EA81 instrument cluster interchange ?s wiring

[Gloyale]

Quick question for the EA81 gurus.

 

Are the connectors the same from year to year?

 

Background:

 

I am doing an EJ swap into an 81 GL wagon. The cluster in it doesn't have a reed switch in the speedo head (no Vss).

 

When I swapped my 84, I was able to simply plug into the Vss that is in the dash.

 

 

Hopeful solution:

 

I am thinking that swapping clusters out with one from a newer model w/ Vss in it. However I don't really want to get into repining all the connectors for the cluster

 

What are the chances that the connectors stayed the same through the years?

 

How new do I have to go before finding one with a Vss in it? 82? 83? I know 84's have it.

 

 

 

On a side note, this old dash didn't have a check engine light either:confused: even though it is a Cali Feedback model with an ECU? We wired the EJ check engine light to the "fasten seatbelts" light.

[ihscout54]

'82 and up clusters will have the VSS. It seems like few 82-84 clusters had the spot cut for the ECS light. Anything later should be ok. Im not sure how plug and play swapping to a later cluster will be, but if you have come this far in your swap this should be a minor thing to solve. Ide like to say the "pins" all stayed the same, but Im not sure. Some one out there has swapped clusters and will know.

[Gloyale]

I am hopeful to find an 82.

 

I think this si the same style and layout to the gauges, so if 82 will have the Vss.......the rest should all be the same.

 

I worry about the 83+ style.....as the whole gauge set-up is rearranged and so possibly wiring is as well.

 

I don't want to do alot of rewiring hte dash. I don't have any wiring diagrahms for the 81 and limited daigrahms for the 83 and 84+

[GeneralDisorder]

'82 and up are all the same - the difference is only the color of the '82's - they are orange instead of white. I have an '82 cluster in my '83 hatch for example - and it's got the '83's tach inside it since the '82 tach was dead.

 

The 80/81 cluster's I beleive also have the VSS - it's used for cruise control so they all have it (at least I thought - could be wrong though). But the wireing/connectors to the '80/'81 cluster is entirely different and not compatible unless you do a lot of wireing.

 

The '82-'84 cluster's may not have the ECS light if they didn't come with a feedback carb. '85 and up all have them regardless of carb style it seems.

 

I have complete diagrams and manuals for all years of EA81's including the '85 to '89 wireing diagram book. Let me know what you need and I'll scan it.

 

I did put an '80 cluster (like the look) in my lifted wagon - replacing the '84 digi-dash. It was a HUGE mess. I had to make an adaptor harness to do the job.

 

GD

Edited March 11, 2010 by GeneralDisorder

[ruparts]

Quick question for the EA81 gurus.

 

Are the connectors the same from year to year?

 

Background:

 

I am doing an EJ swap into an 81 GL wagon. The cluster in it doesn't have a reed switch in the speedo head (no Vss).

 

When I swapped my 84, I was able to simply plug into the Vss that is in the dash.

 

 

Hopeful solution:

 

I am thinking that swapping clusters out with one from a newer model w/ Vss in it. However I don't really want to get into repining all the connectors for the cluster

 

What are the chances that the connectors stayed the same through the years?

 

How new do I have to go before finding one with a Vss in it? 82? 83? I know 84's have it.

 

 

 

On a side note, this old dash didn't have a check engine light either:confused: even though it is a Cali Feedback model with an ECU? We wired the EJ check engine light to the "fasten seatbelts" light.

 

Hi,

i just swapped in 82 red face guages in my 84 wagon, the plugs were not the same for those two,, the circuit boards in back are different, for different years, and that is what the plug ins are on, and the main guage housing is different too, i noticed that light holes are different and holes to clear circuitry on the boards are different, definately not just plug and play, even to do the simple mod i did.

the 84 white face guages have a ecs light onthe bottom of the tach face. here is the deal, the housings are almost alike, as are the back panels, but each year has its own way to fit together correctly. even the hi beam indicator is different in the way it is lit between them.

i used my main housing, my circuit board, all the guages from the 82 installed in that, except my original odometer, used red tint backlight bulbs, so now my cars original plugs go to the original circuit panel board and with red face guages, and red backlight.

my feeling is that you have to pin each year different, the plugs might fit on but what it connects to is not the same year to year. they just switched them around some.

[Gloyale]

 

The 80/81 cluster's I beleive also have the VSS - it's used for cruise control so they all have it (at least I thought - could be wrong though). But the wireing/connectors to the '80/'81 cluster is entirely different and not compatible unless you do a lot of wireing.

 

 

GD

 

Well, there is definately not a Vss in this dash on the 81. I removed it down to the actual speedo unit (even tried to finangle an EA82 speedo in there) but there is definately not one.

 

There is also no ECS light.

 

Both of my 84's had Vss and ECS lights.

 

Sounds like every year has a different connector arrangement.

 

 

Hmm........we may just leave it with no Vss and see how it runs, we got it fired up last night

 

Rick, I may have to take a trip up there to get some scans if we decide to put a newer cluster in it.

[GeneralDisorder]

Sounds like every year has a different connector arrangement.

 

Well - 80/81, 82, and 83+ are the variations in connector's. The '82's are compatible with the 83+ though if you just swap the circuit board. They are otherwise the same.

 

80/81 is a lot different. I had to not only rewire the whole thing, but I also had to add some diode's between some of the circuits and the cluster to make things work right.

 

 

Rick, I may have to take a trip up there to get some scans if we decide to put a newer cluster in it.

 

Sure - no problem if you need to.

 

GD