Date:         Sat, 29 Jun 2002 23:31:10 EDT
Reply-To:     FrankGRUN@AOL.COM
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Frank Grunthaner <FrankGRUN@AOL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Rostra All-Electronic Cruise Control
Comments: To: Vwcrewman@aol.com
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

In a message dated 6/28/02 6:14:54 PM, Vwcrewman writes:

<<  Could you expand a little on the mfa installation into a Vanagon ,I'd
wondered about it and was sure some one most have done it.

                                              thanx in advance VWCREWMAN >>
Well,

I don't have the finger energy to go into too much detail but a few comments:

1. Go after the instrument cluster from the Jetta GLi or the GTi. Plentiful
before the Digifant cars. Also get the MFA/wiper switch for operation.

2. The cluster will contain the tach and the MFA module, while the PC foil
will also go to the oil buzzer system and the Hall sensor in the Jetta
speedo.

3. If you are running an I4 conversion, Pop the tach into your gauge cluster.
Little ingenuity to swap plastic bits but nothing daunting.

4. Pop out the cover in the Vanagon Speedo and insert the Hall sensor. In the
end, I just swapped the foil from the Jetta to the Vanagon cluster. Different
connectors but that is what copper staples and tantalum foil contacts are
ideal for. The Bentley color code wiring is straightforward if you take
careful note of the year, model and vin number of the donor vehicle. (If you
can't find the wiring diagram I can send a copy. The price is one fresh wheel
of Alsacian Muenster!)

5. The LCD module for the clock and the MFA have the same form factor so it
will eventually pop right in (after step 6). BTW, all the various clocks from
the Jetta/Golf group (at least the A2 cars) all use the same clock module.

6. Now you will notice that the circuit board around the tach has a spur that
supports the MFA. Take out your trusty Dremel tool and slice it off. The LCD
side is the important one. Get the board shape into the same form as the
Vanagon clock so it will fit in the plastic instrument cluster. Now look at
the tach side. Lots of space just filled with traces (no components) so slice
it off.

7. Now bond the ends of the traces to the board with a good insulating epoxy.
Next drill small holes into the board and trace (clearing a small area of the
trace) and solder a jumper wire to each. Remember the board has front and
back traces (2 sided). Don't miss any. Now there is no significant current
here , so I used a ribbon multiconductor cable maybe 24 gauge here. Rosin
core solder. Then, after verifying contact, reseal with the insulating epoxy.

8. Soldering the jumper to the MFA board segment is a PITA, but worth it if
another Vanagonite just happens to notice that you are checking MPG  with the
clock cluster. I used about 9 inches of ribbon cable.

9. Anyway from there on its just details! Of course, the devil is in the
details.

10. Unfortunately, the A2 cars use a Vacuum/rpm/vehicle speed algorithm to
calculate MPG. Don't really measure it. I've switched to a computer that
measures the fuel injector duty cycle for fuel consumption just like the
Motronic cars. But that, as someone else has said, is another story.

Gotta go,

Good luck,

Frank Grunthaner