Hey guys,

I have a question that might be easy or hard to answer, a bit unsure. My question is that if you take a dash cluster out of a car (an electronic type) do you need the cars ECU to run it, or can you create your own electronic unit to except inputs of the new vehicle and convert them to match the new cluster. So say if i want to put a late model Commodore dash into an old school car, can you do it with a custom made ecu, and yes i know you need sensor's and stuff just need to know if the actual cluster needs to be matched to the ecu?

Thanks in advance guys.

If you are using a commodore motor then use the ecu and dash to suit, that simple..

If you are using a commodore motor then use the ecu and dash to suit, that simple..

 

Nuh different engine...not so simple

unsure exactly what you are asking mate.

 

you like the look of the commondore dash, you arent using a commondore engine, but you want to use it in your corolla?

 

corolla uses analogue sensors for everything (ie resistance sensors, and cable for the speedo)

 

new cars are all digital (still resistances etc, but its not going to be as simple as the corolla). and all the resistance ranges are going to be different. you will need to use the comonodore sensors and somehow put them into the corolla engine.

 

to be honest i don't even know where to attempt to start explaining, its going to be a complete and utter pain the ass to put a fancy new dash into an old corolla.

 

the two systems are just not going to be compatible.

 

you will have better luck if you get the entire dash loom/engine loom ecu/engine/gearbox out of the commondore and hook it all up.

 

one must ask why?

OK, you kinda answered my question there, like i said in the original topic i know i'll need sensors, and analogue to digital convertor's for things like fuel and water temp and things like that. From where i used to work, the dashboards on new buses utilise a CAN-bus system and you need the ecu, but if the commodore dash doesn't have a CAN system then all the inputs to the dash are pretty much just from the sensors but change from analogue to digital via the ecu, thus meaning i can make my own ecu to convert the signals from the sensors to be able to be recognised by the dash....and is only a question at the moment. My interest will grow stronger once i start making my own pcb's and stuff.