Dash! VSS

[porter.8.luke]

Just sorting out some wiring and have over looked the vehicle seed sensor. This previously came form the gearbox now has to get a signal for the dash, apparently there is a range of suzuki speed gauges that are compatible with the sierra dash pod and also have a pulse that will satisfy the computer?
This is the last wiring hurdle for my control system I hope

[gwagensteve]

Hi Luke, sorry I didn't get straight back to you, but I used this morning to take some photos that should help you out.

Yes, you can get a VSS from a number of sources. I found one from an Barina years ago, I think it was an 80's model - it must have been used to control EGR or something. It's still the one that's currently in Piggles and it is keeping the G16B /AW-4 computers happy. Balenos etc aren't a source, as they used electric speedos. Your source will be swift/barina or vitara. I think GV are also electric speedo so you won't find one there.

Here's some photos to help you identify and fit a VSS. I have always seen this done in a much more complicated way (pulling the speedo unit itself apart) and I can't see the point in doing that.

Here is the donor EFI vitara cluster. I've already pulled the gauge needles.



If you turn it over, you can see the VSS screw terminals on the RHS of the speedo drive. They are labelled G (ground, or -ve) and R.S for Reed Switch

Pull the face of the cluster



and unscrew the two large screws that hold the speedo unit in, and the two small screws that connect the VSS to the cluster.... and pull out the speedo.

Here's a non VSS and VSS speedo side by side. You can see they are identical except for the VSS connections.



Here is a gutted WT cluster. You can see the holes for the VSS on the left of the big hole for the speedo drive.



Drop the vitara/swift/whatever speedo in, and do all the screws up:



Now run the wire from the bottom screw to the VSS wire of the computer, and you're away.

Hope this helps.

All suzuki speedo units that I'm aware of have the same ratio - 637 rev/km as far as I recall, so the speedo will read the same. I think the vitara odo numbers and reset line up perfectly with the Sierra gauge face.

Steve.

PS there is some discussion on the internets that the Baleno VSS uses a different waveform and isn't compatible with the older VSS. I have not found this to be the case. It ight be true that the older VSS doesn't supply accurate speed information to the baleno computer, but for our purposes that doesn't seem to matter - so long as the computer thinks the car is moving - it doesn't matter how fast - you don't get a check engine light.

[porter.8.luke]

Steve mate thanks a lot.
I will be running in no time.
Cheers

[jonfromhamilton]

does it matter if your speedo is accurate ? eg, 100kph for me reads about 78 on my cars factory speedo.
I plan to run the aw 4 eventually

[gwagensteve]

No, not as far as I am aware. So long as the car is "moving" as far as the computer is concerned its all good.

Steve

[jono165]

This is a great guide I was just playing around with the widetrack cluster and the vitara cluster I have here working our how/where to put in the Power/OD Off lights from my auto. Chucked the VSS in while I was at it because it was so easy.
I've just noticed theres a few variations between the clusters the VSS trace on the one above Steve posted actually goes to a track on the cluster, mine goes nowhere to it needs a terminal put on.
I've also worked out which wires need to go where to use a widetrack cluster with an entire vitara loom, I just want to double check it all and I'll post it up if anyone else has a use for it.

[lbzook]

Keen to see how you did that if you get it working Jon!

[jono165]

I'll let you know how it goes. I should be able to test it all before the engine goes in. I got the loom out of my vitara today and started stripping it, its fairly easy with everything labelled. I didn't want to do it so soon but I had to move it from where it was being kept.

[jonfromhamilton]

I don't have a Vitara so I am doing the DIY VSS off Auszookers, got my tiny reed switch and vero board today from Jaycar.
Hey Jon, what are the basic steps you're going through stripping down your loom?

[jono165]

I labelled everything so I haven really needed a diagram yet. Pretty much I'm just pulling out what I don't need (power mirrors, windows, locks etc. it's better to untape the lot and work branch of loom at a time. If you don't untape the lot you risk cutting out the splices in the loom that could be important. If you untape the whole lot you end up with a huge ranges mess. It also make more sense if you lay it out on the ground in the position it would be on the car.

Mine might be a bit different to yours as I'm using the entire vitara loom and steering column with wiring. (Pretty mich copying steve) Are you doing just an engine loom or using the whole baleno loom?