VR/VS Dash in VN?

[jgupte]

Yesterday I tried to replace the level 1 instrument cluster in my VN with a level 2 cluster from a VR and the whole dash started smoking. When I pulled the new cluster out and looked more closely I noticed that the connector functions are different.

Can a VR/VS instrument cluster be modified to fit a VN? Or is the difference in the level 1/level 2 design?

Also, now my indicators have stopped working. All the other functions in my level 1 cluster seem to work ok, including the hazard lights. It is just the indicators.

Any help would be appreciated.

Cheers

[Matt_vp]

i put a vs level 2 instrument cluster in my wagon, i had to pull the guts out of the instrument cluster and use the vp circuit board, and the vs front face. Because the vs circuit board wires don't line up with the vn-vp plugs. But mine didn't start smoking when i pluged it in so i hope u havent fried the circuit board.
hope this helps
Matt
Edit- just use the vn back and the vr front. but change the little strip along the bottom so all the lights on the bottom line up properly.

[jgupte]

... But mine didn't start smoking when i pluged it in so i hope u havent fried the circuit board.....

When I looked at the removed cluster the only damage seemed to be the lastic around one of the wires had melted. I think I pulled it out fast enough to prevent damage.

Should I disconnect the battery before I start?

Also, does anyone know where the indicator flasher unit is located? I looked under the fuse panel cover but could'nt find it.
Cheers,
Julio

[budwizer]

the flasher relay is D but i would check fuses 2 & 14 first.

[JD]

i would disconnect the battery

[jgupte]

Hi all. Thankyou for your replies. I have now done a bit more work on this and got most of the cluster working. However I seem to have fried the little circuit board at the back of the cluster (about 2 cm wide by 8 cm long) that controls the fuel & temp gauges. Does anyone know where I can get a cheap one? Or get mine repaired?
Cheers,
Julio

[[JUDGE]]

so how easy is it to change the vp cluster to a vs cluster?? is it jst simply removing the vp face and pluggin in the wires and screwing in the vs face?

[jgupte]

so how easy is it to change the vp cluster to a vs cluster?? is it jst simply removing the vp face and pluggin in the wires and screwing in the vs face?

There are basically 8 steps involved:
1:Remove all the globes from the cluster
2:Remove the nuts holding the instruments to the body of the cluster
3:GENTLY remoe the flexible plastic circuit board from the back of the cluster
4:Unscrew the small black screws around the front clear face of the cluster and prise off the cover.
then
5:GENTLY press the flexible plastic curcuit board onto the new cluster (after having followed the above steps on the old cluster as well)
6:Screw the nuts back on to the instruments.
7:Put the light globes back into the holders.
8:Replace the idiot light strips (on the bottom front of the cluster) with the ones from the old cluster (VN/VP warning lights do not line up with VR/VS lights) and screw the whole thing back together.

WARNING: Disconnect the battery when removing/installing the cluster. I did not and blew the small hard circuit board that controls the fuel and trmp gauge.

I do not gaurentee this advise as it took me some time to figure it all out and although I think I have covered everything, I am not 100% sure. If anybody can find fault in this guide please correct me.

Good luck and let me know how it turns out.