12 replies to this topic

[jameslearwood]

~~~~~Please delete this text before posting the topic~~~~~~
Please give your topic a title that quickly describes your problem. Just putting 'Help my Mini doesn't work' is useless to anyone trying to help.
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Model:[rover rio]
[b]Year:[1993]
[b]Description of problem
I have just installed a 3 clock dashboard however it was originally a 2 clock this was a lack of foresight as the 2 clock doesn't line up properly esp the indicator lights. so now im getting a second hand 3 clock cluster however can this be just connected up like the original??

Does it have to come from the same model and year?? for some technical reason

the speedo miles can this just be put to the correct number as on the original using the drill or is this illegal, or is it okay as long as i follow a certain procedure.

this has become far more complicated than what i thought would be a since wish i put more thought into it..

Any clarification would be grand

cheers


[b]Any non-standard parts that might be involved with the problem?

[Darkscamp]

you might find that the 3 clock cluster requires a different cage, unless you screw it to the dash.

apart from that it should be the same cable fitments. you might even have the rev counter cable tucked away behind there

Edited by Darkscamp, 27 February 2010 - 10:55 PM.

[jameslearwood]

you might find that the 3 clock cluster requires a different cage, unless you screw it to the dash.

apart from that it should be the same cable fitments. you might even have the rev counter cable tucked away behind there

thats what i thought yeah its screwing straight in just wasn't sure about cables and calibration.

cheers

[taffy1967]

I've heard you can have problems if you fit a rev counter from a fuel injection Mini, because they pick up the pulse from the ECU as opposed to the coil on a carb model?

Although I've heard some people claim they didn't have any problems and even so, you may be able to adjust the rev counter via the screw on it's rear?

[Darkscamp]

you will only have a problem if its a set of MPI clocks as the signal is different due to the coil pack i think. SPI clocks will work perfectly, but if you go on Guessworks site, there is a gadget to check your speedo caliberation

[Kam]

thats what i thought yeah its screwing straight in just wasn't sure about cables and calibration

You may find you need to 'chip' a bit off the dash where the indicator tunnels sit to get a nice flat position, or slice off a bit of the tunnel as I did.

As for the calibration and cables, aslong as you got the same nippon clocks as before (but now 3) just leave the drill where it is and just swap the whole speedo assembly over, its not difficult, I've put pictures below as I'm feeling too lazy to explain

When you take out your 2 clock pod with the plastic shroud, take off the 2 pod bracket aswell behind it, 4 bolts in the engine bay hold this



Find the wires for the rev counter, your rio has them, they may be tucked up somewhere nice and easy for access, if not then get a torch in there! Heres my wires untouched straight after removing the 2 pod, you can see the two wires you need wrapped up



Your looking for a green with an orange trace spade end and a white with black trace bullet end as below



Which obviously hooks up to the back of the rev counter on your 3 pod when its time to put it in



Before that though, take off the plastic binnacle shroud from your 2 pod and take off the front plastic screen, it only pops into place so dont get ham fisted with it, nice and gently and it'll pop out from its tabs. Same again with the black plastic inner surround, look for the tabs first, nothing complicated but just take your time. Then spin the 2 pod over and take off the two small screws either side of the speedo connector



MAKE SURE YOUR COVERING THE FRONT OF THE SPEEDO AS THERE IS A SMALL CHANCE IT MAY FALL OUT WHEN THE TWO SCREWS ARE REMOVED

Above is not as complicated as it reads so, picture time, 2 pod pulled apart, speedo housing and inner surround are wrong way round if you want to look at it as an exploded view



Do the the same with your new 3 pod and just swap the speedo assembly over

Fit to your new dash with small screws and sit back and admire

Take for a drive

[jameslearwood]

Do the the same with your new 3 pod and just swap the speedo assembly over

Fit to your new dash with small screws and sit back and admire

Take for a drive
[/quote]

That is genius never even thought of that, so simple.
That has rested my worries about the calibration, thank you for your time and help now i just need to buy a set.

[jameslearwood]

Okay

So what does MPI and MSI mean and does it really make a difference to the gauges?? as there is a couple of MPI on fleabay

cheers

[Kam]

So what does MPI and MSI mean and does it really make a difference to the gauges?? as there is a couple of MPI on fleabay

you will only have a problem if its a set of MPI clocks as the signal is different due to the coil pack i think. SPI clocks will work perfectly, but if you go on Guessworks site, there is a gadget to check your speedo caliberation

Mpi difference as above, MPI - Multipoint injection, not sure where you got MSI unless you meant SPI?? which is Single point injection

Both the above uses the rover ecu, spi was introduced around 1991 when the carb models where meant to be finished, and I think mpi around 1997 ??? Someone will confirm that.

Sorry, dont know what differences MPI/SPI clocks are to tell apart but if any are magnolia coloured dials then I'm pretty sure they are MPI - unless someone has modded them! Try and stick with carb/SPi clocks if you can.

Try some mini breakers or mini shops aswell, you'd be surprised what people actually have in stock? I picked up mine from Palmer Brothers who is a bodywork specialist who happened to have a set lying around?

Hth

[jameslearwood]

Thats great thanks for your help.

[Darkscamp]

Sorry, dont know what differences MPI/SPI clocks are to tell apart but if any are magnolia coloured dials then I'm pretty sure they are MPI - unless someone has modded them! Try and stick with carb/SPi clocks if you can.

Both SPi and MPi can have magnolia dials. I think SPi/MPi Coopers come with them as standard as my old SPi had them from the factory.

I'm pretty sure from people i know, who have fitted the MPi ones to a non MPi mini, the MPi rev counter will show half the amount of revs, i.e 2000rpm when your doing 4000rpm(i think i've got it the right way round). I think this is because of the MPi getting 2 signals per flywheel cycle instead of the Spi's 1 signal, although this will need to be confirmed by an injection Guru.

[jameslearwood]

cheers just got a set of ebay for £50 there green and i think off a similar year car so fingers crossed they will be spot on, Just out of curiosity how do you know if it is wrong what can you compare it to??

[Kam]

Just out of curiosity how do you know if it is wrong what can you compare it to??

At a guess maybe the rev counter on start up?

Before putting it all together in the dash just hook up the main plug in the back of the dials along with the rev counter (2 wires as above), don't worry about the speedo cable at this point, start it up and see where your needle rests at when warm?

Depending which way it goes (as Darkscamp said) its either gonna be half or double the idle revs?

Unless someone has got your exact engine and wheel setup others posting up rev readings might not help (maybe but not sure) but I'm sure when you blip the throttle you will know if its rises way too quickly or pulls way too slow, it wont feel or sound right.

Above wouldn't take long as your only testing out the new dials?

Hth