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A single wire should be run from the fuel sender to the control box terminal marked FUEL.  If 
your wiring harness already has a wire routed through the vehicle for the fuel sender then it may 
be used.  If using a wire from an existing harness, make sure that the wire does not have power.  
The fuel sender gets power from the control box only.  Fuel senders get their ground from the 
sender mounting plate.  Make sure that a ground wire is connected from one of the sender 
mounting bolts to the vehicle frame. 

The fuel sender type is selected using the DIP programming switches located inside the 

control box.  The settings are discussed later in the section on internal adjustments. 

If the fuel display shows “—“ this indicates that the control box is sensing a short to 

ground or out-of-range error from the sender or sender wire.  If the fuel display shows “EE” this 
indicates that the control box is sensing an open circuit or out-of-range error from the sender. If 
either indication remains on the display, inspect the sender wire for damage, check the routing 
of the sender wire, check the sending unit grounding, and check that the DIP programming 
switches are set correctly for the sending unit that is connected. 

 

TRIP 

 

The TRIP terminal is used for the trip odometer function, for setting the oil warning set 

point (see WRN), and for speedometer calibration (see SPEEDOMETER CALIBRATION).  The 
TRIP input is activated by a ground connection.  The push button switch supplied (or any 
normally open switch) is wired by connecting one terminal to TRIP and the other terminal to a 
ground.  When the trip button is pressed, the odometer display will switch from full odometer 
mileage to the trip mileage or from the trip mileage to the full odometer mileage.  When the trip 
mileage is shown a lower case “t” will be displayed to the left of the trip meter reading. “t  000.0”  
Pressing and holding the trip button for 7-8 sec. will enter the demonstration mode. 

 

RESET 

 

The RESET terminal is used for the trip odometer function, for setting the water warning 

set point (see WRN), and for the speedometer calibration (see SPEEDOMETER 
CALIBRATION).  The RESET input is activated by a ground connection.  The push button 
switch supplied (or any normally open switch) is wired by connecting one terminal to RESET 
and the other terminal to a ground.  When the reset button is pressed and held for a few 
seconds, the trip miles will be reset to zero.  This will not affect the full odometer mileage.  
Pressing the reset button will also exit the demonstration mode. 

 

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 grounded the system will display a lower case “c” to 
the left of the speedometer.  When the ECM is placed into 
diagnostic mode trouble codes can be read by counting the 
flashes.  Consult a service manual for the fuel injection system that 
you have for further information on trouble codes.

 

 

With some ECM’s a 12 volt light bulb may need to be 

connected in addition to our CHECK input in order to provide 
proper current loading.  In this case both the bulb and our display system indicator would both 
come on when the check engine wire was set. 

Summary of Contents for STR3D

Page 1: ...al dashboard technology for the street rodder car and truck enthusiast INSTALLATION AND OPERATION MANUAL Please read this before beginning installation or wiring MODELS STR3D STR4D STR5D STR6D 3421 W Hovland Ave Sioux Falls SD 57107 Phone 605 332 6513 FAX 605 339 4106 ...

Page 2: ...Your DAKOTA DIGITAL instrumentation panel has many features some of which you will not be able to see until the instrumentation is completely wired and installed The turn signals and the high beam indicators are part of the digital speedometer display therefore you will not see them before the instrumentation is installed If your panel is a year specific street rod panel you may also have addition...

Page 3: ...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 opening i...

Page 4: ...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 with the panel secure them through the display panel and into the bezel No additional holes should need to be drilled All holes ...

Page 5: ...tic 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 whenever the headlights are on When this terminal does not have power the display system will be at full brightness W...

Page 6: ...tems to a single white wire with a spade terminal on it On MSD ignition systems connect to the TACH output terminal 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 ignition coil To ensure that the ignition system does not interfere with any other dashboard functions do not run the tachometer wire along s...

Page 7: ...ng 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 is ground well The sender has 1 8 NPT thread size If the engine you have requires a different thread size you will need to use an adapter to convert the thread size Adapters can be found at your local auto parts dealer or h...

Page 8: ... to TRIP and the other terminal to a ground When the trip button is pressed the odometer display will switch from full odometer mileage to the trip mileage or from the trip mileage to the full odometer mileage When the trip mileage is shown a lower case t will be displayed to the left of the trip meter reading t 000 0 Pressing and holding the trip button for 7 8 sec will enter the demonstration mo...

Page 9: ...ignal from the turn signal switch When this terminal has 12 volts a dash will light up to the left of the speedometer display An existing wire from the vehicle for the 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 a dash will light up to...

Page 10: ...icator The inputs are activated be a 12 volt signal from a gear shift sending unit The indicator is built into every system but it will not light up unless a Dakota Digital GSS 1000 or compatible gear shift sending unit is connected to tell it what gear the transmission is in The gear shift sending unit is not included with the system and must be purchased separately When the gear shift sending un...

Page 11: ...11 Insert cable with red stripe to right side Optional display power connector found on some systems ...

Page 12: ...switches will need to be held for about 4 6 seconds The odometer will display AdJUSt and the other gauges will function normally Release the switches Pressing and holding the TRIP switch will increase the speedometer reading Pressing and holding the RESET switch will decrease the speedometer reading Pressing and holding both the TRIP and RESET switches at the same time will store the current speed...

Page 13: ...se some systems have a digital speedometer with a bar graph tachometer directly above it 55 Chevy car and some systems a have separate digital speedometer and digital tachometer each having their own bar graph readout 73 Chevy pickup switch 8 selects which style display system is being used For 5 gauge systems with a bar graph tachometer directly above the speedometer turn switch 8 OFF For 6 gauge...

Page 14: ...ill display AdJ Release the ground from the WRN terminal The current warning set points will be displayed The RESET TRIP and WRN inputs adjust the water oil and rpm warning set points respectively Once the set points have been changed if an input is not activated for 8 seconds the values will be saved and the system will begin operating normally To change the water warning set point press and hold...

Page 15: ...d 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 SERVICE AN...

Page 16: ... may not be getting Check if the control box has power 12 volts connected to it Do not use a battery charger to power the system Check the fuse on the control box If it is blown replace with a 2 amp fuse The display system may not be Insert the connector on the getting power display system wiring harness into the slot on the side of the control box Be sure the pins line up properly Check the displ...

Page 17: ...e running and A tachometer wire 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 un...

Page 18: ... the control box settings replace the fuel sender with a different style 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...

Page 19: ...light up system properly terminals on the control box The check engine The control box is 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 ...

Page 20: ...The red wire should 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 hole...

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