Dashboard change

 so the car came with the Nismo 320kph dash which looks pretty good but I had been told at purchase time that it was not converted to read in mph ie both speed and odometer read in kilometres. Obviously within er 100yrds of driving the car I knew that was not the case for the speedo (Phone GPS on Google Maps) and then quickly realised the odometer was also reading in miles. Now this might not seem like a problem but have a look at the sweep the needle needs to take to hit 30mph or 60mph..  

so yeah thats not a large sweep eh? It's not quite 1degree of movement equals speeding ticket but it does require a certain amount of looking to confirm the speed or look at the phone to check the GPS speed. Bit of a faff tbh but to be honest the speedo is accurate even if the resolution is somewhat narrow. I've hummed and hawed about getting the OEM dash display fitted and then getting the odometer reset to match the current reading if for no other reason than continuity of the MOT readings. So back in July and armed with the GTR.co.uk dash removal guide and a freshly bought though 2nd hand 28yr old dash display I got stuck in. 

The guide says it's not critical to remove the upper steering wheel shroud to get the dash off but it certainly helps. First issue hit, I cannot get the screws out from the shroud and apparently there are six! of them. No wonder Nissan was broke in the 90's eh?

This is what I was fighting with

and then this one

and this one!

I could not get these things out, well I got three of the six out but I was struggling with the rest and thought well it's not required to remove the shroud so I'll push on with it attached and the steering wheel in the lowest position... 

So following the guide I removed the ashtray, gearstick knob, the gearstick surround yada yada got the dash trim loose in my hands and then fought to remove the cable connectors from the blocks. Not having the strongest fingers in the land it was a bit of struggle but I managed it. Then the issue teasing the trim over the shroud which I'd been unable to remove at stage one. I did eventually manage to get the trim over the shroud but I knew that a problem needing resolved for putting it all back together otherwise the shroud would most likely be marked.

Then the dash display itself was unscrewed and as I'm going round the fixing points I am noticing quite a selection in the screw heads which made me wonder what was lurking in the shroud. Anyways, more fighting with cable connectors and booyah the display was out and then I saw it.

A speed signal converter and de-limiter... mmmmm this was not entirely un-expected but also wasn't entirely expected either. I shall explain. On JDM cars they are fitted with KPH dials and odometers and also speed limited to 180kph and on import to the UK these things are a small issue. The problem with some cars occurs when the speed signal from the gearbox to the speedo head is altered which can in some cars then affect the speed sensitive steering and on HICAS equipped cars, the HICAS itself. You see on most cars the gearbox signal goes to the speedo head first, then a conditioned signal goes from the speedo head to the ECU which is then fed to other systems. Steering assist, speed limiters, rear wheel steering. On Nissan cars with HICAS feeding a signal to the ECU which is 5/8 of the actual speed of the car has caused issues with stability and a really really floaty feeling at speed. You have an indicated 50mph on your converted speedo which feeds 50(kph) to the other parts of the car and it follows the programme as per OEM design. Problem is, the car is actually doing 80kph not 50kph as the input signal suggest and the car might give more assistance than you'd expect and or want!

So, the fact my Nismo fitted 320kph dials and odometer read in mph yet I've never experience said floatiness while changing lanes / going round corners at 60/70mph indicated gave me the impression the car had no converter fitted but had been modified at the speedo itself using the ADJ solder pads on the PCB. Clearly not the case. Anyways, out with the display after more fighting with the connectors. 

Taa daa

So, in with the OEM dash and just leave it resting on the trim and se how it looks. Looks just right IMHO

check the warning lights match the ones of the Nismo unit, they do bar the airbag light but I think that actually went out just after taking the photo. It certainly wasn't on when the engine was running

Time to fire it up!

Ah crapo! The ole dancing rev counter. So short version of the events that unfolded after this.
I contacted the seller of the dials and he was super cool about me getting this investigated with a potential fix and I actually did have someone lined up to do it who would also set the odometer to match my current clocks. So i took the display out and waited for a an appointment. Then i decided to check the speedo worked cause that's a known issue as well and yep you guessed it, the speedo didn't work. It did read correctly at speed as verified by the GPS / HUD app I used on the phone but the needle was very slow to respond, nowhere near OEM response time and when sitting at a junction it was still showing 30mph. Fark.

So after speaking to the tech I was going to use he said meh send it back if you can and obtain a new speedo from Nissan (which you can actually do). In hindsight I could've sent the display away to a company down south who would have not only fixed all the solder / resistors / capacitors but also put the odometer to match my current one however i did not find this company on the web until after I had already started the returns process. In the meantime I'd already plugged in my Nismo display just to make sure it still worked and read same as before - thankfully it did. Phew!

Next problem, that damned shroud above the steering wheel. I bought some new longer reach Phillips screwdriver bits and finally got the damned screws out. WTF - no wonder some wouldn't come out cause they were cutting a grove into the damned channel. What's that, three different screw types where there should only be one? Grrrr. I bought some Cap head screws and put three in to hold the shroud and then i actually bought some problem Phillips head screws for the job. Toying with replacing all screws / bolts I take out with Torx head units.

So while i had the dash out i figured might as well try and move the alarm LED to somewhere more obvious and er well lets say it wasn't the best job done but it works. Might as well use the previously butchered GTR coin slot cover for something.

I'm still not convinced I was right to return that display unit but car is back to where it was and more musing since.