Riviera digital Instrument cluster (IC) into a Fiero dash (Page 11/14)
Daryl M JUL 11, 02:55 AM
So, when are you going to start selling the conversion kit? Now that you have it all figured out, do a plug n play conversion that you can sell to the rest of us.
Trinten JUL 11, 04:11 AM
Thanks for posting the vid!

Any luck chasing down that last electrical gremlin?
Cajun JUL 15, 09:24 AM
Yeap, it looks like the dash is coming out again and I hope for the last time. I am starting to run out of time getting the GT ready to made it's annual trip to Fierorama.

I thought that I could sort out the dimming issues without removing the dash but that is not the case. I can and did access the dimming pot. The wiring there appears to be correct. I cannot access the terminal block associated with the Riviera digital IC dimming circuit and the terminal block for the Fiero BCM. Again, to do that the dash has to come out.

I will post results once the dash has been removed and hopefully the issue has been resolved.
Cajun JUL 16, 02:52 PM
Ok, I have removed the dash from the GT for not sure how many times thus far as it relates to this project.


Another view of the dash removed:


The issue I am currently having is the operation of the dimming circuit. The dimming circuit input is provided by the Fiero dimming pot. The dimming pot is wired to the Fiero BCM pins #8 & #12. Pin #8 provides the input, while pin 12 provides the ground signal. All appears to be connected and functioning properly. I am getting 4.03vdc on the pin #8 wire as indicated by Chis.



On the Riviera IC dimming output: Riviera IC connector pins AF & BF I am getting basically no output. The voltage reading is 0.115vdc. Rotating the dimming pot has no affect on the dimming output.

I have contacted Chris Eddy via email for my results and any suggestions he may have on how to correct or how to proceed.

[This message has been edited by Cajun (edited 07-16-2021).]

Cajun JUL 29, 06:05 PM
The dash for the 86GT is back in.....

I have sorted out the remainder of the electrical issues. Everything works to my satisfaction. I hopefully will be able to take the GT out tomorrow for a road test weather permitting. This time of year summer rain storms/down pours happen frequently and almost every afternoon.

Another item I had to sort out was my headlight motors. It appears that the fuse powering the motors blew. No matter, new fuse and tested running amps of the motors in action. All is now good.

I will be testing the AC system and charge up if necessary. Needed here! I will attempt to make another video of the Riviera IC (instrument cluster) in action on my next road trip.

Cajun JUL 31, 04:22 PM
I have made a short video of the Riviera digital IC dimming circuit in operation. Sorry for the quality of the video. I am new at this. I have not yet mastered holding the camera and working the knobs on the IC.

https://youtu.be/iBCD6ugEXV4


I tried making a video of me on the road. But, the quality was really poor. The black surface of the IC acts like a mirror. Too much light reflecting. I will attempt to do another video but a night. Perhaps that will work better.

Other than producing the next video this pretty much wraps up this project. Needless to say I am very pleased with the final product and forever grateful to Chris Eddy. Without his contribution this project would have never happened.
Cajun AUG 01, 10:36 AM
I actually watched my own YouTube video of my last post. In the video you may have noticed a couple of items regarding the functionality of the Riviera digital IC.

1. At the beginning of the video the engine is not running. The "Low" oil pressure light is illuminated. Once the engine is started that light goes out and the gauge is showing oil pressure.
2. Notice the voltage meter, the voltage indication is low. Once the engine is started the voltage increases.
3. At the beginning of the video the "Fasten Seatbelt" light is illuminated. Once the engine is started and I fasten the seatbelt the "Fasten Seatbelt" light goes out.
4. At the lower right of the IC is a amber light. That indicator light is the "Headlights Suggested" lamp. The GT was in the garage. Not enough light to toggle the idiot light.

Until next time......
Cajun AUG 25, 10:15 AM
This just basically a bump!!

I have been busy of late with honey-does, helping move my sister-in-law from Louisiana to Houston, and.... mainly getting the GT ready to make the trip to Illinois for Fierorama.

I still owe everyone a video of the Riviera IC in full operation in the GT.


See everyone at Fierorama...
Chris Eddy AUG 25, 09:04 PM
I made a new addition to the "Fiero Body Control Module"..
I had already left a serial port on the design with the intent of connecting the ECM to the BCM. You know what a hassle it is to find and borrow an OBDI reader.
The protocol of bits and bytes was readily available on line.
So on the bench, I connected them together and was able to capture the data stream (1987 2M4, so it operates at 8192bps).
I wrote the code to divvy up the data into separate variables, and confirmed that the data goes into the right places.
I have not yet connected it to my own car.. only Cajun has wired up the project into his car.
And the next step was to connect a modern code reader to the BCM.. but it got sticky quick.
The OBDII code reader is typically a variable pulse width protocol.. not an easy thing to jiffy together. A standard UART will not do.
And then it dawned on me, one would have to make a custom profile to operate with the right code reader software so that it understands that you are showing it a Fiero..
And I decided that it was just too complex to do.
I might punt, and back up to just outputing data to WinALDL or something like that.
But that leads to a question. If you could wave a wand, and add any modern electronic features to your Fiero BCM, what would you wish for?
Trinten AUG 26, 06:07 PM
If we are talking no limits -- ABS would be kind of cool. Not sure if that would be the BCM or the ECU. Maybe TPMS? I know those sensors can go bad and can be a pain, but I once wrecked a wheel because when it went flat, it didn't do the usual "body roll" thing, so I didn't realize it was flat (low speed driving), until someone waved me down. :/