the cheapest, but they didn't have my speedo 24hrs, and the time from shipping to, and receiving from, was only a few days.
I'm happy with my choice.