Ok, to remind you, i've got a 1995 Volvo 850 GLT 2.4L non-turbo automatic 5 cylinder w/ the Yazaki instrument cluster.

A couple years ago I tried to do this trip computer swap... I only had the clock & temp display and I looked to upgrade.

After getting my 1st one and tearing apart the dash to get in there... I realized I had the Yazaki cluster and not the VDO. So the one I got, had the gray pigtail connector on it (for the VDO) and wouldn't work. I searched and search and finally found what I thought I needed.

Part # 9148574 (confirmed with the dealer) was the one I needed. I tore in there again, popped it in with the info. switch, but ONLY the clock works. I tried another switch (the one from the VDO display that I got).... but neither worked.

Recently, while at the junkyard for something else, I found another trip computer with the same connection on the back (the large green socket instead of the gray pigtail). This one is part # 9442047. I went back into the dash and swapped it out again. And again, ONLY the clock works.

On both the 9148574 and the 9442047, when you start the car, they light up and you can see all the display options, then it goes away and i'm left with just the clock.

So...

I'm thinking either both of these are bad displays... or i've got a bad info switch... or it's not plug and play and no matter what I do I need something else to be able to send that info. to the display.

I've called a few "Volvo specialty" shops here in Denver and I get mixed responses. Some say all the 850's were "trip computer ready" and simply upgrading the display will do it... while others say it's not possible at all.

I'm stuck here... but i'd REALLY love to get the display working.

Thoughts?

Thanks for the help.

 

I'm just replying so I can stay abreast of this question - I want to do the same thing!

 

I e-mailed a tech that sells a lot of these trip computers on ebay and says "IT'S PLUG AND PLAY!"

His response....

hi there, after further research i came to conclusion that you need to upgrade your yakazi cluster to vdo, the 95 850 glt came with vdo, yours is a base so you got cheaper cluster or someone previously swapped it, my tech at shop replaced his yakazi with vdo direct swap he stated and the trip computer is working flawlessly, vdo cluster must be from 95 850 to work though, there is only a certain one which I currently have. I have a spare vdo cluster from a 95 850, $78 shipped, but you will have to swap your odometer gear into it, which is very easy to do many writeups, its the little plastic gear that breaks.
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Odd... then why are there trip computers available for the Yazaki cluster? I have found two of them!

And... if I got a new VDO cluster... would I be able to transfer my oddometer to it and still keep track of the miles I have on the car?

 

Go for it, I did upgrade for a friend with perfect results. just rolled the odometer on vdo cluster to correct mileage on the car and by double checking the mileage through ecu port as well. Yakazi clusters are junk and he was happy to get rid of it.

 

So, if I put in the VDO cluster and the trip computer along with it... you think the trip computer will work?

 

$130 shipped for a VDO cluster from a '95... with the trip computer and info. switch included (though I have to do the odometer repair on the VDO cluster).

Good deal?

 

Ok, the guy that sold me the wheels has an extra VDO cluster from a '95 that he's selling me for $30. And he's going to look for a trip computer for me. I'm going to give this a shot...

 

I think you should do the entire cluster. The milage doesn't matter on the car anymore because it is over 10 years old, most states omit/exempt milage after 10 years.

 

pm sent with further info

 

Hellelujah!

I'm not normally a praying man, but Superman really came through for me on this one.

FINALLY SOLVED THE TRIP COMPUTER PROBLEM!!

SOLUTION:: YAZAKI IS JUNK, GET A VDO CLUSTER, FOR YOUR YEAR!

Wow... no sweat. Had to repair and roll the odometer forward to match my mileage (I have goals) and found a dremmel to be great for this (but not too fast, or you'll break an internal gear and you'll be looking for another VDO odometer at the junkyard like I was)... but after that, just popped it into the dash. I'm so good at it now, I did it after the sun went down and used a flashlight. Scary how fast I can take the dashpad off now.

Plugged in the '95 VDO cluster (replacing my Yazaki cluster)... with the trip computer and the switch... and presto! It worked! I have the full trip computer functions now! Step-up from just the clock!

Hell yes! Trip Computer, Wheels, Sidemarkers... she's coming together.

(Also did a cool ipod hookup routed through the ashtray... with some 'tetris-play' an iPod can fit perfectly in the ashtray and still be closed.)