digital dash from calais into berlina

[V-ahhh]

hey just wondering if any one knows how to fit a calais digital dash into a standard berlina? i have checked and the plugs behind are differnt any ideas?


thanks nick

[NORTI]

dont. theres an idea lol

its not easy Im told..... & not worth the hassle.


D.

[3.8L of executive power!!]

well thats interesting coz a mate of mine has an 86 VK berlina ans its got a digital dash init and it was like that when he bought it so we just thought it was standard,

[VH SLE]

i heard they shit it alot. thats prolly why it only lasted a couple years before they ditch it. but countess owns a VKC she would know.

[V-ahhh]

i have never had any trouble with my dash?? but yeh mite be more hassel than its actully worth to do it.

[craigvk]

Mine works fine. I wouldn't bother with installing one.

[NORTI]

mine is fine also... & most other people I know with VKC dont have prob either.... now saying that I have read heaps of horror stories... &

The biggest problems seem to be the sensors which isint really a dash problem but because its digital can annoy the crap outta ya with the beepin & warning lights!

Also some people say the speedos are unreliable on the digi-dash.

lol & there was the VKC I drove from a car yard.... I was doing 102 out the drive way & 00 downhill?? nice speedo

but because of all the sensors that the dash requires, the VKC6 digidash can only be put onto another EFI & then you would need to find all the sensors etc.. & get them hooked up etc.. IMO - big job, lots of hassle, little gain....

dont get me wrong I love my digi-dash & was the biggest thing I missed, but I would never bother to change one over..... Just buy a VKC



D.

[craigvk]

The speedo issue is either the speed sensor/transducer cylinder thing or the gear at the end of the cable on the gearbox slipping.

There is also an electric coolant sensor that detects the coolant low and beeps away and also the engine hot sensor that detects the temperature being too hot. If it's beeping, it likely isn't the dash at fault but one of the external devices being faulty or whatever.

[Shifty1]

alright...

VK Calais dash uses electirc speed sender.. vk berlina (non-efi) uses mechanical.. thats one thing..

it may work in a efi berlina, not a chance on a carby based engine though..

They use alot of sensors so if you do have efi and try it, it may work, but itll beep the s**t outta ya.. trust me mate, it gets annoying everytime ya start it.

Im like Countess though.. i love my digi dash and wouldnt want to go back to the mechanical one..

Cheers

[craigvk]

When my brother had my Calais, it was leaking coolant & the coolant sensor used to beeeeeeeeeeeeep all the time and annoy the crap out of anyone in the car. When I got it, I just needed to fit a new thermostat gasket (after cleaning the old crap off) and put a new radiator cap on. No more beeeeep beeeep beeeeeeeeeep!

[craigvk]

Ok, about the Calais set up.

There is a cruise master cruise control unit with two inputs on it located in the right hand lower of the engine bay next to the strut tower. One connects the cable to your trans and the other has the speed sensor (transducer) unit screwed onto it and there is three wires coming off the unit which eventually ends up at your dash to read the speed. Depending on the Calais, some like mine might have bypassed the cruise master unit (after failing) and installed the transducer speed sensor directly on the end of the cable like mine is, so it bypasses the cruise master. My original transducer some how didn't last and I got a replacement off ebay and it works fine now.

All I need to do now is get a new speedo cable made up from Ringwood speedometers so I can get my cruise control unit working. I have a working cruise master unit, so I am looking forward to seeing cruise control 1984/85 style

[Shifty1]

When my brother had my Calais, it was leaking coolant & the coolant sensor used to beeeeeeeeeeeeep all the time and annoy the crap out of anyone in the car. When I got it, I just needed to fit a new thermostat gasket (after cleaning the old crap off) and put a new radiator cap on. No more beeeeep beeeep beeeeeeeeeep!

Mine complains about the lo collant all the time.. ill try the things you've mentioned..

[craigvk]

Yeah check the radiator cap. They can leak out coolant. Also the thermostat. Just look around from time to time and see if you notice any leaks. If so, replace the faulty part
Check the level in the radiator. If you notice the level is down, you know why it's beeeeeeepin.

[RACE5L]

The hassle isnt worth it, speedo drives wear out and are expensive to fix if you can find someone willing, senders are expensive, cheapest option is to buy a calais, ive never tried but have had plenty of experience stripping calais's and helping brother with his, the loom is nearly that of the whole car.

[V-ahhh]

yeh its all good thanks for the info, think ill just stick to my calais, i also have a berlina so yeh thought it mite be cool with the digital dash.



thanks, nick

[Shifty1]

nick, is it efi or carby?

[V-ahhh]

the berlina right now has a carby, but i also have a spare efi motor aswell.

[A-TEAM AUTOMOTIVE]

yeah i got my digi dash done afew months ago, the only thing thats buggin me is that every time i turn it on, just after i take off it makes two beeps, its nothing much really but does anyone know why ?

[craigvk]

yeah i got my digi dash done afew months ago, the only thing thats buggin me is that every time i turn it on, just after i take off it makes two beeps, its nothing much really but does anyone know why ?

Yeah mate, that is telling you your handbrake is on. It does two beeps after you go at a speed of around 5 Km/h+ with the handbrake on.
Something isn't wired up properly by the sound of it.

[brohawk]

well ive got an 81 vh with the vk calais digital dash in it and it works fine. no probs with it at all

[NORTI]

Yeah mate, that is telling you your handbrake is on. It does two beeps after you go at a speed of around 5 Km/h+ with the handbrake on.
Something isn't wired up properly by the sound of it.

Bens does this also? Anyway of fixing it? Dickie sensor?? where abouts is it?




D.

[craigvk]

Fixing it would probably involve not connecting up that wiring that the handbrake sensor uses. The handbrake switch must be connected to the dash or the handbrake globe on the dash is.

[synoptica]

There's a yellow cable that runs down the side of the trans/tailshaft tunnel from the handbrake. Not sure if it's an NO or NC (normally open or normally closed) circuit, but it'll take you three seconds to figure out

[VKStevo]

i wanted 2 do this 2 my vk, but they are impossible 2 find in good working order and every1 tells me not 2 do it coz its tonnes hard and a lot of work or wotever

[308vkcalais]

I don't like the VK Calais dash meself personally.Mine works fine, however I think they're more gimmicky than functional.I find mine far too bright at nite, I'm not talking about the centre console lights you can dim but the dash itself.The beeping is another function I find irratating as hell.I prefer the Berlina dash as it shows Oil Pressure, Volts etc whereas the Calais dash in short displays bugga all.Sure you can add your own gauges but they should be in the Calais dash already..