AU Dash Conversion

chief · 01-11-2006, 12:47 AM

Hey guys I am undertaking a dash swap from a AUII forte to a black AUII Fairmont Ghia. What is involved in the conversion.

So far after taking the forte dash out I have got this far.

Passanger airbag will be a strait swap.
Radio is a strait swap.
Headlight switch is a strait swap.
Buttons such as Door lock / unlock, fuel cap release will be a strait swap.
I am going to wire in the half height aerial switch.
No traction control in the wagon so dont worry about that.

This is where it gets interesting:

The controls for the a/c heater is controlled by cable and the fan speed, direction is controlled by electrics. How does one get the three dials in a forte to work on the screen of the woodgrain fairont dash. ie does the heater box ect have to come out and be replaced with the HIN modual and solinode.

The AC and rear demistor button is rewired from its position on the forte dash to its position on the woodgrain dash. Simply rewire it or is there more?.

The Fairmont dash requires a high series BEM. Therefore once the dash is changed the BEM and ECU wont match up and the car wont start. To fix this take the car to Ford, or can the keys be reprogrammed. (How do I move the car if it wont start? without towing it!!!)

I assume that an AUII XR cluster will drop right into a Fairmont dash. I can find out (where's HLC's car lol)

I am sure Stav will jump on here and ask a few more questions.

Thanks

**Mechan1k** · 01-11-2006, 01:43 AM

If you need a High Series (Pink) BEM ... I have one spare ... I think it's sitting on teh floor of the ute ... I found out I didn't need it as the XLs utilises a High Series Bem with a few features disabled.

SO I don't need it.

I do know of an auto sparky in my area that can reprogramme keys to the new BEM ... but your best bet is Ford though ... and yes you will need to get it towed ... unless you wanna push it ... hee hee.

AUII XR cluster should swap straight over ... just need to put in an oil pressure sender on the side of the engine instead of a switch. Did you get a full loom with the dash ... if not ... then a little bit of wiring is need to get full functionality of the higher series cluster (as you will be using YOUR original loom which goes back to the BEM from memory as well).

TwistedEL · 01-11-2006, 02:17 AM

Drive it there, park it and swap the BEM on the spot maybe? I think the connectors are a little different but not sure to what extent

For the climate control to work you will need...
Climate control module (the panel in the woodgrain)
Fan Speed controller
Blend Door motor
Vacuum solenoid and appropriate vacuum hoses
Sunload sensor
Ambient temp sensor
A lot of loom

Unfortunately it is not just a case of swapping the pulley system for a motor

If you need asistance with this there are some very good wiring diagrams in the Gallery
Low series A/C
High series A/C

blackers10 · 01-11-2006, 04:11 AM

ask DUFFMAN he will know
as he did the forte to TS50 interior swap (i think thats the interior he used?)

**Stav** · 01-11-2006, 08:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mechan1k

AUII XR cluster should swap straight over ... just need to put in an oil pressure sender on the side of the engine instead of a switch. Did you get a full loom with the dash ... if not ... then a little bit of wiring is need to get full functionality of the higher series cluster (as you will be using YOUR original loom which goes back to the BEM from memory as well).

The au xr cluster did fit in.No right blinker or illumination though.Also the xr dash interfered with the the up volume of the standard radio.Turning ignition on made the volume go to full as if the steering switches were being used. Looking at some wiring diagrams revealed that the dash board display was linked in with the factory radio.

HLC · 01-11-2006, 09:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chief

I assume that an AUII XR cluster will drop right into a Fairmont dash. I can find out (where's HLC's car lol)

: good luck with it Chief!

if ya need a hand, and im not working, give us a buzz.

sfr rob · 01-11-2006, 09:42 AM

might need to pop into the bottle 'o' and grab a slab... i was contemplating doing the dash conversion in my au too, but was quickly talked out of doing it. :hihi:

b2tf · 01-11-2006, 03:40 PM

Would it be easier to get a Fairmont cluster that suits the dash, and just put the XR mask in it?

You do need a new heater box, you need the MDC and the climate control sensors for the front airdam, the top of the dash and one other (cant remember where it is though).

**Stav** · 01-11-2006, 06:44 PM

Thanks guys..it is alot more involved than meets the eye.Got the blinker working and the illumination.It was getting late and the radio went full boar with the ignition switched on.It was the dash cluster.the bcm is different so I think the higher cluster with bcm should be fine.

**Mechan1k** · 01-11-2006, 09:52 PM

Oh well ... as I mentioned ... if you need the high series BEM ... I have one sitting in the ute doing nothing. And I don't need it.

chief · 01-11-2006, 10:08 PM

Simon, thank you, I may be taking you up on that offer.

Austin, My forte dash is grey and boring. The black Fairmont dash is the way to go. I will be putting a T3 fascia on the cluster.

LG · 01-11-2006, 11:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blackers10

ask DUFFMAN he will know
as he did the forte to TS50 interior swap (i think thats the interior he used?)

He did the interior swap... But kept the dash, so it's like a TE50 really...

chief · 02-11-2006, 12:25 AM

Duffman changed to a black dash, so nothing changed it was plug and play.

I beleive T3man has done the conversion from TE50 tO TS50.

JC · 02-11-2006, 01:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chief

Duffman changed to a black dash, so nothing changed it was plug and play.

I beleive T3man has done the conversion from TE50 tO TS50.

Yes, he has. The boys at FTG should be able to tell you everything you need (and then sell it to you, as well).

Just a thought, T3man may have his old TE50 dash and might be willing to part with it for the right price. then again, he may not.

GlennBA · 02-11-2006, 11:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JC

Yes, he has. The boys at FTG should be able to tell you everything you need (and then sell it to you, as well).

Just a thought, T3man may have his old TE50 dash and might be willing to part with it for the right price. then again, he may not.

but a TE50 dash is a forte dash on the T3. Only the T1/T2 TE50's got goodies like climate control etc..

JC · 02-11-2006, 12:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GlennAUII

but a TE50 dash is a forte dash on the T3. Only the T1/T2 TE50's got goodies like climate control etc..

But it's black.

fourl6 · 25-07-2007, 12:51 AM

so what happened to this...? any Pics...

chief · 25-07-2007, 08:38 PM

Have not swapped the dash YET. Black Fairmont dash still sitting on my bedroom floor. When the motor gets swapped the dash will come out then, since I have to change all the engine bay wiring and fuse panel in the dash anyway.

Stav and I have got a plan on how to do it. Just waiting to put the engine in first.

futura2000 · 29-12-2009, 08:27 PM

i've got an xr dash, tried 2 install it into au2 futura, but got no illumination or right side blinker either.. the radiator light was on too.. do u have 2 swap wires 2 make it work right??

NC1183 · 29-12-2009, 08:35 PM

Yeah you do, do a search there is a list and diagram of what has to be changed. I don't think I have it anymore

bartsau · 30-12-2009, 02:55 PM

Hi all just picked up a series 1 fairmont ghia today with plans to swap the interior into my series III wagon (forte). Couple of questions

1. Will the series I dash and all of the other bits with it be able to plug in a work in a series III forte.

2. Provided i can get the dash to work, will a series II/III tickford XR cluster work with the series I ghia dash.

fourl6 · 30-12-2009, 06:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bartsau

Hi all just picked up a series 1 fairmont ghia today with plans to swap the interior into my series III wagon (forte). Couple of questions

1. Will the series I dash and all of the other bits with it be able to plug in a work in a series III forte.

2. Provided i can get the dash to work, will a series II/III tickford XR cluster work with the series I ghia dash.

-Sorry to say but i dont think you will be able to get the electrics to work, a few big changes between series 1 and series 2,3, you will also have to swap the heaterbox to get the climate control to work...

-You could still use the physical dash but id recommend you get S2/3 wiring and heaterbox, then you should have no problem going to a S2/3 XR Cluster (will just lose a few features of the fairmont cluster)

futura2000 · 04-01-2010, 11:06 PM

i found the changes u have 2 make 2 make the xr cluster work in low series AU.. u can find it in technical documents on fordmods.com.au
p.s. it is a crap job 2 do, i'm still fiddling wit it.. all working except speedo, cruise & kick switch for gear change..

old fordnut · 03-05-2010, 09:06 AM

Any more news on this. looking at doi ng this as well.

fourl6 · 03-05-2010, 05:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by old fordnut

Any more news on this. looking at doing this as well.

im picking up a AU2 fairmont Ghia dash and heatebox to go in my AU3 forte in 2 weeks so ill be able to take some photos etc.

fourl6 · 09-05-2010, 11:11 AM

Picking the dash up next weekend, i thought id post this up anyway... i was asking "wgn485" a few questions as his put a fairmont dash in his AU2/3 wagon...

Quote:

Originally Posted by fourl6

hey mate, might be picking up a au2 fairlane ghia and putting in a high series dash... just having a look at your build, i see you havent got cruise control so im guessing you kept your original steering column? (didnt have to get any keys re programmed?) was it all just plugs or did some need rewiring etc.? im going to do all the h loom and door looms aswell. did the heaterbox fit up ok?

Cheers Cam

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wagone,xrford,wgn485

Nice one! ok the heaterbox is a straight swap its just the hoses on the back of the firewall (inside engine bay) that you may have trouble with, have you ever had them off before?
If not then believe me the 2 hose clamps are shitful, and the hoses would be stuck on the pipes a bit if they havnt been off once before.
And just to make it more enjoyable theres next to no room to get your hands in there as its right at the back of the manifold which tends to cut the ******** out of your wrist if working on it from standing outside the car.
You might find it a bit easier to do it from underneath but then you risk copping a face full of coolant and even still its not much easier with it up on stands.
May want to grab 2 stainless screw type clamps as well when you go to do it back up i found the standard clamps were pretty useless unless theyre sitting perfectly.

As for the dash it was pretty much all plug and play the only problem i had was that because i was using my forte steering column there was one grey plug on the forte column that didnt fit into the corresponding TS dash one that it was supposed to, they were a different shape or something so I just cut and soldered the 3 or 4 wires to the new plug and job done but if you use the same steering column you might not have to do this.
And because i kept my original ignition/steering column, as soon as i put the TS dash in with the new BEM my forte keys werent programmed to it so i had to get ford to re-program them which only took 15-20mins and cost me $35
Its up to you if you want to just drop the column and change the dash and heaterbox then bolt the column back up and get it reprogrammed, otherwise i never looked at how hard it was to change the ignition or column itself but if you can get them along with the Fairlane keys and its not too involved then maybe give it a crack, might save yourself 35 and having to chuck it on the trailer.

Also Have you got a power antenna? if you do and you want to use the half height aerial switch theres a 2 wire plug that comes out of the dash down around where the ecu/pcm sits.
From memory its a yellow green stripe and red with white stripe, i never used this tho, instead made up a circuit and relay with 2 buttons and the existing power and earth wires but i can now control the aerial up or down to whatever height i want and then when you hit the cd button or turn the car off again if automatically retracts as normal....let us know if you want the circuit diagram its a sticky on one of the forums.

And if you figure out what the deal is with the outside ambient temperature thing let us know.
I heard that the sensor is in the passenger side mirror but i havnt got a fairmont/ fairlane mirror so i dont know where the wiring ect comes to and from.
If its not connected then the climate unit just says its 19 deg all the time.
I wouldnt mind getting it working soon, so if you figure it out or have any more questions let us know.

i didnt end up getting the AU2 Fairlane because it had a grey dash and the rest of my interior is black...

Cheers Cam

bartsau · 13-05-2010, 12:47 AM

That last post has what i would say is some very good info. As, now i have aquired myself a 2001 Fairlane Ghia Donar car. Realistically i won't have enough time until november (thanks to uni) to do the swap. But i will definately be doing it. Also, as it was a v8 i will save up and do the v8 conversion at the same time. So if anyone else does it in the meantime i would be happy for any other further info.

Cheers, Rhys

superroo · 10-06-2010, 07:45 PM

Well I just though I'd put this out there. There is going to be another dash conversion this weekend.

I'm going from base model xl ute dash to fairmont ghia dash, as well as all the door cards and door looms as well.
I've got all the main bits here, hope I've got most of the fiddly bits to. Just unsure now on the door looms.

I believe from my research I've also figured out the ambient temp too. Wait and see though.

It all starts tomorrow night though.

Cheers

GK · 10-06-2010, 08:57 PM

Hey Roo.

Don't you need the left hand side mirror from a ghia? I think this is where the sensor for the ambient air temp is?

GK

Quote:

Originally Posted by superroo

Well I just though I'd put this out there. There is going to be another dash conversion this weekend.

I'm going from base model xl ute dash to fairmont ghia dash, as well as all the door cards and door looms as well.
I've got all the main bits here, hope I've got most of the fiddly bits to. Just unsure now on the door looms.

I believe from my research I've also figured out the ambient temp too. Wait and see though.

It all starts tomorrow night though.

Cheers

blackers10 · 10-06-2010, 09:00 PM

i thought that sensor was the little black one in the front bumper mouth area