AU Speedo and speed controller woes

[biased99]

As some will know, I have an AUII Ute, which effectively "combines" a base XLS V8 manual ute, with the interior and front end goodies from a Fairlane. All of the part used were "plug and play".

One of the things the PO did was to have the 3.45 ratio LSD rebuilt, but as a 3.9 ratio diff. As a consequence, the speedo and odo read high. To fix this, I bought a speedo controller from one of the forum members. This was "as new", and never used. I installed it last w/end as per the instructions, and "lost" my speedo.

Checked everything (twice), and eventually called an auto electrician to come take a look. His view is that the wiring was done correctly, but that the speedo corrector isn't sending enough voltage to the speedo, so it won't work. Re-connected the speedo directly (i.e without the controller in the loop), and it works again (of course, still reading high).

So, gut feel is that there is something amiss with the controller. Either it's DOA, or there is an incompatibility with the Falcon's (High-series) dash.

Not sure I want to d*ck around with another controller, so my questions are as follows:

1) Did the Police Packs ever have "high series" dashes in them, or are they all low-series?

2) If there were high series dashes in Police Pack trim, does anyone know where I may be able to get hold of one?

3) If someone has fitted one of these controllers (A "Shift Kits" one, IIRC) to a high series dash, can you perhaps point me in the direction of a howto (with pics), so I can triple-check that my wiring was done right? For reference, I referred to the pin-outs for the AU dash posted elsewhere in the forum, when doing the wiring.

Thanks in advance.

[Jarry]

There's a bloke on ebay who advertises that he's a VDO tech and can reflash AU dashes for $110. Just a thought, but you might get some joy talking to him.

Did you put a scopemeter on the hall effect signal and verify that the outputs were similar before/after the installation of the speedo healer?

[T MAN]

I have had the same issue with my xr8 with the new jaycar speedo correctors, wired it up, tried every configuration and nothing, returned it for another one and same issue, it just would not pick up the signal..

[mcfly94]

Originally Posted by T MAN

I have had the same issue with my xr8 with the new jaycar speedo correctors, wired it up, tried every configuration and nothing, returned it for another one and same issue, it just would not pick up the signal..

Gauge works in adelaide have told me they will not work, and they use some other unit, $375 drive in drive out

[Jarry]

I haven't tried this, but I've previously emailed Healtech and they said this product would be suitable for modifying the speedo signal on a car.

http://www.healtech-electronics.com/shop/sh-v4-ab-kit/

With the Universal SH-U01 harness.


I was going to get one, but decided on the Police OPT20 dash instead for a few extra $$$. FWIW, I didn't come across any XR OPT20 dashes when looking.

[biased99]

Thanks for the replies. Interesting to know I'm not the only one who's had "issues" with these units...

It's funny (in a way), that I procrastinated for as long as I did before I installed it, worried that I'd screw something up. And yet, the installation itself was pretty straight forward. Pity it still didn't fix the issue.

@Jarry, the auto electrician is going to get me the name/number of someone who apparently does that here in Canberra. Depending on the cost, I may give that a go, or search ebay for the bloke you mentioned.

[biased99]

Hmmm...The XR8 opt20 dash sounds very promising...Wish I could find one of those around. (As I type this, there are 3 or 4 low-series opt20 instrument clusters on eBay...They just won't go that well with the whole "Fairlane" theme inside.

If anyone knows of someone selling one of the high-series opt20 instrument clusters, give me a yell. TIA ;)

[T MAN]

one problem you may find is if you fit a xr8 cluster to high series the trip comp might not work anymore as the xr has its dte on cluster where high series don't..

[Jarry]

Mate, 100% agree! Correcting the speedo does suck!

If it's any consolation, the upshot for you is that having a manual, you don't have to worry about your shiftpoints being affected.

When I put 3.45 gears in with a grey 22tooth speedo cog, the engine would hit the 5700rpm cutout before shifting into second (at WOT). I was going to fit the speedo healer at the signal to the ecu, so i could adjust the shiftpoints, but knowing how sensitive they are to voltage fluctuations (and not having access to an oscilloscope to check) I bailed on the idea and went for the Police dash.

[Jarry]

Just to add to TMAN's post, I think there's also a difference between AU1 and AU2/3 dashes. They certainly look different.