Instrument Cluster Foil repairs and Murphys Law

1

HI all,

Well a couple of days ago I was facing a decision to make about my broken instrument cluster foil. Either mortgage the house on a replacement aftermarket foil from overseas plus shipping and GST costs plus downtime or else, bite the bullet and have a go at repairing the 30 year old foil. Known aftermarket replacement foil alternatives include:

https://www.vanagon.org/products/instrument-cluster-foil-repair-kit

or

https://www.gowesty.com/product/electrical-electronic/24189/printed-circuit-board-replacement-kit?v=


My history includes problems accelerating a few years ago after replacing the four incandescent display globes with GoWesty LEDs as per here:

https://www.gowesty.com/product/bundles-and-kits/23485/led-bulb-kit-for-instrument-cluster-?v=


Got to the stage, the LEDs were flickering on and off, some times off altogether. Made it hard to read the instruments at night with little or no display lighting!


On close examination of the cluster foil, found how much damage the LEDs had caused to the electrical contacts and tracks of the foil. Close comparison examination of the original globes VS the LEDs revealed the LED plastic housing was dimensionally larger in critical spots than the OEM globes, hence the great difficulty in inserting and turning the LEDs into position. All very difficult to do and as it turned out ... imposed additional strain on an already old and partly damaged foil contacts and tracking. In hindsight, installing LEDs proved to be a case of the final straw that broke the camels back!


So this is where Murphy reared his wrath on me over some 2+ days of repairs and frustration. Every turn I made with foil repair, Murphy intervened and caused more headaches ... back to square one again and again!


So today I can report .... at last ... I managed a huge WHOOPEEEE when I reinstalled for the umpteenth time the instrument cluster with same said foil, turned on the lighting and got ALL lights ON!!!!


Work, beside lots of other fiddly stuff, primarily involved reducing the plastic case size of the LEDs to match that of the slightly smaller OEM globes plus solder repairs to the foil copper contacts and tracks. Found quite a variety of damage to each globe position, hence a new challenge to each repair position.

Plus lots of other related issues and problems associated, no thanks to Murphy. LEDs now are firmly in position.


A bonus, with the instrument cluster out, was that I was also having problems with the digital clock ... such as display and time adjuster faults. Pulled it out, disassembled it, figured out what was wrong and fixed all. Clock now displays very well and hour and minute time adjusters work really easily ...... AT LAST!!


So all good again. Love my tacho/digital clock instrument cluster!


Cheers.

Ken




 

 



2
Thanks so much for the update Ken. I have got exactly the same problem
with the blue LED replacement globes. Wrecked the foil. I managed to get
two working again but not the one for my tacho. Looks weird at night
with one side of the cluster in darkness. I will now use your experience
and some solder and see if I can fix the last one. Hopefully Murphy will
not strike!!!
Peter from Port
3
Great write up Ken, and very timely, I have bought a heap of LED's to play with (mostly outside lights), but I did get the same dash LED's. Based on your experience I might just leave the stock ones there un touched!!
The kit from vanagon.org is well priced. Wonder if anyone has experience with them?
Richard
4
I have one of those kits installed in my syncro due to a failure of a couple of areas of the blue foil but I had trouble dealing with them so I went direct to Stuart Stirling in South Africa (as that's where these kits are made).

There was a guy in Brisvegas selling them too on Gumtree at one stage - add disappeared though - not sure what is going on there.

They are easy to install with the instructions on the Samba. Everything works except my digital clock which has always been an issue as the screen is stuffed. I think Campervan Culture sell a replacement screen so I will try that. What was wrong with your clock Ken?

Cheers,

Scott

On 19/11/2018 11:06 PM, cathrich1@yahoo.com.au [Syncro_T3_Australia] wrote:
Great write up Ken, and very timely, I have bought a heap of LED's to play with (mostly outside lights), but I did get the same dash LED's. Based on your experience I might just leave the stock ones there un touched!!
The kit from vanagon.org is well priced. Wonder if anyone has experience with them?
Richard

--
Best regards, Scott Pitcher SPB Consulting
5

Hi Scott,
My clock was showing a black blotch spreading down from the top of the display, it had spread down into the top of the digital readout.
Also, both the hour and minute adjusters were near impossible to use, almost totally unresponsive.
Other than these, yeah, the clock was working just fine! Ha! 

So what's yours doing wrong? 

Cheers
Ken



Sent thru yahoo.com, guaranteed delivery within 7 days.



-------- Original message --------
From: "Scott Pitcher spbconsulting@bigpond.com [Syncro_T3_Australia]" <Syncro_T3_Australia@yahoogroups.com>
Date: 20/11/2018 8:30 AM (GMT+10:00)
To: Syncro_T3_Australia@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [Syncro_T3_Australia] Re: Instrument Cluster Foil repairs and Murphys Law


 

I have one of those kits installed in my syncro due to a failure of a couple of areas of the blue foil but I had trouble dealing with them so I went direct to Stuart Stirling in South Africa (as that's where these kits are made).

There was a guy in Brisvegas selling them too on Gumtree at one stage - add disappeared though - not sure what is going on there.

They are easy to install with the instructions on the Samba. Everything works except my digital clock which has always been an issue as the screen is stuffed. I think Campervan Culture sell a replacement screen so I will try that. What was wrong with your clock Ken?

Cheers,

Scott

On 19/11/2018 11:06 PM, cathrich1@yahoo.com.au [Syncro_T3_Australia] wrote:
 
Great write up Ken, and very timely, I have bought a heap of LED's to play with (mostly outside lights), but I did get the same dash LED's. Based on your experience I might just leave the stock ones there un touched!!
The kit from vanagon.org is well priced. Wonder if anyone has experience with them?
Richard

--
Best regards, Scott Pitcher SPB Consulting

6
Hi Scott,

Have you got a URL for Scott Stirling ?
I think it may be about time to have one on the shelf.

Peter 





On 20 Nov 2018, at 8:30 am, Scott Pitcher spbconsulting@bigpond.com [Syncro_T3_Australia] <Syncro_T3_Australia@yahoogroups.com> wrote:



I have one of those kits installed in my syncro due to a failure of a couple of areas of the blue foil but I had trouble dealing with them so I went direct to Stuart Stirling in South Africa (as that's where these kits are made).

There was a guy in Brisvegas selling them too on Gumtree at one stage - add disappeared though - not sure what is going on there.

They are easy to install with the instructions on the Samba. Everything works except my digital clock which has always been an issue as the screen is stuffed. I think Campervan Culture sell a replacement screen so I will try that. What was wrong with your clock Ken?

Cheers,

Scott

On 19/11/2018 11:06 PM, cathrich1@yahoo.com.au [Syncro_T3_Australia] wrote:
Great write up Ken, and very timely, I have bought a heap of LED's to play with (mostly outside lights), but I did get the same dash LED's. Based on your experience I might just leave the stock ones there un touched!!
The kit from vanagon.org is well priced. Wonder if anyone has experience with them?
Richard

-- 
Best regards, Scott Pitcher SPB Consulting



7
Thanks Ken,

Mine has no display but big black blotches all over it - I cant read anything.

The backing light works though.

Everything else in the cluster works.

These screens are apparently a common problem.

I will get around to fixing it one day......

Cheers,

Scott

On 20/11/2018 12:18 PM, Ken Garratt unclekenz@hotmail.com [Syncro_T3_Australia] wrote:


Hi Scott,
My clock was showing a black blotch spreading down from the top of the display, it had spread down into the top of the digital readout.
Also, both the hour and minute adjusters were near impossible to use, almost totally unresponsive.
Other than these, yeah, the clock was working just fine! Ha!

So what's yours doing wrong?

Cheers
Ken



Sent thru yahoo.com, guaranteed delivery within 7 days.



-------- Original message --------
From: "Scott Pitcher spbconsulting@bigpond.com [Syncro_T3_Australia]" <Syncro_T3_Australia@yahoogroups.com>
Date: 20/11/2018 8:30 AM (GMT+10:00)
To: Syncro_T3_Australia@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [Syncro_T3_Australia] Re: Instrument Cluster Foil repairs and Murphys Law


I have one of those kits installed in my syncro due to a failure of a couple of areas of the blue foil but I had trouble dealing with them so I went direct to Stuart Stirling in South Africa (as that's where these kits are made).

There was a guy in Brisvegas selling them too on Gumtree at one stage - add disappeared though - not sure what is going on there.

They are easy to install with the instructions on the Samba. Everything works except my digital clock which has always been an issue as the screen is stuffed. I think Campervan Culture sell a replacement screen so I will try that. What was wrong with your clock Ken?

Cheers,

Scott

On 19/11/2018 11:06 PM, cathrich1@yahoo.com.au [Syncro_T3_Australia] wrote:
Great write up Ken, and very timely, I have bought a heap of LED's to play with (mostly outside lights), but I did get the same dash LED's. Based on your experience I might just leave the stock ones there un touched!!
The kit from vanagon.org is well priced. Wonder if anyone has experience with them?
Richard

--
Best regards, Scott Pitcher SPB Consulting

--
Best regards, Scott Pitcher SPB Consulting
8
Hi Peter,

Try this email address: stuart@syncrohospital.co.za

He is much easier to deal with than Vanagon.org


Cheers,

Scott

On 20/11/2018 1:08 PM, Peter SCHWEINSBERG peter@peterandval.com [Syncro_T3_Australia] wrote:
Hi Scott,

Have you got a URL for Scott Stirling ?
I think it may be about time to have one on the shelf.

Peter





On 20 Nov 2018, at 8:30 am, Scott Pitcher spbconsulting@bigpond.com [Syncro_T3_Australia] <Syncro_T3_Australia@yahoogroups.com> wrote:



I have one of those kits installed in my syncro due to a failure of a couple of areas of the blue foil but I had trouble dealing with them so I went direct to Stuart Stirling in South Africa (as that's where these kits are made).

There was a guy in Brisvegas selling them too on Gumtree at one stage - add disappeared though - not sure what is going on there.

They are easy to install with the instructions on the Samba. Everything works except my digital clock which has always been an issue as the screen is stuffed. I think Campervan Culture sell a replacement screen so I will try that. What was wrong with your clock Ken?

Cheers,

Scott

On 19/11/2018 11:06 PM, cathrich1@yahoo.com.au [Syncro_T3_Australia] wrote:
Great write up Ken, and very timely, I have bought a heap of LED's to play with (mostly outside lights), but I did get th e same dash LED's. Based on your experience I might just leave the stock ones there un touched!!
The kit from vanagon.org is well priced. Wonder if anyone has experience with them?
Richard

--
Best regards, Scott Pitcher SPB Consulting




--
Best regards, Scott Pitcher SPB Consulting
9
Thanks Scott,
much appreciated.
Peter




On 20 Nov 2018, at 9:18 pm, Scott Pitcher spbconsulting@bigpond.com [Syncro_T3_Australia] <Syncro_T3_Australia@yahoogroups.com> wrote:



Hi Peter,

Try this email address:  stuart@syncrohospital.co.za

He is much easier to deal with than Vanagon.org


Cheers,

Scott

On 20/11/2018 1:08 PM, Peter SCHWEINSBERG peter@peterandval.com [Syncro_T3_Australia] wrote:
Hi Scott,

Have you got a URL for Scott Stirling ?
I think it may be about time to have one on the shelf.

Peter 





On 20 Nov 2018, at 8:30 am, Scott Pitcher spbconsulting@bigpond.com [Syncro_T3_Australia] <Syncro_T3_Australia@yahoogroups.com> wrote:



I have one of those kits installed in my syncro due to a failure of a couple of areas of the blue foil but I had trouble dealing with them so I went direct to Stuart Stirling in South Africa (as that's where these kits are made).

There was a guy in Brisvegas selling them too on Gumtree at one stage - add disappeared though - not sure what is going on there.

They are easy to install with the instructions on the Samba. Everything works except my digital clock which has always been an issue as the screen is stuffed. I think Campervan Culture sell a replacement screen so I will try that. What was wrong with your clock Ken?

Cheers,

Scott

On 19/11/2018 11:06 PM, cathrich1@yahoo.com.au [Syncro_T3_Australia] wrote:
Great write up Ken, and very timely, I have bought a heap of LED's to play with (mostly outside lights), but I did get th e same dash LED's. Based on your experience I might just leave the stock ones there un touched!!
The kit from vanagon.org is well priced. Wonder if anyone has experience with them?
Richard

-- 
Best regards, Scott Pitcher SPB Consulting




-- 
Best regards, Scott Pitcher SPB Consulting



10
My thoughts are the same Peter! Get one before the dash plays up.

Scott/Ken, my screen still works (in the 2WD), but has no back light. I never realized they had one!!

Richard
11
Hi Peter,
Good luck keeping Uncle Murphy at bay... or should I say at wedge! HA! 

For one of the repair positions, I had to fashion from thin copper sheet a copper track replacement and solder in place.
Trim all solder repairs down to a very flat/even plain, as thin as possible but still thick enough to not weaken. You also need to figure out how to re-adhere the copper to the plastic sheet to stop it from shifting under pressure when inserting the LED.
You need magnifying glasses AND/OR a benchtop magnifier/light to see what you're doing. Can imagine a jewellery artisan would be the right person for this type of repair. 
Keep the heat down on the soldering iron... just enough to melt the fluxed solder.

When it comes to inserting and/removing LEDs, I don't agree with GoWesty instructions. They talk about rotating all of them 90 degrees in a particular direction for insertion and the reverse for removal. Closely observe the copper tracking at each LED position, they all are not the same layout. The issue is not with the continuous positive track, it's the negative track that TERMINATES at each position, and the termination edge of the track is not on the same side at all positions. Meaning it's highly likely that for at least one position, following GoWesty instructions, the act of inserting and rotating the LED into position, the negative contact of the LED will catch and rip at that vulnerable leading edge of the negative track. A close observation of all contact points will show the differences to be aware of.
Then, for future reference, make markings adjacent to all contact positions to show the preferred direction of rotation for each and so avoid the potential added risk of damaging the leading edge of the terminating negative copper track.
All Greek to you? Mmmmmmmmm. Probably. HA! Good luck and enjoy the "journey". 
Cheers. 
Ken





Sent thru yahoo.com, guaranteed delivery within 7 days.



-------- Original message --------
From: "peter@coeconsult.com.au [Syncro_T3_Australia]" <Syncro_T3_Australia@yahoogroups.com>
Date: 19/11/2018 7:58 PM (GMT+10:00)
To: Syncro_T3_Australia@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [Syncro_T3_Australia] Instrument Cluster Foil repairs and Murphys Law


 

Thanks so much for the update Ken. I have got exactly the same problem
with the blue LED replacement globes. Wrecked the foil. I managed to get
two working again but not the one for my tacho. Looks weird at night
with one side of the cluster in darkness. I will now use your experience
and some solder and see if I can fix the last one. Hopefully Murphy will
not strike!!!
Peter from Port

12
Nah. Do what the farmers do. Fix anything with fencing wire! 
Ken




Sent thru yahoo.com, guaranteed delivery within 7 days.



-------- Original message --------
From: "cathrich1@yahoo.com.au [Syncro_T3_Australia]" <Syncro_T3_Australia@yahoogroups.com>
Date: 21/11/2018 12:48 AM (GMT+10:00)
To: Syncro_T3_Australia@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [Syncro_T3_Australia] Re: Instrument Cluster Foil repairs and Murphys Law


 

My thoughts are the same Peter! Get one before the dash plays up.

Scott/Ken, my screen still works (in the 2WD), but has no back light. I never realized they had one!!

Richard

13
I guess I was really lucky when I installed my blue LEDs, didn’t damage anything and they all work :-))

Gaëtan Schurrer
lepews@me.com
PO Box 285
Claremont WA 6910
+61 426 813 466





On Tue, Nov 20, 2018 at 10:42 PM +0800, "Ken Garratt unclekenz@hotmail.com [Syncro_T3_Australia]" <Syncro_T3_Australia@yahoogroups.com> wrote:

 

Hi Peter,
Good luck keeping Uncle Murphy at bay... or should I say at wedge! HA! 

For one of the repair positions, I had to fashion from thin copper sheet a copper track replacement and solder in place.
Trim all solder repairs down to a very flat/even plain, as thin as possible but still thick enough to not weaken. You also need to figure out how to re-adhere the copper to the plastic sheet to stop it from shifting under pressure when inserting the LED.
You need magnifying glasses AND/OR a benchtop magnifier/light to see what you're doing. Can imagine a jewellery artisan would be the right person for this type of repair. 
Keep the heat down on the soldering iron... just enough to melt the fluxed solder.

When it comes to inserting and/removing LEDs, I don't agree with GoWesty instructions. They talk about rotating all of them 90 degrees in a particular direction for insertion and the reverse for removal. Closely observe the copper tracking at each LED position, they all are not the same layout. The issue is not with the continuous positive track, it's the negative track that TERMINATES at each position, and the termination edge of the track is not on the same side at all positions. Meaning it's highly likely that for at least one position, following GoWesty instructions, the act of inserting and rotating the LED into position, the negative contact of the LED will catch and rip at that vulnerable leading edge of the negative track. A close observation of all contact points will show the differences to be aware of.
Then, for future reference, make markings adjacent to all contact positions to show the preferred direction of rotation for each and so avoid the potential added risk of damaging the leading edge of the terminating negative copper track.
All Greek to you? Mmmmmmmmm. Probably. HA! Good luck and enjoy the "journey". 
Cheers. 
Ken





Sent thru yahoo.com, guaranteed delivery within 7 days.



-------- Original message --------
From: "peter@coeconsult.com.au [Syncro_T3_Australia]" <Syncro_T3_Australia@yahoogroups.com>
Date: 19/11/2018 7:58 PM (GMT+10:00)
To: Syncro_T3_Australia@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [Syncro_T3_Australia] Instrument Cluster Foil repairs and Murphys Law


 

Thanks so much for the update Ken. I have got exactly the same problem
with the blue LED replacement globes. Wrecked the foil. I managed to get
two working again but not the one for my tacho. Looks weird at night
with one side of the cluster in darkness. I will now use your experience
and some solder and see if I can fix the last one. Hopefully Murphy will
not strike!!!
Peter from Port

14
Hi Scott,
So it's now a few days since ridding the black blotch from the clock display. It hasn't returned. Lucky? So you might get lucky too, next time you have the clock out. Worth a try. 
Cheers
Ken




Sent thru yahoo.com, guaranteed delivery within 7 days.



-------- Original message --------
From: "Scott Pitcher spbconsulting@bigpond.com [Syncro_T3_Australia]" <Syncro_T3_Australia@yahoogroups.com>
Date: 20/11/2018 9:19 PM (GMT+10:00)
To: Syncro_T3_Australia@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [Syncro_T3_Australia] Re: Instrument Cluster Foil repairs and Murphys Law


 

Thanks Ken,

Mine has no display but big black blotches all over it - I cant read anything.

The backing light works though.

Everything else in the cluster works.

These screens are apparently a common problem.

I will get around to fixing it one day......

Cheers,

Scott

On 20/11/2018 12:18 PM, Ken Garratt unclekenz@hotmail.com [Syncro_T3_Australia] wrote:
 


Hi Scott,
My clock was showing a black blotch spreading down from the top of the display, it had spread down into the top of the digital readout.
Also, both the hour and minute adjusters were near impossible to use, almost totally unresponsive.
Other than these, yeah, the clock was working just fine! Ha! 

So what's yours doing wrong? 

Cheers
Ken



Sent thru yahoo.com, guaranteed delivery within 7 days.



-------- Original message --------
From: "Scott Pitcher spbconsulting@bigpond.com [Syncro_T3_Australia]" <Syncro_T3_Australia@yahoogroups.com>
Date: 20/11/2018 8:30 AM (GMT+10:00)
To: Syncro_T3_Australia@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [Syncro_T3_Australia] Re: Instrument Cluster Foil repairs and Murphys Law


 

I have one of those kits installed in my syncro due to a failure of a couple of areas of the blue foil but I had trouble dealing with them so I went direct to Stuart Stirling in South Africa (as that's where these kits are made).

There was a guy in Brisvegas selling them too on Gumtree at one stage - add disappeared though - not sure what is going on there.

They are easy to install with the instructions on the Samba. Everything works except my digital clock which has always been an issue as the screen is stuffed. I think Campervan Culture sell a replacement screen so I will try that. What was wrong with your clock Ken?

Cheers,

Scott

On 19/11/2018 11:06 PM, cathrich1@yahoo.com.au [Syncro_T3_Australia] wrote:
 
Great write up Ken, and very timely, I have bought a heap of LED's to play with (mostly outside lights), but I did get the same dash LED's. Based on your experience I might just leave the stock ones there un touched!!
The kit from vanagon.org is well priced. Wonder if anyone has experience with them?
Richard

--
Best regards, Scott Pitcher SPB Consulting

--
Best regards, Scott Pitcher SPB Consulting

15
Hi Ken,

Yes, I have to remove the cluster to replace the tachometer so its on the list of to do.

Will let you know if I succeed - If not I will be very quiet.

Cheers,

Scott

On 21/11/2018 10:54 AM, Ken Garratt unclekenz@hotmail.com [Syncro_T3_Australia] wrote:

Hi Scott,
So it's now a few days since ridding the black blotch from the clock display. It hasn't returned. Lucky? So you might get lucky too, next time you have the clock out. Worth a try.
Cheers
Ken




Sent thru yahoo.com, guaranteed delivery within 7 days.



-------- Original message --------
From: "Scott Pitcher spbconsulting@bigpond.com [Syncro_T3_Australia]" <Syncro_T3_Australia@yahoogroups.com>
Date: 20/11/2018 9:19 PM (GMT+10:00)
To: Syncro_T3_Australia@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [Syncro_T3_Australia] Re: Instrument Cluster Foil repairs and Murphys Law


Thanks Ken,

Mine has no display but big black blotches all over it - I cant read anything.

The backing light works though.

Everything else in the cluster works.

These screens are apparently a common problem.

I will get around to fixing it one day......

Cheers,

Scott

On 20/11/2018 12:18 PM, Ken Garratt unclekenz@hotmail.com [Syncro_T3_Australia] wrote:

Hi Scott,
My clock was showing a black blotch spreading down from the top of the display, it had spread down into the top of the digital readout.
Also, both the hour and minute adjusters were near impossible to use, almost totally unresponsive.
Other than these, yeah, the clock was working just fine! Ha!

So what's yours doing wrong?

Cheers
Ken



Sent thru yahoo.com, guaranteed delivery within 7 days.



-------- Original message --------
From: "Scott Pitcher spbconsulting@bigpond.com [Syncro_T3_Australia]" <Syncro_T3_Australia@yahoogroups.com>
Date: 20/11/2018 8:30 AM (GMT+10:00)
To: Syncro_T3_Australia@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [Syncro_T3_Australia] Re: Instrument Cluster Foil repairs and Murphys Law


I have one of those kits installed in my syncro due to a failure of a couple of areas of the blue foil but I had trouble dealing with them so I went direct to Stuart Stirling in South Africa (as that's where these kits are made).

There was a guy in Brisvegas selling them too on Gumtree at one stage - add disappeared though - not sure what is going on there.

They are easy to install with the instructions on the Samba. Everything works except my digital clock which has always been an issue as the screen is stuffed. I think Campervan Culture sell a replacement screen so I will try that. What was wrong with your clock Ken?

Cheers,

Scott

On 19/11/2018 11:06 PM, cathrich1@yahoo.com.au [Syncro_T3_Australia] wrote:
Great write up Ken, and very timely, I have bought a heap of LED's to play with (mostly outside lights), but I did get the same dash LED's. Based on your experience I might just leave the stock ones there un touched!!
The kit from vanagon.org is well priced. Wonder if anyone has experience with them?
Richard

--
Best regards, Scott Pitcher SPB Consulting

--
Best regards, Scott Pitcher SPB Consulting

--
Best regards, Scott Pitcher SPB Consulting
16
The tacho is a very useful instument in these vans. I've had one without and one with. Then one with a Subi conversion. I think you tend to stay within a more fuel efficient and driveable zone when there's a tach there.
I think it also helps when it's serious 4x4.
I've also had the black clock syndrome. Found one on ebay that's still working. The control buttons are somewhat rooted. Becomes an art form to set the clock after a while.
Mark
17
Got my clock working.

I must have had the terminals on the wrong electrodes - the clustermaster kit has very small terminals.

Just has some small screen damage so should do until I get a replacement screen.

Lots of places sell them but Brickwerks seem to be a good price.

Cheers,

Scott


On 22/11/2018 12:15 PM, m.mullet@yahoo.com.au [Syncro_T3_Australia] wrote:
The tacho is a very useful instument in these vans. I've had one without and one with. Then one with a Subi conversion. I think you tend to stay within a more fuel efficient and driveable zone when there's a tach there.
I think it also helps when it's serious 4x4.
I've also had the black clock syndrome. Found one on ebay that's still working. The control buttons are somewhat rooted. Becomes an art form to set the clock after a while.
Mark

--
Best regards, Scott Pitcher SPB Consulting