Install of carbon gauge cluster.

[adamhumphrey]

I am getting ready for my flex tune in Feb with Benchmark. I have partially installed 2 x Innovate gauges. 1 x Powersafe Boost Air/Fuel Ratio gauge and 1 x Water Temperature & Battery Gauge. I still have to hook up the wideband o2 sensor the bung was really tight on the exhaust so I need to heat it up to loosen it at my stepdad's workshop. The water temp isn't working yet as I need to get something sorted to either wire into the stock sensor which I have heard can cause issues or get a fitting to use the spare spot on the thermostat and install the sensor that came with the gauge in there. The spare spot will house the e85 gauge to be installed by Benchmark. I ended up having to get a gauge holder from Aliexpress. The brand name ones are all discontinued. I actually missed out on buying a Blitz one by about a week from a place in the U.S. Fitment of the holder was not too bad. There is a little gap at the bottom I complained about they said they won't do anything about it. I'll just get some black foam tape. After the panel in-dash was removed I had to cut out quite a heap of it for the cluster and gauges to fit. Overall looks pretty good I think.

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[lancerdarryl]

Is the airbag a problem?

[adamhumphrey]

Nah its in the panel below. it comes out through the top of dash mat

[Avenir]

That setup actually looks REALLY clean, great job! as opposed to the pillar clusters which are also pretty cool. Good luck on the install adam.

[Mars1811]

Damn, not bad looking. I don't mind it!
Definitely a lot nicer than pillar clusters.

[awood]

Full agreement from me as well , that does look really cool.

[adamhumphrey]

I originally purchased a ortiz custom pod for two gauges that sit on the pillar. Very well made but I was disappointed with how the pillar sat. it had too much weight with one gauge in it and kept hanging down. That's why I went with the carbon panel. I'll post a picture of the pillar tonight when I get home from work.

[adamhumphrey]

I finally got around to taking a couple of pics of the Ortiz custom pod 2 gauge pillar pod. It's really well done, just has a design flaw in not being able to keep gauges and locked in tight against the windscreen etc.

I had to trim a fair bit of material from behind the pods to allow wires to be run

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[adamhumphrey]

Ok well, I stuffed up. I looked around and thought I would try to wire the innovate water temp gauge to the stock wiring and sensor located near the thermostat. Well, the car didn't like that. I the red wire from innovate to pin 26 on which is the sensor wire, The other to the ground. When I started the car it said it was overheating. The water temp gauge on the cluster no longer has a blue bit. I turned the car off and it wouldn't start. The car shot heaps of fuel into the cylinders and flooded the cylinders and plugs I believe what was happening was the car thought it was overheating and using fuel to cool it. I got the car to start by unplugging the water temp sensor. The car now has a check engine light and won't run without the sensor unplugged. I just hope it's the sensor that I have ordered and not something like the ECU that's damaged. I have gave up on the gauges and just ordered 2 x AEM slim series X boost and a A/F Gauge, the innovate ones I'll sell off.

[lancerdarryl]

That sucks,I hope you get away with just the sensor replacement

[awood]

As Darryl said, hope it's a quick and easy repair.

[adamhumphrey]

I spoke to Ben from Benchmark. Possible blown sensor circuit in the ecu. So not a cheap fix. I should have listened to my gut feeling and stopped anyhow hopefully i can get a second hand one and flash map from the car and load into different ecu. If its going to cost me to much I'll go motec from Powertune

[lancerdarryl]

Hytech spares at Cardiff have dismantled a couple a fair while ago.

[adamhumphrey]

Cheers mate, I'll try calling them tomorrow

[adamhumphrey]

Ok, small update hopefully positive. I got a new genuine water temp sensor in the post today. I plugged in to harness without putting it into the thermostat. Started the car no missing which was good. I had a check engine light. I cleared it using evoscan. Then I ran logs and the temp within the engine bay from the water temp sensor and intake sensor were very similar about 1-2 deg. Then I sat it on something warm and I did notice the blue temp gauge lighting up. So I might give this a go and swap it out. Looks like a real pain to change. But if it fixes it much cheaper than an ecu.