My import has a km to miles converter box fitted which sorts out the instruments, but I'm left with the power steering being really light. As its a series 4 I can't fit UK clocks because all the connectors are different, but I've had an idea and wondered if anybody could tell me if it'll work!

 

The speedo converter was fitted before I got the car so I don't know how it's connected, but I assume there is a connector from it going to the speedo and to the ECU, to sort out the clocks and the speed limiter respectively. If I disconnect the converted output to the ECU and reconnect the original Km/h signal will that sort out the steering? I realise that would put the speed limiter back in but tbh I only use the car on the road so I'm not likely to be exceeding 112mph regularly!

 

Can anybody who's actually fitted a speedo converter offer an opinion on whether this would work, and if so which wires need to be connected to what?

 

Thanks

 

Chris

My series 4 has much lighter steering than my series 1.

I removed my speed converter and fitted a new face to the speedo ( so it went up to 120 instead of 180)

I dont remember much of a change to how light the steering was

And to answer your question...

The converter only has one output which goes to the speedo, after going through some components it then heads off to the ecu

And to answer your question...

The converter only has one output which goes to the speedo, after going through some components it then heads off to the ecu

 

Thanks Ian. Sounds like the best course it to disconnect the converter and see if it affects steering noticeably. If not the. No point pursuing further!

It should return the steering to a normal resistance level. Obviously it is a speed sensitive setup, but fitting a 'convertor' effectively fools the steering ecu and other associated components into thinking the car is travelling 33% slower than it is, so the steering is lighter than it should be.

I always found my steering on the lighter side, then I put a UK speedo cluster and it returned every thing to normal.

Speed sensor signal ---> speedo cluster ---> steering ECU etc.

 

Speed sensor signal ---> convertor chip ---> speedo cluster ---> steering ECU etc.

Speed sensor signal ---> speedo cluster ---> steering ECU etc.

 

Speed sensor signal ---> convertor chip ---> speedo cluster ---> steering ECU etc.

 

So does the speedo cluster modify the sensor signal or just pass it through? If the latter then I could bypass it direct from the sensor prior to the converter chip.

Good question. I don't actually know! What I do know is that the speed sensor on the gearbox talks to the cluster. The signal then goes from there onwards.

From what you've said, you be better simple removing the chip and returning the wiring to standard and fitting a 0-120mph dial face.

The only thing with that is the odometer would read in KMs.

My understanding is it converts the signal from pulse/wave(gearbox sensor output) to digital (speedo head)then that information heads off to the respective ecu(s)

Sounds complicated? Open to opinion though!

Mines an import (cos I imported it :))

I changed my clocks from km to mph, but it hasn't messed up my power steering :confused1:

Then I did this!

Maybe not what ur after though.

The convertor basically has a resistor inside the changes the signal speed, so the higher rating the resistor the slower it would be, iirc the UK speedo has a 100k resistor at R10 on the speedo board itself, not the film on the back of the cluster.

My understanding is it converts the signal from pulse/wave(gearbox sensor output) to digital (speedo head)then that information heads off to the respective ecu(s)

 

Hmm. I wonder what the format of that "digital" signal is - a quantised voltage? If so a simple transistor or op-amp could perform the necessary 8/5 gain to convert back. Is there a reference for the ECU signals available?

The convertor basically has a resistor inside the changes the signal speed, so the higher rating the resistor the slower it would be, iirc the UK speedo has a 100k resistor at R10 on the speedo board itself, not the film on the back of the cluster.

 

Also the bronze screw is in the 10k hole (as you look at the top of that pic) on the uk not the 100k. The part for that screw is easily changed, it`s only soldered in.

I`ve wondered if the jap chip does the same job at converting the information and it`s the resistors etc that actually make the difference. if that was the case it would be relatively simple to change things about no?

On some boards there is no captive nut to accommodate the screw but it is doable by changing it from the other hole. I have never done it personally, but by changing the resistor on the board i dont see why it wouldnt work as a convertor would.

I`ve wondered if the jap chip does the same job at converting the information and it`s the resistors etc that actually make the difference. if that was the case it would be relatively simple to change things about no?

 

Interesting point. If the chip slows down the speedo pulses is the resistor there to convert the signal to ECU digital format? If so then changing the resistor might indeed deal with the steering weight issue.

The whole signal is pulse and no digital involved as i see it. The resistor slows the pulse of the signal, so from the speed sensor in the gearbox to dash, converted then onto the ecu.

The whole signal is pulse and no digital involved as i see it. The resistor slows the pulse of the signal, so from the speed sensor in the gearbox to dash, converted then onto the ecu.

 

If it's that simple why do people use a converter if all you have to do is move the screw from the 100k hole to the 10k hole? That said my S4 cluster doesn't have any holes labelled either 100k or 10k. There are several empty holes with contacts, but most of them are unlabelled. Why Nissan had to change the design I really don't understand!

You would change the resistor and no need to change the screw, also there are two potentiometers on the series 1 and 2 dash at least that would need to be adjusted to fine tune the mph, there is info in the tech section regarding that, I know that the UK dash and Jap dash has the screw in the different holes.

I gues buying a convertor made it easy for anyone not capable of messing with the dash or not wanting too lol