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 XH Falcon Trip Computer
Installing an EF/EL Trip Computer into XH Longreach

This document describes the installation of a Trip Computer to an XH series Longreach. This entails dismantling the trip computer, installing the front case to the XH console, refinishing the console, and assembling the trip computer. The plug for the trip computer is then wired up to suit.
This is a supplement to the ‘Adding a Trip computer to the EF/EL Falcon’ document http://www.fordmods.com/forums/documents.php?doc=32, which should be read first, and be used in conjunction with this document.
    Tools required:
  • 1 x Phillips head screwdriver

  • soldering iron & solder

  • instrument screwdrivers

  • sidecutters

  • small shifter

  • wire stripper or a suitable blade, e.g. Stanley knife

  • pliers

  • a Fluoro or suitable light source


    Materials Required:
  • Sandpaper

  • Body filler

  • Plastic primer

  • Vinyl spraypaint


    Parts required:
  • Trip Computer

  • EF/EL clock Plug

  • a spare EF/EL clock plug, or an EF/EL instrument cluster plug

  • std 7.5amp PVC wire or similar

  • cable ties

  • electrical tape


    Approximate time required:
  • 8.0-10.0 hrs for installing and finishing the case install

  • 4.0 hrs for wiring


Dismantling the Trip Computer:

This is required for installing the front case to the XH centre console.
    1. Carefully lift the retaining clips and separate the rear Trip computer case from the front.
    2. Undo the 4 screws attaching the circuit board to the front casing. Remove the circuit board.
    Caution: Be careful not to touch the circuit board components, as static electricity may do damage.
    3. Remove the clear plastic light diffuser.
    4. Remove the LCD assembly, along with the colour filter, and front plastic insert.
    5. Remove the overspeed, reset, and search buttons by carefully lifting the two retainers that hold each button, using instrument screwdrivers. Remove the buttons from the front.
Installing the Trip Computer to the XH console:

    1. Remove the centre console: 2 phillips head screws are located in the rear console compartment base, and 2 phillips head screws are located under the front of the auto shift quadrant / manual trans shift surround.
    2. Position the Trip computer front case on the front side of the console, position it centrally, or slightly favouring the left side, and trace the outline position.
    Caution: Be careful not to touch the circuit board components, as static electricity may do damage.
    3. Use the trace as a guide when cutting out the trip computer mounting hole.
    4. Position the Trip computer front case through the mounting hole – it will need to sit about 8-10 mm proud of the console, as when it is glued, it will be reasonably stiff and won’t flex. Excessive flexing will crack the body filler which we want to avoid.
    5. Glue the front case to the console, by applying araldite around the join of the trip computer case and the console, on the console underside. This may need a number of applications.
    Before doing the below steps, ensure your working surface is clean, to enable all materials to stick properly. Metho, or better still, prepsol can be used to clean.
    6. Use body filler to fill the front join of the trip computer case and the console, smoothen up by sanding to suit. This will need to be repeated a number of times to get the desired result. See Fig 1. below.

Fig 1. Trip Computer case fitted and body filler applied.

    7. Apply plastic primer or a plastic primer/filler, apply a number of times and sand smooth.
    8. When you’re satisfied with the finish, apply another thin coat of primer, and while tacky apply a dry paintbrush tip to the area, to roughen the finish to simulate the console finish.
    9. Apply a couple of light coats of vinyl spraypaint to the area. Then clean and spray the whole console to colour match, see Fig 2. below.



Fig 2.


    10. Assemble the Trip computer, which is a reversal of the dismantle instructions.

Wiring up the Trip Computer:

Referring to the associated documents previously listed, this is a case of wiring the EF/EL clock plug to the relevant wires of the instrument cluster. The cluster surround will need to be removed to gain access to the cluster plugs, and the lower console cover (where the park brake is housed) will need to be removed also.

    Trip Computer.................................Instrument Cluster
    Pin 1 * <- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - > Pin 14 RH Plug
    Pin 2 Not needed
    Pin 3 <- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - > Pin 20 RH Plug
    Pin 4 <- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - > Pin 19 RH Plug
    Pin 5 <- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - > Pin 16 RH Plug
    Pin 6 * <- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - > Pin 3 LH Plug
    Pin 7 * <- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - > Pin 4 LH Plug
    Pin 8 Not needed

    * Indicates extra pins to be inserted into the clock plug – hence the extra plugs mentioned in the Parts required section.


Fig 3. Finished Product

FAQ's

Q: I don’t understand, isn’t there already a clock plug wired in – just like the EF/EL’s ?

A: XH's never came from the factory with a Trip computer or clock - the clock was integral with the base series radio. So you need to wire in the plug + add the 3 extra wires to run the Trip computer, this is where the extra pins come in - so you get them from another clock plug, or an instrument cluster plug, because they are the same pins. Don't do what some people have done and push the wires in to the plug back, or glue them - do it properly 1st time, so you won't have intermittent wiring problems later on.

Q: So how do I get the pins out of the donor plug ?

A: The pins clip in to the plug with a plastic ‘finger’ holding each pin in place – if you ‘dissect’ your donor plug, you’ll see how this is set up.
 
 Document Summary
 
Document description: Installing an EF/EL Trip Computer into XH Longreach
Document written by: snap0964 on 19 2006>, Copyright © 2006 snap0964, all rights reserved.
Document revised: 19 2006 - Revision 1.0
Document views: 14532 since 19 2006



 

 

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