Matt S.
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Fresno, CA
Some of you are aware that I took on the task to build a custom dash in my Jeep. I started it last september and it sat for 5 months while I stepped away from it. Now I am back at it and hoping to have the dash finished in a couple weekends.
I bought the Autometer Phantom gauges to use. They look like this.
To my knowledge, a full dash replacement has never been done. So alot of this is difficult to figure out. Plus I dont have a FSM :gag: This is where some of you might have some knowledge on a few questions I have come up with. This is on a 88' 4.0 with an auto just for reference.
1) Does the Jeep computer system use the stock gauge cluster in SERIES? For exaple: The Tachometer is the OUTPUT signal of the engines RPMs. Does the Input signal go to the computer FIRST, then relayed to the gauge?Or is the signal sent THROUGH the gauge then to the computer?
I am trying to figure out if by removing the gauge cluster am I distrupting the computers operation.
If the gauge is meerly a reading of what the computer is seeing then I will splice into the system with the new aftermarket gauges. Now, if the gauges are an integrial part of the computer circuit, I am going to have to trick the computer by fighting with resistors to mask the loss of the gauges.
Everyone with me so far?
2) The OH SO IMPORTANT check engine light! My goal in this whoooooole thing is cleanliness. I would like to use idiot lights for things like the headlamps, check engine light, turn signals, etc. FarmerMatt brought an EXELENT question. Will an idiot light work as a check engine light? Or is a light that literally says "Check Engine" required? I personally would have never thought about that, but most deffinatly a good thing to think about!
3) Does anyone have access to a online FSM?
I know I will have more questions that you all may beable to help answer, so thanks now, and thank you later!
Matt
And a teaser pic!
I bought the Autometer Phantom gauges to use. They look like this.
To my knowledge, a full dash replacement has never been done. So alot of this is difficult to figure out. Plus I dont have a FSM :gag: This is where some of you might have some knowledge on a few questions I have come up with. This is on a 88' 4.0 with an auto just for reference.
1) Does the Jeep computer system use the stock gauge cluster in SERIES? For exaple: The Tachometer is the OUTPUT signal of the engines RPMs. Does the Input signal go to the computer FIRST, then relayed to the gauge?Or is the signal sent THROUGH the gauge then to the computer?
I am trying to figure out if by removing the gauge cluster am I distrupting the computers operation.
If the gauge is meerly a reading of what the computer is seeing then I will splice into the system with the new aftermarket gauges. Now, if the gauges are an integrial part of the computer circuit, I am going to have to trick the computer by fighting with resistors to mask the loss of the gauges.
Everyone with me so far?
2) The OH SO IMPORTANT check engine light! My goal in this whoooooole thing is cleanliness. I would like to use idiot lights for things like the headlamps, check engine light, turn signals, etc. FarmerMatt brought an EXELENT question. Will an idiot light work as a check engine light? Or is a light that literally says "Check Engine" required? I personally would have never thought about that, but most deffinatly a good thing to think about!
3) Does anyone have access to a online FSM?
I know I will have more questions that you all may beable to help answer, so thanks now, and thank you later!
Matt
And a teaser pic!