Hi Folks,
Back in '87 I bought a new Aerostar that was loaded with everything they had at that time which included a digital dash cluster. This unit was completely digital, no mechanical guages of any sort. The display was back lighted LED. It also had an overhead digital display for mileage and distance.

I have two questions. The first being did they continue to offer this option until they stopped production with the '97 year model? Second, does anybody know if the digital cluster would be a direct plug in replacement for the standard one? Oh, I almost forgot, would a digital cluster taken from a different year model work in a "97? I have the Ford shop manuals of the wiring diagrams for the '97 but there is no data in there on the dash clusters. The schematic section is not clear on this either so this leads me to believe either will plug in and work.

The digital display cluster and overhead display were the features I liked most about my '87. I bought the '97 I have now as a donor for the suspension and drive train that I am going to use for one of my '53 F-100 pick ups. It has the electronic 4WD. Due to the extensive electronics and control system I am going to have to use all the wiring and control systems from the Aerostar. Unfortunately the dash is too wide for the '53 truck but one from an Explorer is just the right width. I'm thinking of finding a digital Aerostar cluster and adapting it to the Explorer dash if there is one that will work with the '97 Aerostar system. Hopefully some of you out there will know something about this.

 

I explored moving the digital dash from my 90 EB to a 91XLT with a standard. Right away, the first problem is the different oil pressure, temp, etc. sensor that are used between the two systems. Secondly, the standard cluster has only one wiring harness plug and the digital has two. I finally gave up on the switch, and only moved the trip "computer" (the overhead that tells you mpg, etc.). That move alone was quite involved, because there were some signals that were needed that were not led into the inside of the cab from the engine. There was quite a bit of wiring involved in getting it in.

Klaus Cook
Houston, Texas

 

Hi Klaus,
I'm just kickin' around ideas right now. Additional wiring should be no real additional problem as I will have to remove all the wiring as well as the lectronics and controls from the Aerostar to go with the drivetrain when it becomes part of the old '53. I have the wiring diagram Ford shop book but as of yet I have not been able to decipher the differences. I'm curious, what is a 90 EB? I'm guessing Eddie Baurer...

If this is a no go idea I'd just as soon know now and scrap the idea. Since the '97 1s OBD II I am considering using a cheap laptop and auto booting real time analysis software. they have some pretty nice software now that is getting cheaper as time passes. It would of course depend ol the sensing being built into the '97.

One question... What kind of documentation did you use to determine the compatibility and additional wiring you would need? From what I saw in the Ford wiring diagrams book, I'm thinking there must be some more detailed stuff available.

From what you are saying I gather I would be better off finding a '97 Aerostar with all the digital stuff I need and the wiring and sensors to go with it.

Later Man...

 

I have an "EVTM" (Electrical Vacuum Technical Manual). It has the wiring diagrams, component locations, splice and connector locations and also diagrams of all the plugs and the pin outs. Could not have done it without it......

 

Dave-I go to allot of the you wrench it junk yard down here in SUNNY Florida. I would if I was you simply look at the set up of a junk yard Eddie Bauer--draw pics-take notes-digital picks off a virgin "EB" and then take what you need.
Special note though. At both ends of the wiring harnesses before you walk away from the van --pay particularly close attention to simply how it is set up and what it plugs into. If you need a wire, then take the wire. If you need the harness-take the harness. Practice on a couple of them-they are getting scrapped anyway RIGHT!?!

Let us know how it turns out.--Boz

 

That is what I have from Ford for the '97. Maybe I need to study it more.

Later Man...

 

We have three Pull-A-Part yards in the North end of the state. They show some Aerostar inventory When Spring finally starts to show I intend to launch a search. I'm with you on the idea of take as much as possible. I would probably also take some duct tape and marker pens to label what goes to what. Of course the omes with the digital dash's are probably rare so it's hard to tell if I could find one easily.

Later Man...