Alhambra Instrument Cluster

[Mirez]

Has anyone experimented with the Alhambra instrument cluster? I've just acquired one for a reasonable price as I think my current galaxy one is a bit goosed (regarding door open etc) - the alhambra one is also from a 1.9, two years newer but includes two extra gauges, one for oil temp and one for voltage. I'm checked TIS and the oil temp signal IS present for the galaxy cluster, though what it uses it for is unknown so I'm guessing this "could" (haha) be a simple in/out swap over to gain the extra two gauges?

 

Has anyone experimented before? I'm aware of the obvious colour difference re illumination but I'll swap the LED's over later if it proves a sucsess.... any thoughts?

[Mirez]

Ok Cool, I *could* be the first in the UK then? :angry:

 

I'm still waiting for it to arrive but I'm liking the idea more and more, it has the volt and oil temp extra gauges but the alhambra one also has a digital clock and range function on the trip - so I see the benefits as those 4 plus full size fis, which means nav instructions and audio data displayed up in the cluster. I can't see any of these functions (except nav/audio) requiring any extra wiring either as, in theory, the signals are all present at the galaxy cluster. I'll report back in due time :)

[searcher]

Ok Cool, I *could* be the first in the UK then? :angry:

 

I'm still waiting for it to arrive but I'm liking the idea more and more, it has the volt and oil temp extra gauges but the alhambra one also has a digital clock and range function on the trip - so I see the benefits as those 4 plus full size fis, which means nav instructions and audio data displayed up in the cluster. I can't see any of these functions (except nav/audio) requiring any extra wiring either as, in theory, the signals are all present at the galaxy cluster. I'll report back in due time :)

Well to be honest i dont like the digital clock on mine. I muched prefered the central clock on the Galaxys so at least all passengers could see the time.

Im not sure quite what the audio display is as i dont have that on mine (I dont think).

Leave the bulbs as red and change all the others as it look fab at night. It took me a while to get used to it but love it now.

[granadaman]

Hi if they are out of same as in engine and gearbox spec they will work ok my work but as mine is zetec it has no bulb failure so that bit dont work hope this helps i need to download data from a manual tdi spec clocks to get my speedo correct

[galaxyman73]

Ok Cool, I *could* be the first in the UK then? :)

 

I'm still waiting for it to arrive but I'm liking the idea more and more, it has the volt and oil temp extra gauges but the alhambra one also has a digital clock and range function on the trip - so I see the benefits as those 4 plus full size fis, which means nav instructions and audio data displayed up in the cluster. I can't see any of these functions (except nav/audio) requiring any extra wiring either as, in theory, the signals are all present at the galaxy cluster. I'll report back in due time :D

they dont work the same in a galaxy .. the oil pressure gauge and others wont work

allso mileage has to be corrected with use of vag-com

[Mirez]

Without wanting to sound rude is that tried and tested fact or just speculation? :)

[granadaman]

the oil and temp guage work fine and you need vag tacho to change mileage to original clock reading,i have had my clocks in my car and work ok,just speedo was 20 mph out at 70 mph because the clocks are for an auto and mine is manual,

[DWM404Y]

been there done that - they won't work

[Mirez]

Again though is that is that tried and tested fact or just speculation?

 

I've plugged mine in and got revs, full FIS door open display, fuel and volts. I needed the car for the weekend so put the original cluster back without testing further but eaerly indications would suggest they work fine.

[Mirez]

Just thought I'd bring this back to the top... mainly to annoy all those above that said categorically that it couldn't be done... it may have been a little while but they are in, 100% working - every gauge and light ;) Ha!

 

Photo's to follow (they are out again for the backlighting LED's to be changed)...

[gregers]

wot can i say,apart from you bloody GEEK ;) ,WELL DONE THAT MAN is there anything left you want to try and change OR HAVE YOU DONE IT ALL? ;) ;)

 

JUST THINK i could quite easily see a business starting up for you mirez.

[wackojackouk]

wot can i say,apart from you bloody GEEK ;) ,WELL DONE THAT MAN is there anything left you want to try and change OR HAVE YOU DONE IT ALL? ;) ;)

 

JUST THINK i could quite easily see a business starting up for you mirez.

 

Looking forward to the pics Mirez.

 

Just wondered on the normal Galaxy clocks does the Galaxy logo light up or not?

[Mirez]

Nothing left to fit now m8, all the optional extras from all three models is now fitted lol - just the steering wheel controls to do.

 

The galaxy emblem isn't lit on the mk2 clocks, although it would be easy enough to do - pointless for me now though ;)

 

 

I'll do more when its all coloured up as its now in bits but it'll be nice to have full FIS display.

 

I must say I'm extreamly chuffed, mainly because so many people said it couldn't be done (which is like a red-rag to me lol), those who claimed to have done it couldn't show me any evidence or explain how they'd done it http://www.fordmondeo.org/forum/images/smilies/eek13.gif, and from the few discussions out there on instrument cluster swapping none of it really applies to the galaxy cluster. I've also been told some complete crap presented as fact which makes it all the more fun to show it done and working, including the speedo (yes the bit I'll supposedly NEVER get working ;) )

 

Just picking the colour scheme now (thinking of blue and green or red and white at the moment) then I've got to replace the sump so I can mount the oil level/temp sensor and the workings of the cluster are finalised. Then I'll do the comms between the nav and the cluster to get the nav instructions up on the FIS and the projects completed.

 

Total cost so far is

[Jayton]

Cool ;)

[gregers]

;) ;)

[robpol]

That looks sweet m8 :(

[wackojackouk]

That looks sweet m8 B)

Yeah looking good Mirez.

 

Got any updated pictures yet :(

[Mirez]

That looks sweet m8 :o

Yeah looking good Mirez.

 

Got any updated pictures yet :rolleyes:

 

Nope, had to go away on business so put the car back together again. Still have another full FIS cluster that I can fiddle with first but right now the sump is next on the list of things todo so I can get the oil temperature sender working. I've tried it off the car so I know it works but its a bit of a bugger VW didn't just blank where the sender should be instead!

[Mirez]

and for those interested:

 

 

My

[Jayton]

Awesome!

 

Do you think you'd be able to get a digital reading of the oil & water temps to be an option when flicking through the MFA? (on this and standard clusters).

[Mirez]

With softcoding/eeprom editing?... I won't say no 100% but its unlikely, its certainly not been done before.

 

You can buy an aftermarket interface to do it but its not cheap and not been used on a 7M chassis so doubt it would be guaranteed

[Jayton]

Look what I noticed on my sump :lol:

 

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj183/jayton82/IMG_20110212_153602.jpg

[redneck01246]

hi all

will a set of dash clocks out of a auto sharan(with the oil and amps)mk2 fit and work in a manual galaxy.

i know everthing else will wirk but did auto have 1,2,3,4,d,r on the graphic display module?

[Mirez]

hi all

will a set of dash clocks out of a auto sharan(with the oil and amps)mk2 fit and work in a manual galaxy.

i know everthing else will wirk but did auto have 1,2,3,4,d,r on the graphic display module?

 

 

No, I dont know who told you "everything else will work" but it won't. The speed signal and rev counter are a different pulse setup for starters and yes, the auto has the gear select graphic although that's just a line of text at the bottom of the screen and won't show anything without communication from the auto controller.

[redneck01246]

cheers

i will start looking for a manual one