General: 850: - Replacing Instrument Cluster - HELP!

driver242 · Jun 13th, 2024, 17:05

I have a Japanese import 850R. The garage I bought it from changed the instrument cluster facia to show mph rather than kph. Nothing else was changed - the odometer still records kph. At least it did! A few week ago the instrument panel went dead. I sent it to a firm that has repaired these in the past but they have drawn a blank. I have seen a few second hand instrument clusters on ebay but I need some advice about the practicality of fitting a UK spec instrument cluster to a Japanese spec car.

Is there a electronic memory in the cluster that records km/miles? If so, the replacement would have an internal memory for the mileage (in miles obviously) as well as the mechanical odometer. Can the mechanical odometer be changed to show the true mileage for my car (converting the km into miles in the process). Would the internal memory know or care that the odometer doesn't match? I assume then that the car would start to record mileage rather than kms as whatever signal is sent to the cluster isn't bothered whether the cluster is metric or imperial?

Any advice would be appreciated. If anyone has a spare, let me know!

Shinsplintz 101 · Jun 14th, 2024, 19:05

The odometer is mechanical. It will need to be reset to the correct mileage which can be obtained from the ECU - but will involve splitting the donor instrument cluster to access the mechanism and wind forward/back.

Buying and fitting a 2nd hand unit should be fine - just make sure it comes from a fully loaded 850 T5 (GLT +) or 850 R, so that the cluster has all the same functionality as your existing. It's a straight swap.

Good luck.

driver242 · Jun 15th, 2024, 11:58

Thanks for the advice. What I don’t understand is whether I have to set the replacement odometer to km or miles. The car is a Japanese spec, the odometer has always recorded in km. What is it that controls this i.e. the recording in km rather than miles? Is it the ECU? If so, would that mean that a UK replacement cluster would start to record in km?

Shinsplintz 101 · Jun 15th, 2024, 18:38

No, a Uk odometer will record in miles - the gearing is different to your Japanese original - that's all - the input from speed sensor mounted on the gearbox is identical. The joys of 1990s analogue.

P.s. you will need to do a quick bit of maths to convert the original kms to miles s9 that your replacement odometer reads true to the t9tal distance covered by the car in its lifetime.

driver242 · Jun 16th, 2024, 11:01

OK, understood, many thanks

Jun 13th, 2024, 17:05	#1
driver242 New Member Last Online: Jun 16th, 2024 11:01 Join Date: Apr 2023 Location: LEEDS	Replacing Instrument Cluster - HELP! I have a Japanese import 850R. The garage I bought it from changed the instrument cluster facia to show mph rather than kph. Nothing else was changed - the odometer still records kph. At least it did! A few week ago the instrument panel went dead. I sent it to a firm that has repaired these in the past but they have drawn a blank. I have seen a few second hand instrument clusters on ebay but I need some advice about the practicality of fitting a UK spec instrument cluster to a Japanese spec car. Is there a electronic memory in the cluster that records km/miles? If so, the replacement would have an internal memory for the mileage (in miles obviously) as well as the mechanical odometer. Can the mechanical odometer be changed to show the true mileage for my car (converting the km into miles in the process). Would the internal memory know or care that the odometer doesn't match? I assume then that the car would start to record mileage rather than kms as whatever signal is sent to the cluster isn't bothered whether the cluster is metric or imperial? Any advice would be appreciated. If anyone has a spare, let me know! Last edited by driver242; Jun 13th, 2024 at 17:18.

Jun 15th, 2024, 18:38	#4
Shinsplintz 101 Senior Member Last Online: Jun 25th, 2024 02:23 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Baldock View Photos By: Shinsplintz 101	No, a Uk odometer will record in miles - the gearing is different to your Japanese original - that's all - the input from speed sensor mounted on the gearbox is identical. The joys of 1990s analogue. P.s. you will need to do a quick bit of maths to convert the original kms to miles s9 that your replacement odometer reads true to the t9tal distance covered by the car in its lifetime. Last edited by Shinsplintz 101; Jun 15th, 2024 at 18:40.

Jun 14th, 2024, 19:05	#2
Shinsplintz 101 Senior Member Last Online: Jun 25th, 2024 02:23 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Baldock View Photos By: Shinsplintz 101	The odometer is mechanical. It will need to be reset to the correct mileage which can be obtained from the ECU - but will involve splitting the donor instrument cluster to access the mechanism and wind forward/back. Buying and fitting a 2nd hand unit should be fine - just make sure it comes from a fully loaded 850 T5 (GLT +) or 850 R, so that the cluster has all the same functionality as your existing. It's a straight swap. Good luck.

Jun 15th, 2024, 11:58	#3
driver242 New Member Last Online: Jun 16th, 2024 11:01 Join Date: Apr 2023 Location: LEEDS	Thanks for the advice. What I don’t understand is whether I have to set the replacement odometer to km or miles. The car is a Japanese spec, the odometer has always recorded in km. What is it that controls this i.e. the recording in km rather than miles? Is it the ECU? If so, would that mean that a UK replacement cluster would start to record in km?

Jun 16th, 2024, 11:01	#5
driver242 New Member Last Online: Jun 16th, 2024 11:01 Join Date: Apr 2023 Location: LEEDS	OK, understood, many thanks

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