Speedo reading off

Subsie · Postby **Subsie** » Sat Dec 07, 2013 11:32 am

Hi all, searched high and low for a possible solution to this calibration problem. I recently swapped out a 180kph JDM speedo cluster (6speed), for a nice white 240kph one out of a NB car. All plugged in fine and I even did the high beam mod. Gauges work fine, except that when I drive the car, it is reading way over its actual.(tested with GPS) at 40kph, it reads, 58, 50kph (70) and 70kph (100). Not sure if the new gauge is from a 5 speed car as mine is a 6speed AE model. Any assistance would be appreciated guys.

taminga16 · Postby **taminga16** » Sat Dec 07, 2013 12:36 pm

If the faces are white, it is probably from a six speed. Shoot a PM to Boyracer, he has some NB stuff for sale ATM as it may require a matching drive.
Greg.

Subsie · Postby **Subsie** » Tue Dec 10, 2013 12:17 pm

Response from Boyracer
"Hi, changing the instrument panel should not have made a difference as the speedo is purely regulated by the speedo sender gear size."

Still have no idea what else it could be. Anyone else with ideas? Puzzled!!!:(

Subsie

taminga16 · Postby **taminga16** » Tue Dec 10, 2013 2:58 pm

The drive and speedo are nothing more than a circle to a circle, if the calibrations are in different positions, the speedo will read incorrectly. I still feel that you will require a matching drive.
Greg.

hks_kansei · Postby **hks_kansei** » Tue Dec 10, 2013 3:03 pm

On the NB it's all electronic, the fact you've mentioned something about a high beam mod says the speedo is from a different model?

I swapped my Aussie cluster (220kph or whatever) for a Japanese one (180kph) and had no change in speedo readings.
But, mine was from an aussie 1999 NB cluster to a Japanese 1999 cluster.

sailaholic · Postby **sailaholic** » Tue Dec 10, 2013 7:50 pm

In the na series the 180km speedos use the same sweep range as the 220 ones, is this the case in the nb?

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hks_kansei · Postby **hks_kansei** » Tue Dec 10, 2013 8:07 pm

sailaholic wrote:In the na series the 180km speedos use the same sweep range as the 220 ones, is this the case in the nb?

it's close enough to be the same on the NB8A ones.

But since it's an electronic speedo drive (rather than the mechanical NA one) the needle just moves at a different rate to cover the same distance.

Aussie:

Japanese: (from an RS, I think Japan also got other non-6pm 180kph clusters)

Subsie · Postby **Subsie** » Tue Dec 10, 2013 8:52 pm

I have replaced the Japanese 6 speed in you 2nd pic with a white dial one. It has the 2 dark indicator screens on speedo and rev side. I think it may have come off a 5 speed. Still awaiting feedback from Formaz.

Subsie

Subsie · Postby **Subsie** » Wed Dec 11, 2013 10:09 am

Got confirmation today from Formaz. Cluster is indeed from a 5 speed. Might have to chuck it in the used parts forum.

Thanks for all your help guys.

Subsie

taminga16 · Postby **taminga16** » Wed Dec 11, 2013 10:16 am

Shoot droo a PM, find a local instrument repair shop it may be as simple as altering the input circuit. Alternatively borrow a drive unit from a 5 speed.
Greg.

Subsie · Postby **Subsie** » Wed Dec 11, 2013 11:00 am

Thanks Greg. I live in Karratha and we don't have instrument repair shops. Most stuff here is just freighted up. I may give your suggestion a try. As I mainly drive it on weekends, it is not too much of a rush and I don't want to keep on forking out cash if it may not work.

Subsie

93_Clubman · Postby **93_Clubman** » Wed Dec 11, 2013 11:37 am

Sounds like the Subsie bought the 10AE recently for sale online (in WA I think) which had the JDM 180kph cluster fitted. VIN quoted in ad was that of an ADM 10AE, so it sounds like the ADM cluster had already been swapped for a JDM cluster prior to Subsie buying the car. Understandably Subsie now wants to reverse the prior swap.

taminga16 · Postby **taminga16** » Wed Dec 11, 2013 2:30 pm

Is there a ham radio bloke in town? he/ she might be able to steer you in the right direction.
Greg.

hks_kansei · Postby **hks_kansei** » Wed Dec 11, 2013 3:27 pm

I think the issue is something other than the speedo sender, the senders are matched to each diff ratio, through the NB series there were 3 available as far as I know (on Aussie cars) 4.1, 3.9, and 3.6

The 4.1 was used on the 5 speed NB8A (1998-2000)
The 3.9 was used on the 6 speed 10AE (1999)
The 3.6 was used on the 6 speed NB8B onwards (2000-2005?)

The problem I see is that the speedo appears to be out by 30% (from your readings in post #1 it's between 28% and 31% out)

However, the maximum difference in ratios is between the NB8B and NB8A, which is still only 12% difference.

The only thing I can think is if the diff in your car has been fitted with a 4.9:1 crown and pinion, which would be roughly 26% different to an NB8B.
But, that woudl only occur if it had a 4.9 ratio diff fitted, and had a 3.6 ratio sender (which is unlikely)
If it was a 4.9 put into a 10AE with the factory 3.9 sender the difference would only by 20%

But, since you haven't changed the sender, or diff, for those scenarios to work it would mean the old speedo would have been out by the same amount.

It's a really odd one.
I think Greg is right, perhaps it's worth either getting the cluster inspected, or replacing it.

I think I still have my original Aussie cluster (NB8A, blue, the one in the photo I posted earlier, showing 100,000km. It had about 125,000km when I took it out I think) in the garage, I kept it in case I ever wanted to revert back to original, but there's no point now since the odometer on it won't match my car (I hunted high and low to find a japanese car/cluster with almost the same KM on the clock as my car)

If you wish to buy it send me a PM and I can give you details.

Subsie · Postby **Subsie** » Wed Dec 11, 2013 4:26 pm

Thanks guys. Yes I did buy the WA advertised one. I do like the white cluster, but if formaz can't find me a 6 speed unit, I would take the one on offer. Please pm me a price.

Subsie