Can you swap a standard dash for digital? One member said he found the temp sending unit was different.
I have a 97 and I hear that even the standard guages are digital units.

Any thoughts?

Jerry

 

There are 2 to 3 main differences in the harness, but I don't think that it is that hard or impossible for that matter. The wiring tracks down to the main harnesses that are all shared with all Aero's. I have 5 aerostars and two with the digital dashes. 1 I already took the dash out and could either send you in words the answer or some pics, which ever you would prefer. My biggest learning tool has been to just go to th eU pick your own part salvage yards and disassemble what I'm trying to learn off of. Oh-you just snapped this off or broke that? Yeah, you are not trying to mess anything up but which would you rather practice on. Yours or the one about ready to be scraped? Boz

1994 Extended Black Sport 4.0 2 wheel drive
1994 Extended Blue/gold 4.0 Eddie Bauer 4 whl-drive (digital dash)
1993 Extended Blue/gold 4.0 Eddie Bauer 4 whl-drive (digital dash)
1992 Shorty Blue 3.0 2 wheel drive
1989 Extended Red 3.0 2 wheel drive

 

Hey Boz,

I got a digital dash from a 93, I think, that I took off of a van at a yard yesterday. I forgot the trim panel with english/metric buttons, but I can go get that Monday. Looks like I will also need the cluster trim itself cause the digital sticks out farther than the mechanical.

But when I took mine out, it has TWO long connectors for the gauges and one for the odometer, I guess. The digital just has ONE for all the gauges, one for the odo and looks like one for the E/M buttons.

You say I can track that harness to the main one and change cluster harnesses?
Appreciate the reply and the help.

Jerry

 

Jerry, I am very intersested in what you find. I have a '93 and want the digital dash (or factory analog tach, whichever). I'm kinda hoping that the connector difference you see is due to the year split rather than the analog/digital split.

 

The connector difference is an additional wiring harness is added for the digital. Unfortunately it's not something that you can just plug in. All the wires are spliced. If you look at your donor van, it's the one that is wrapped in pink plastic tape. The analog has two electrical connectors, the digital has three. At least one of the signals that you will need for digital is "Fuel Flow" which is not available in the cab of a standard dash equipped 'Star. It can be tapped into at the EEC plug under the hood and then brought in.

The three connectors are:
Connector 254 - Gray (14 connections)
This connector has the inputs to the Speedometer and Tachometer modules. Also batter power and ground.

Connector 255 - Gray (18 connections)
This connector has all the inputs for your warning circuits, oil level, lo washer fluid, the input from the day/night lighting module (not present on standard dash modules) and the lighting indicators.

Connector 256 - Brown (18 connections)
All your level sensors, one input that has to be shorted out if you have a 21 gal fuel tank, RPM input, english/metric control from speedo module.

I am in the process right now of wiring these plugs in on my '91 ext (I have a donor van that was electronic sitting right next to my driveway). I am planning to leave the standard dash plugs in also, just in case.

Klaus Cook
Houston, Texas

 

Klaus, if you're using a '91, aren't you talking about the older digital dash? My '93's dash is completely different from the '89 and '90 I have had.

 

I'm putting the digital from a '90 into a '91. I knew the shape for the newer dashes was different, but all of the inputs should still be needed. Maybe someone with an EVTM for a '93 can clear up the connectors.......

Klaus Cook
Houston, Texas