Gasser MK1 Cluster into Diesel

[Baselyne]

So I recently snagged this smooth an clean cluster from a e-bay auction!



I was bidding for a while... I finally recieved it and yes it's mint!

I was wondering if this gasser cluster is an exact "PlUG & PLay" swap for my diesel cluster wiring?

Has anyone ever put the gasser cluster into their diesel?

I heard something about the W terminal... Where on my alternator would I be looking to check if I have a W turminal? Maybe someone who has one could show us with a picture???

[Baselyne]

Some options....

Signal converter for $65:

http://www.dakotadigital.com/index.cfm/page/ptype=product/product_id=128/category_id=105/home_id=59/mode=prod/prd128.htm


Or modify the cluster itself:

http://www.vwdiesel.net/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=3741


Or Roger's photocell interface:

http://www.4crawler.com/Diesel/CheapTricks/Tachometer/index.shtml

Im wondering would i need a signal converter if i was just going to use a gasser cluster? or...why's this seem so confusing

[burn_your_money]

Yes the signal the gas cluster gets from the coil is completely different then the signal the diesel cluster gets from the w terminal

[Baselyne]

so but otherwise....It's plug and play then?  The cluster I mean....It's plug and play or what?

[Baselyne]

So if someone could varify for me... I was wondering if this is the W terminal....You know over all the freakin threads on this noone shows a damn picture of the alt with a W terminal... Is this drivin anyone else nuts?

Is this the W terminal in the red box above?

if not can someone please post another pic of one that does because noone seems to know jack about this...ive read everything and I still think its vauge not VAG!

[jtanguay]

that looks like it to me.  not sure how to get it to work with a gas tach though.  my best guess would be to swap over diesel tach circuitry.  

nice clean looking cluster

[Vincent Waldon]

Nope, pretty sure that's an axillary D+ terminal for a noise suppression capacitor that someone removed... and it's labeled D+.  Any W terminal I've ever seen on an A1 alternator is labeled "W"

The alternator in the picture *does not* have a W terminal as far as I can see... it has two heavy red (B+) wires to the battery and a thin blue wire (D+) to the ALT light on the cluster.

There are no pictures likely because there are lots and lots of alternator configurations across the years.

If you don't mind pulling it apart you can add your own W terminal:








You'll then need to convert the W signal into something your gasser cluster can understand... tons of previous conversations about this on the forum.

[Baselyne]

Thanks for the diagram, i was at the yard today f'in aroud in some beaters and I found this fine piece of ace!



I was wondering if this is the W terminal im looking for? there isnt a male spade connector here but On the other side of this black box thingy there is another Wterminal and it's connected to a white plug sorta,,,

What do I need to do to get the signal im looking for?

[Vincent Waldon]

Thar she blows !!!

That be the W terminal... and you'll note that this one also has the noise suppression capacitor installed via another terminal as is missing on your previous alternator.  :wink:

To use this alternator you'll need to cut off the white plastic plug on your existing harness and replace it with lug connectors... the two big red wires go to the 13mm stud labeled "B+", the thin blue wire goes to the 10mm stud above it, and of course a spade connector plugs into the W terminal.

[burn_your_money]

It almost looks like the W terminal is not installed on that alternator. It looks like the housing is equipped for it but not installed. It might just be the camera playing tricks though

[Baselyne]

I do beleave im headed down the dekoda digital driveway... I'll have to get one of those...kinda looks cool im just wondering about setting it up?? Can someone whos done theirs chime in?

"I'm converting a gasser cluster to speak diesel thru a signal converter... which terminal on the cluster do I need to connect the converter to ?"

Props goes out to Vince Waldon!

[fatmobile]

Yeah that one looks like it has a W terminal, but it's not there,... no blade  to plug into.... but a place to put one.

[Vincent Waldon]

Might be my imagination but I can almost see the lug... however, might make sense to see if you can get a spade connector in there before going to all the effort.

In terms of the cluster wiring my A1 Bentley is missing at the moment... hopefully someone else will chime in with which pin the tach signal goes to on a gasser chassis ??

[lord_verminaard]

The Alt. that is on my gasser looks just like that- it has the "W" space there but I cannot see any spade connector.  It's also on the car so it's kinda hard to see any details.

I've also heard that the newer Bosch alt's that are on the TDI engines also have a W terminal?  Can anyone verify this?

Thanks,
Brendan

[Baselyne]

If you don't mind pulling it apart you can add your own W terminal:

When attempting to instal my own W terminal with this info above am I to solder the termminal on to the board? or is there someone in GTA or durham that could get this done for me for quick/cheep?

Anyone please... The signal convertor is already on the way and most of the cluster is alredy into the car, but I cant figure out this tach lead in=put wire

does anyone know which wire it was..when they did theres or has a manuel to chek?