Does anybody have information on the GTA digital dash controller, specifically the center display that shows milage, and all system checks? I'd like to find out if this is PROM controlled and if so, if anybody has played with it. I'm toying with the idea of throwing one into my IROC, and I'd like to make some various changes, such as changing the milage to reflect my IROC's true milage, as well as have it display "CAMARO" instead of "PONTIAC". Any info would be great. Thanks.

------------------

The IROC Homepage
<A HREF="http://www.rit.edu/~jli4307/camaro" TARGET=_blank>
View the restoration of an 85 IROC</A>
Custom Thirdgen Subwoofer Enclosures
"I didn't know a bored out Ford could go so slow" -Shenandoah

 

Someone on the Electronics board looked into this sort of thing. He tried cracking the prom. I don't recall what luck he had.

 

I am not sure if there is separate code for the Digital Dash as there generally is no ouput drivers for instrumentation. I know that my Electronic Speedo is not driven by the SD 7730 ECM, which is a shame as I can make adjustments within the ECM for the VSS for such things as a gear change. However, it only affects the Vehicle Speed displayed by my Scan Tool, not my speedo.

 

I'm just curious as to whether this stuff is all pure hardware or if it's driven from code on a PROM. It seems that it has enough processing going on that it may at least be done with coded logic such as Abel or VHDL instead of gate logic. If so, cracking it will give me a little power over what it displays, especially with the milage. I'm under the impression that the milage must be stored in some sort of RAM with a hell of a good battery backup. Either that or there's an EPROM that's getting flashed in there. That actually seems to make more sense to me considering how many months my GTA has sat with no battery.

As for the "PONTIAC" display, I'm sure I could manipulate that easily enough with a small chip to recognize that specific output, and upon recognition drive the output with my own information. I suppose I could use an adder/subtractor circuit to do that with the milage too, but that will no doubt be trickier because it will be a non-constant value.

------------------

The IROC Homepage
<A HREF="http://www.rit.edu/~jli4307/camaro" TARGET=_blank>
View the restoration of an 85 IROC</A>
Custom Thirdgen Subwoofer Enclosures
"I didn't know a bored out Ford could go so slow" -Shenandoah

 

Jim,

I am not too familar with that dash.. but is it similar to the Atari Dash on the 84-89 vettes? as far as function.. not looks? I do kow that the mileage features in the vette (AVG MPG, Instant MPG, DTE) partly come from the PROM/ECM, while part of it is in the dash itself. I would venture to guess taht the 'pontiac' name that appears is in a non-volatile memory.. where as a trip Odometer or such is in Volatile memory within the Dash.

Don't know if that will help or not

------------------
-=Jeff=-
89 Corvette Coupe White with Black Grand Sport Stripe
-=ICON Motorsports=-
Check out my mods on My '89 Vette