MR2 Roadster Owners Club

The Workshop => Audio / Security / Electrical => Topic started by: mavrick007 on August 27, 2013, 12:13

Title: New instrument cluster-now wrong milage!
Post by: mavrick007 on August 27, 2013, 12:13
I have replaced the full instrument speedo/tacho cluster for one that works. The issue I now have is that the mileage reads 89k (from the donor vehicle) rather than my cars mileage which is 56k.

I even swapped the ODO LED display from the old circuit board to the new one but its still showing 89k. I am guessing the ODO reading is cached on the circuit board?.I thought it would just pull it from the ECU.

Is there anyway I can sort this out to show the original mileage as could be costly when coming sell the vehicle etc

Thanks
Title: Re: New instrument cluster-now wrong milage!
Post by: SteveJ on August 27, 2013, 12:17
Data is stored on the main circuit board NOT the ECU or the display module.
Title: Re: New instrument cluster-now wrong milage!
Post by: mavrick007 on August 27, 2013, 12:23
So there is no way of getting the original mileage back?
Title: Re: New instrument cluster-now wrong milage!
Post by: Anonymous on August 27, 2013, 12:26
I would say use your old main board, but not knowing what your original problem was I can't help more than that.
Title: Re: New instrument cluster-now wrong milage!
Post by: nathanMR2 on August 27, 2013, 12:27
Not unless you can find a way to clock it back, which I assume isn't going to be easy for obvious reasons or as Rich says swap the boards over perhaps
Title: Re: New instrument cluster-now wrong milage!
Post by: Anonymous on August 27, 2013, 12:31
Another option and risky one is finding the rom chip that holds the info and changing them, but you will need skilled hands to do it.
Title: Re: New instrument cluster-now wrong milage!
Post by: mavrick007 on August 27, 2013, 12:33
The original problem was the bulbs/LEDS - when I connected the old circuit board alone the LED's illiminated as normal but when I housed it into the white cluster they went out so I didn't really know what was causing the problem.

I will try the old circuit board with the new white cluster - I hate fiddly crap jobs like this lol
Title: Re: New instrument cluster-now wrong milage!
Post by: trevsmr2 on August 27, 2013, 15:38
Depends why you swapped it ,the cluster splits ,so can you use your old board ? the info is stored on that
i swapped my imports over to get the UK MPH dials

(http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n281/blz-8027/mk3%20mr2/DSCF2524.jpg)

edit just read why you swapped
Title: Re: New instrument cluster-now wrong milage!
Post by: frogger on August 28, 2013, 22:17
It's possible... but a fair bit of hassle. ROM on the dash coming off and swapping over is the easy route. Alternative is ROM remove, read, modify, rewrite.
Parts and software for a reflash, expect £50-£100.... Which you can probably find a milage correction company / back alley workbench willing to do it for about that anyway.
Title: Re: New instrument cluster-now wrong milage!
Post by: mavrick007 on August 29, 2013, 01:16
Update

The replacement cluster just got the same problem as the original - all the LED's have gone out! - something must be shorting them. Does anyone know of a good auto electrician in the Leeds area. I want this sorting out once and for all now. Sounds harsh but I am usually a 2 strikes and you are out guy when it comes to cars.
If a visit to an auto electrician fails to sort it then its got to go - shame as its a pretty good car to drive.
Title: Re: New instrument cluster-now wrong milage!
Post by: Wabbitkilla on August 29, 2013, 05:21
You talk about getting rid of a car because you fitted something to it that it wasn't designed for and it doesn't work? You're going to run out of cars that way.

Surely owning a car is about driving it, not the colour of the dashboard lights?
Title: Re: New instrument cluster-now wrong milage!
Post by: Wabbitkilla on August 29, 2013, 05:49
Is it possible to show us what your are attempting with some photos?
Title: Re: New instrument cluster-now wrong milage!
Post by: SteveJ on August 29, 2013, 06:10
What happens if you put the original bulbs back in?
Title: Re: New instrument cluster-now wrong milage!
Post by: pill20 on August 29, 2013, 10:00
Are the bulbs touching at any point making it twist the board or is it a flush fit not foiling on anything ?
Title: Re: New instrument cluster-now wrong milage!
Post by: SteveJ on August 29, 2013, 11:20
Just a thought - what colour LED's are you trying to fit? If it's anything other than orange or white then the orange filters on the intrument cluster will be blocking the light so the LED's appear to not be on when in reality they are, just not visible.
Title: Re: New instrument cluster-now wrong milage!
Post by: tomaky on August 29, 2013, 12:13
Quote from: "mavrick007"Update
If a visit to an auto electrician fails to sort it then its got to go - shame as its a pretty good car to drive.

think on this occasion thats a bad idea as the car will either read 90 odd k or have a faulty dash which might scare away buyers, fixing some how has to be your best option.
Title: Re: New instrument cluster-now wrong milage!
Post by: SteveJ on August 29, 2013, 13:35
I've just had a really bad thought - you didn't solder the LED's directly to the board did you? If you did, what balast resistors did you use?
Title: Re: New instrument cluster-now wrong milage!
Post by: mavrick007 on August 29, 2013, 22:17
Had time to think and got off my soap box haha

The LEDs are white and they were in holder type (I didn't solder them onto the board). I have replaced them with original white bulbs but still the same problem. I hear that the dimmer may be at fault but not sure about that. I have 6 days off work next week so will take a sensible approach and take my time with it. You are right its a crazy idea to sell the car based on just a small issue