AE93 Cluster Specification/History/Modification

[Talasas]

Hi all,

I thought I'd put up this guide on what I've learned about the AE93 instrument cluster through my restoration and mod attempts.

BACKGROUND:

So here we see the standard AE93 ADM spec cluster. This was installed in all Australian AE93 Corolla SX, Seca SX and Corolla GTi models from '89 to '92. It is a derivative of the JDM AE92 FX-GT (and some Corolla GT) clusters.

LAYOUT:

http://www.toymods.net/forums/attach...1&d=1142222599

The gauges as numbered on the image are as follows:

1: Digital Clock
2: Oil Pressure
3: Voltmeter
4: Fuel Gauge
5: Speedometer and integrated odometer
6: Tachometer (note 9000 rpm scale)
7: Engine Temperature
8: Door ajar light
9: Handbrake warn light
10: Charge light
11: Check engine light
12: <blank on all AE93's> (looking from behind reveals a backwards E (like "there exists"))
13: Indicators and high beam lights

http://www.toymods.net/forums/attach...1&d=1142222599
http://www.toymods.net/forums/attach...1&d=1142222599

We can see also that there are two blank "bars" just above the fuel gauge. These are left over from the JDM (and some other domestic market) AE90 and AE92 models. The upper bar was used for the TEMS (Toyota Electronically Modulated Suspension) indicator. The lower bar was used for ECT-S (Electronically Controlled Auto Trans) indicator.


I'm not sure how to make the images display instea of being link, if someone knows please PM me.

[Talasas]

Here we can see that all the gauges are self-contained. They can be removed induvidually and even relocated to another slot with a bit of fiddling with the rear PCB and some wiring. This also means that for those performing 4A-GZE conversions that the GZE tacho can be put in place of the GE (but tach signals will be different and therefore need to be accounted for).

ILLUMINATION:

Below each gauge sits the screw layout for mounting into the cluster body. Note the globes/bulbs are orignally 3W globes with a light blue silicon sleeve. These can be replaced with 5W globes for a more vibrant display. It is also worth noting that the Narva blue silicon sleeves are not a suitable replacement for these light blue sleeves as they filter more blue light and allow more yellow light to pass resulting in a greenish colour.

Any colour LED or globe sleeve other than blue will result in a slightly dimmer display. This is because printed on the backing of each gauge face is a blue layer which further filters the yellow wavelengths to make the numbers on the gauge look more white. The gauge needles do NOT have this blue layer and so you can notice that the needles appear more yellowish than the numbers on the gauge face at night.

A comment on LED replacement bulbs. We can see that there are 6 gauges (ignoring the clock) and only 4 bulbs. It's designed so that there is a clear plastic array underneath all the gauges which disperses the light via Internal Relflection. This means that when an LED is installed a bright circle will appear rather than evenly dispersed light. To overcome this it is highly recommended to use convex lens (a.k.a Inverted Cone) LEDs.

[inertia]

Also worth noting that the Narva condoms on 5W globes = those condoms melting or loosing their colour very quickly (read a few nights of driving!!!).

As far as getting the 4AGZE to work with the SX tachometer, I replaced the tacho electrics after consulting takai and a dnation(ages ago).

I couldn't be bothered accomodating the Supercharger light so I snipped the wires for that particular circuit from the tacho board. Then pulled the connectors for the tacho motor off the circuit board, then plugged the wires from the SX tacho motor into the GZE tacho board, placed the gze tacho board onto the back of the SX tacho and then screwed it back in place.

[nknoxy12]

i know this is a old thread but im scratching mu head.

With the top warning lights from this guide they are listed as:
8: Door ajar light
9: Handbrake warn light
10: Charge light
11: Check engine light
12: E (nothing)

well with the sx cluster i have it has:
8: door light
9: battery (charge light)
10: then a square that is kinda looks like it is sizzling
11: the a car with like lights shinning out the front or back
12: mine has the letter A printed instead of E

also then on the tacho i have the diminster light, engine warning light and a I symbol with brackets around it in the middle.

anyways can anyone explain the difference in icons and symbols.

im thinking different series dashs, or gti and sx had varying clusters.

sorry no photo as bad quality

but i bought this dash of a guy on the net and i have wired it up to my dash already but then removed it as i wondering why the handbrake light didnt exist cause the guide i followed was a bit muddled up with the wire colours. this is when i noticed the difference....

picture of the old dash and the sx cluster installed

note: only picture of a sx dash that has a full tank


Anyways i have fixed the wires to match what they should be but i have a wire left from the orignal dash that was an extra light for the doorlight so no issue there.

but with the sx cluster i have a red wire left over from the brown plug (power for the sizzling pan symbol) and 2 wires from the blue plug being brown and red. i think the red is power for the I symbol icon and the brown runs to the speedo but these wires have no obvious/correspondant connection to the old wires.

thanks in advance

[TERRA Operative]

On yours, the 'sizzling square' is the catalytic converter over temp warning light and the car with lights shining out the back is to tell you that a tail light is blown.
You may need an extra bits for them to work though, my Levin has a sensor in the exhaust just behind the cat converter that is wired through the floor near the handbrake.
For the tail light warning, there is a red module in the boot above the drivers side wheel arch behind the trim.

The handbrake light on my AE101 Levin looks like ( ! ) .