Dakota Digital RET Installation And Operation Manual Download Page 3

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650066

VACUUM FLUORESCENT DIGITAL DASHBOARD

SERIES 3

The latest in digital dashboard technology for the

street rodder, car, and truck enthusiast.

INSTALLATION AND OPERATION MANUAL

Please read this before beginning installation or wiring.

MODELS VFD3 & RET

4510 W. 61ST St. N., Sioux Falls, SD 57107

Phone: (605) 332-6513 FAX: (605) 339-4106

Summary of Contents for RET

Page 1: ...ge cluster You will not reuse the separator plate 3 Remove outer gauges and the gear indicator speed display cover 4 Remove the 4 screws holding in the speed display board Also remove the 5 light bulbs in the main display area 5 Cut out the divider between the slots on top of the cluster as marked with a red X in the photo on the left Remove any sharp points or edges as the ribbon cable for the ne...

Page 2: ...mble the cluster 10 The stock indicators can be used for everything but the high beam and turn signals See main instruction manual for remainder of installation A new wire for the oil pressure sending unit must be used The stock oil pressure sender wire has a resistor inline and will cause the gauge to read incorrectly if used The stock water temp wire can be spliced into and used but the connecto...

Page 3: ...street rodder car and truck enthusiast INSTALLATION AND OPERATION MANUAL Please read this before beginning installation or wiring MODELS VFD3 RET 4510 W 61ST St N Sioux Falls SD 57107 Phone 605 332 6513 FAX 605 339 4106 www dakotadigital com dakotasupport dakotadigital com Copyright 2005 Dakota Digital Inc ...

Page 4: ...n several production automobiles vacuum fluorescent displays give superior performance and visual appeal over LCD or LED display systems Emitting a blue green light that can be filtered to a wide variety of colors the VFD system boasts excellent daytime visibility and while under computer control automatically dims for nighttime driving Using microprocessor technology the digital dashboard gives t...

Page 5: ...al Be careful not to compress the glass against the front lens Again note that the displays are glass and should be handled with care Use extreme care around the glass evacuation tubes small tubes at the bottom of each display as bumping them may cause breakage and render the display useless MOUNTING SYSTEMS WITH DISPLAYS MOUNTED TO ALUMINUM When mounting year specific aluminum panel cut an openin...

Page 6: ... them into the bezel and place a nut on them before placing the display system on it Be very careful not to hit the displays against anything as they are glass and will break Adjust the height of the panel so that the glass displays are 1 8 away from the front lens Applying a lock washer and nut to the studs behind the display panel secure the display panel to the bezel If screws were provided wit...

Page 7: ...me firewall and body Failure to properly ground the engine block or the control box can cause incorrect or erratic operation DIMMING The gauges are designed to dim down when the headlights are turned on This is to reduce the display intensity at night so the gauges do not cause eye strain or reduced night vision Connect this to the tail light or parking light circuit so that it has 12 volts whenev...

Page 8: ...minal on it On MSD ignition systems connect to the TACH output terminal On computer controlled ignition systems consult a service manual for the wire color and location GM LS1 engines require the tach to be set up for a 4 cylinder low voltage signal With magneto system connect to the kill wire for the tach signal Do not connect the TACH terminal to the secondary or high voltage side of the ignitio...

Page 9: ...e line may also be used to remote mount the sender to the fire wall The sender gets its electrical ground connection to the engine block through its threads Do not use Teflon tape or thread sealant on the sender threads Doing so can cause incorrect readings or cause the gauge to display an out of range indication If the sender is being remote mounted away from the engine make sure the sender case ...

Page 10: ...pect the sender wire for damage check the routing of the sender wire check the sending unit grounding and check that the sender selection is set correctly for the sending unit that is connected CHECK The check engine terminal is used with fuel injection ECM s to display engine problems and trouble codes The CHECK input is activated by a ground signal from the ECM Whenever the check input is ground...

Page 11: ...left turn indicator can be used or a new wire can be connected from the turn signal switch RIGHT The RIGHT terminal is activated by a 12 volt signal from the turn signal switch When this terminal has 12 volts an arrow will light up to the right of the speedometer display An existing wire from the vehicle for the right turn indicator can be used or a new wire can be connected from the turn signal s...

Page 12: ...tach is dedicated to rpm warn messages On systems with one message display the speed performance and rpm warn messages will use the same display To enter DEMO mode press and hold the switch while turning the key on MESSAGE DISPLAYS On systems with two message displays switch 1 will toggle between the speed message displays and switch 2 will toggle between the tach message displays On systems with ...

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Page 14: ... graph displays a bar tach can be shown on the message display On systems that do not have a digital tachometer display the rpm can be shown on the message display or the tachometer reading can be switched onto the speed display Demonstration mode Holding switch 2 while turning on the key will start the system going through a preset sequence of readings To exit the demo mode turn the key off You m...

Page 15: ...ate WARN set rpm shift warning point SIGNAL select normal or low voltage tach signal NORMAL LO VLT FUEL SENDER set fuel sender type CUSTOM GM 30 GM 90 GM 250 F 10 F 150 V 180 SW 33 CUSTOM calibrate custom fuel sender TEST display sender ohm reading WATER UNIT select mph F or kph C units WARN set high temp warning point TEST display sender ohm reading OIL WARN set low psi warning point TEST display...

Page 16: ...display will show zeroes You should now begin driving the measured mile The message display will count the number of pulses received from the sensor The message display cannot be used to determine when a mile has been driven Once you reach the end of your marked mile press the switch again The calibration is now done Adjust When ADJUST is displayed press and release the switch The system will rest...

Page 17: ...ou will either need to have the sender out of the tank or begin with the tank empty and add fuel during the setup When CUSTOM is displayed press and release the switch The speed display will show the current sender resistance seen by the control box The message display will show SET 00 Move the float to the empty position and then press and release the switch The message display will show SET 33 R...

Page 18: ...yed press and release the switch The current cylinder setting will be displayed Press and release the switch until the desired setting is displayed Press and hold the switch until DONE is displayed Display update setup When UPDATE is displayed press and release the switch The update setting will be displayed 1 slow 2 mid 3 fast Press and release the switch until the desired setting is displayed Pr...

Page 19: ...old SW 1 switch while turning the key on Release the switch When OIL is displayed press the switch again and then release it The message display should switch between WARN and TEST Pressure warning setup When WARN is displayed press and release the switch The current warning point will be displayed Press and release the switch until the desired setting is displayed Press and hold the switch until ...

Page 20: ...sused altered or installed incorrectly The above warranties both expressed and implied do not cover damages caused by improper assembly misuse abuse fire unauthorized modifications floods or acts of God or reimbursement of customer or shop time The extent of the warranty is limited only to the product and does not cover any loss or damaged to vehicle equipment or non DAKOTA DIGITAL products SERVIC...

Page 21: ... 12 volts connected to it Control box may not be getting Check if the control box has a ground a proper ground connection Do not use a battery charger to power the system The control box may have Contact Dakota Digital s service an internal problem department with a description of the problem System does not light up Control box may be getting too Check if power to control box is and LED is on ste...

Page 22: ...ire is too close to Reroute or isolate the tachometer the vehicle sitting still the to the speed sensor wire wire away from the speed wire speedometer reads higher There is a ground problem between Make certain the ground wire for than zero the speed sensor and the control the speed sensor is connected box directly to the control box ground A display shows EE Sending unit for that gauge Check the ...

Page 23: ... of the range manual for instructions The oil or water display The engine block may not be Use heavy ground cables from the reading is incorrect grounded to the chassis frame battery to the engine block or body properly Make sure both ends of the cable have clean metal to metal connections Use a braided ground strap to ground the engine block to the chassis Use a large braided ground strap to grou...

Page 24: ...not connected This feature is designed to work indicator does not to a TPI control module with engine control systems that operate properly provide an active low signal The check engine The Engine Control Module Connect a light or similar load indicator stays on ECM needs to see the to the ECM along with the all of the time load of a light connected to it control box The Function switches The push...

Page 25: ...ould have switched 12 volt power from an ACC point on the fuse panel The orange wire should have constant 12 volt power The black wire should be connected to a good ground point When the blue wire has 12 volts it will dim the display for night viewing Setting the time Using a small thin object such as a pen or hairpin press set buttons through front lens access holes The access holes are on the ri...

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Dakota Digital RET, Installation And Operation Manual

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