Skip to main content
Gerry | Vanagon
Checking account...
← vanagon.com home · Continue the discussion in the forum
Subject:Re: WTB: odometer/instrument cluster for 86-91 Vanagon
From:Malcolm Holser
Date:Fri, 10 Jul 1998 22:41:59 -0700

> << Want to buy a used odometer and speedo panel from the instrument cluster of
>  an 86 - 91 Vanagon from >>
>
>
> actually, they started the tach/dig. clock in '85....
>
> chris
>

Actua;;y, since he did not ask for the clock or tach, I assumed he wanted
the speedometer and odometer like he asked for.  These changed in 1986 as
the speedometer includes the little circuit board for the oil pressure light.
The 1985 speedometer will work on a later Vanagon (but not a syncro) if you
use the flexi-circuit board and swap the oil pressure circuit board from an
'86 or later.  The '85 flexi-circuit has the right traces for the oil light
board, but no connector, and it's a real pain to add one.

Syncros use a speedometer labeled "1600" while the others use one labeled
"800" or "810".  KPH versions are labeled "1000" and "500".  This relates
to the number of turns of the speedo cable that makes one mile (or km).  If
you work it out, you'll notice that the speedo cable turns the same for
either miles or km -- the only difference is whether there are ten or sixteen
teeth on the odometer drive gear.

The other thing is that only some Vanagons had the tach added in 1985.  The
tach, clock and trip odometer are "deluxe" things.  My poor kombi got none
of these -- just a plain-jane speedo, temp and fuel gauges.  Some have an
analog clock on the right.  All the ones I've seen with the tach have the
digital clock in the middle.  Most seem to have the trip odometer, which is
a very nice thing to have (I added one to the Kombi).

So, to the original poster:  What are you looking for?  I have some parts
around for various versions of these things, even some relatively complete
speedos (one in kms, no trip odometer...)

Malcolm