quick question fellas if i fit st170 clocks into my focus how do you go about changing the mileage to the 40k mine reads at the mo, thanks in advance

 

Simple answer, you don't.

As its stored in the cluster microprocessor, the advice from a Visteon programmer in another forum, was that it can only really be done using a PCM and some expensive test gear.

The practical advice is to keep documents of the date of change, old mileage, new mileage with the V5C (logbook) to explain the change if selling.

Martin

 

cheers for that dont think i will be selling for a while yet just thought it could be easy to have it changed

 

The ST170 clocks will not light up without the oil pressure and temperature gauge loom, its not a straight swap. But you probably already know this

 

yeah i knew ive done the easy option and just got some lockwood dials for fathers day its better than socks

 

Buy an inverter from Speedhut in the USA to drive the ST170 face. They're very cheap, reliable and fast delivery across the pond.

Even better, they'll do you a custom face to your selection. Unfortunately though they now do then as a LHD set inc the oil pod - no good for us. Its worth asking, they might do a main cluster face alone.

Martin

 

Sorry to hijack this, but is there any reason why the handbrake light should stay on when I connect up the ST dash to my ordinary Focus?
ABS light is on as well. Standard dash works fine, yet the lights are in exactly the same place, weird.

 

Do you have ABS ? If not, its probably that. If its not getting the correct signals from an ABS module it will cause the microprocessor in the cluster to signal brake and ABS fault.

Just guessing though.

 

Thanks Mate, I reckon you're right. Car doesn't have ABS.

Any ideas how I can get round that one, apart from taking out the offending bulbs?

 

I'm afraid not. IIRC the signal ABS/Cluster is digital not a straight ground or 12v, but don't hold me to that. It can be programmed out by Ford WDS, but they charge anything up to Ł100 just to connect up.

I think the ABS is an LED soldered into the PCB; I've known it to be blocked with chewing gum on s/h cars !

Taking the brake bulb out leaves you without hand brake/low fluid warning, but then again you haven't got that if its on because of ABS.

 

Thanks for the help Mate.

Managed to get it sorted. Was reading on an RS for sale post that you can swap the circuit board and the mileometer over, so tried it and it worked. Just remove the 5 star head screws on the back, remove the plastic shield, carefully prize the circuit board off. Did the same with my old dash, swapped them and Robert's your mother's brother! Now I have all lights working normally, and got my genuine milage back. Just need to get the inverter sorted for the dash display now.

 

Yes, but the point of the ST170 unit is the different range (max reading) of both the speedo & revs.

Using the original PCB/motors with a ST170 dials will mean it indicates fast on the dials.

 

WRONG! no need to fit the oil gauges at all mate.

 

Hmmm. Ah well, I haven't tried it with the swap over yet, but I'll take your word for it. Looks like it's back to the drawing board.

 

Piece of piss mate

 

If you go back to the June posts, I recommended Speedhut inverter to feed the ST170 dial face as an alternative to the one in the oil pod. That (or an equivalent) is what is shown attached to the back of the cluster in focus 4x4's pictures.

They're quite cheap and delivery from the USA is quick.

 

Havent a clue mate , got if off ebay from germany for under 20 quid! job done!

 

So 4 x 4, the feeds for your inverter, do they just go to 12 v and earth?

 

They go to side light 12v. You can't use the normal cluster illumination if its dimmable. If you don't have an adjustable dimmer, its ok.

I usually add a 1 amp fuse in the feed.

 

thanks Mate. Inverter should arrive today so I'll have a play with it.

 

If I were to swap the gearbox speed sensor for an ST one, would that sort out my speed reading error?

 

No. The error is because your using a standard PCB with ST170 face.

You could correct it with a 'Speedohealer' but then the digital (but normally not seen) display would be wrong.

Martin

 

Hi Martin,

Thanks for the quick reply Mate.

Sorry to be a dunce, but what is a "speedohealer"?

I take it by digital display, you mean that there is a digital speed readout somewhere?

Mike

 

'SpeedoHealer' is a microprocessor unit that changes the frequency of the signal from the gearbox vehicle speed sensor (VSS). Originally developed for tyre/gear changes on Bikes but very useful in cars.

http://www.bikersdiscountstore.co.uk...r-v4-pd-18.php

The MTX/IB5 gearboxes have a nylon/steel disc replacing the speedo gear on the diff. The MT285 (ST170) box was design with a VSS, so the sensor just reads the FD gear. As a result the ST170 outputs about 3.5 times more pulses per driveshaft revolution. Real pain if swapping boxes.

On the Mk1 Focus, the VSS sends its signal only to the PCM/ECU. That is then programmed to send out, according to wheel/tyre (and also the gearbox) a legacy pulse signal (for radio and cruise control) and on the digital highway. The speedo can display speed (and other measurements, on the Odometer when in diagnostic mode.

There should be detailed topics on diagnostic mode, but basiclly, hold down the odometer button whilst starting the engine. All lights come on, needles swing, then use button to scroll through various parameters.

Martin

 

thanks Martin. that looks like a pretty good piece of kit. It would still leave me with the rev counter reading incorrect though.

I could of course go back to my old PCB and blank out the offending bulbs. That would create a problem when MOT comes round of course.

I'm in the process of fiting some new rear hubs with disks, and some new ST front hubs/discs. Both are ebay items, and come with ABS sensors, so I'm going to investigate fitting the rest of the ABS gubbins. My guess is that all of the wiring will be there, just like my electric mirriors/fog lights/heated front screen. We'll see.......

If that fails I'll give the speedohealer a try.

 

Martin,

I had a look at the diagnostics on start up, scrolled through the options and then set it back to normal.

Now, unfortunately, Mile odometer doesn't illuminate when I turn on the lights :-(

Have I done something stupid with the diagnostics, or is it just a coincidence?

mike

 

Hopefully a coincidental faulure of the bulb, but ........

The odometer is illuminated when the ignition is on, but then reduced/dimable when sidelights are on. I think this switching is done via the cluster processor. So a bit of electronics might be involved.

First thing though, change & check bulb.

Martin

 

Thanks Martin, I'll try that today. You're a star.
Mike

 

is this the inverter you need for st170 clocks to light up?
http://www.speedhut.com/product_deta...NUMBER-368.htm

 

Yes, that one will work, but ...............the cheaper one will do as well if you are going to hide it behind the dash.

Martin

 

cant find a cheaper one do you have a link by any chance?

 

http://www.speedhut.com/product_deta...NUMBER-856.htm

http://www.speedhut.com/product_deta...NUMBER-873.htm

 

cheers for that will the first inverter do the speedo and rev counter on its own, really cheap aswell

 

hi, i am new to passionford and have been reading your advice on changing clocks from an st to a standard focus (ghia) i have just received the inverter from speedhut (e18-686-5cr) i beleive i connect the black and white wires to the sidelights but what about the black plug where do i connect that? thanks in anticipation.

 

The Ford cluster has a twin core cable coming out at the top from behind the PCB. Splice the thin twin core from the inverter to it.

Martin

 

thanks very much for that martin much appreciated.

 

hi again, connected inverter to the two pcb wires but it only lighits up the first inch of the pcb, think there is a break in it, anyone know anybody in the manchester area who repairs these? thanks again.

 

hi, sorry to keep dragging you back to these clocks, i bought an inverter and have been using the clocks for a while but is there any way of making them go brighter? they dont dim with the normal dash lights. would i have to connect another dimmer to the inverter? thanks.

 

Sorry, AFAIK its not a function of the ST170 display with Speedhut Inverter. I'm not even sure the Ford Inverter has that function!

The alternative is to get a Speedhut Face, but off course they come with a LHS secondary Pod face.

Martin

 

Hi I tried to click them links can anyone help on this matter I'm new to the site thanks in advance looking to put st clocks into a standard one