[RenegadeMasta]

I have purchased a mk8 ford fiesta instrument cluster. i would like to retrofit this into a non - canbus vehicle. - pre 95
Meaning the cluster will be purely standalone - no body control module - nothing.

There is a guy here who had the cluster working virtually for simhub:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nJCgeUn ... WL&index=1

I am new to this to i may get a lot of things wrong. I have a lot to learn.

considering the speeduino already has the required sensors from the engine.
I was wondering is i can use the RX - TX pins from the arduino - connect them to something like a MCP2515.
have that use the data for the coolant - rpm- oil pressure sensors etc and send that data directly to the dash or an arduino or esp32 and implement hazards/ and other warning lights.

or better yet is there a way i can convert the analogue sensors to be used in a canbus manner for the cluster.

Thank you!

[dazq]

I have purchased a mk8 ford fiesta instrument cluster. i would like to retrofit this into a non - canbus vehicle. - pre 95
Meaning the cluster will be purely standalone - no body control module - nothing.

There is a guy here who had the cluster working virtually for simhub:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nJCgeUn ... WL&index=1

I am new to this to i may get a lot of things wrong. I have a lot to learn.

considering the speeduino already has the required sensors from the engine.
I was wondering is i can use the RX - TX pins from the arduino - connect them to something like a MCP2515.
have that use the data for the coolant - rpm- oil pressure sensors etc and send that data directly to the dash or an arduino or esp32 and implement hazards/ and other warning lights.

or better yet is there a way i can convert the analogue sensors to be used in a canbus manner for the cluster.

Thank you!

Hi
I assume you have a mega 2560 based speedy?
If so you will need a coprocessor to convert the serial3 (aka secondary serial) data output into a canbus stream for the dash. You CANNOT use a mcp2515 on the mega.

If you have a teensy or stm32 based speedy then you can connect the canbus port to the dash (via a suitable transceiver if required)
You can then use either aux broadcasting or add a specific data set to the firmware to transmit what the dash needs. There are already some preset data sets such as BMW and haltec to give you an idea of what is possible for those.

[RenegadeMasta]

Hi. Thank you for your reply. i'm currently using a mega2560 based speeduino.
The plan was to use the serial3 as you mentioned.
i have these ordered.. would this be suitable for the job? given there are tx and rx inputs.
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005 ... 1802kADg4U

if not what would you recommend? Thank you.

[dazq]

The mega2560 doesn't have canbus, the serial3 port is just that serial, see the wiki for details on the protocol format and the data available.
As I mentioned you need a coprocessor to convert the serial3 data Into the can stream you need.

[dazq]

You can feed additional analog and digital inputs into speedy , see the wiki about aux io .
The aux input data is also available on the serial3 stream.

[RenegadeMasta]

Hi everyone. I plan to retrofit a 17-2022 mk8 Ford fiesta speedometer / instrument cluster . This cluster uses canbus for information and i plan on fitting this into a non canbus vehicle
- 95 Mk5 ford escort.

i have seen a video of someone using this cluster with simhub.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nJCgeUngaqo

Some information about the vehicle - I am mid process of fitting a speeduino 0.4.3d engine management system that utilises the mega2560 with my own standalone harness.
I also have full licence to tuner studio.
i believe i might be able to signal information out via canbus from the speeduino?
https://wiki.speeduino.com/en/Canbus_Support2

Here is the information i need for the cluster via can bus -
- Oil pressure switch (using a 10Bar oil pressure sensor with built in switch)
( https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005006 ... 1802D2lP3y )
- Coolant temperature sensor (FORD: 1626262)
- brake fluid switch
- parking brake switch
- speedometer (cable driven - plan to convert to digital signal)
- RPM (output signal available from speeduino)
- both signal flashers and hazard switch..
- Dipped and main beam

Currently ordered -
5x Arduino NANO
5x Nano Sensor Shield Expansion Boards
5x Arduino UNO
5x MCP2515 CAN Bus Module
5x SN65HVD230 CAN bus transceiver

Given the speeduino already uses the information from the engine related sensors i was wondering if it would be possible to take the information and send it to the cluster. whilst also using another arduino with canbus out for the flashers, main beam etc?

or make a seperate sensor receiver board to send information via can bus?
To my understanding the temp sensors etc cannot be connected directly to the arduino.
So i'm assuming i will need to make a circuit such as this - https://forum.arduino.cc/t/gm-coolant-s ... e/410131/7

Please note im new to arduino and anything to do with coding. I'm not even sure where to get started. so any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

[RenegadeMasta]

The mega2560 doesn't have canbus, the serial3 port is just that serial, see the wiki for details on the protocol format and the data available.
As I mentioned you need a coprocessor to convert the serial3 data Into the can stream you need.

Im aware of this, im asking if a SN65HVD230 CAN bus transceiver would be a suitable solution.

[RenegadeMasta]

You can feed additional analog and digital inputs into speedy , see the wiki about aux io .
The aux input data is also available on the serial3 stream.

I have all the additional sensors setup for the speeduino, minus items unrelated to the engine ie hazards etc.

what i'm ideally trying to do is get a functional cluster / system working and tested on the bench before transferring it into the car.
so my current thoughts are speeduino broadcasting analogue sensor information -> serial 3 -> SN65HVD230 CAN bus transceiver -> another arduino reads this whilst having additional inputs from flashers etc. -> information is translated and output through mcp2515 -> mk8 cluster.

Or another option is there a possibility to create and add my own additional dash broadcast via tunerstudio as there is a VAG and e46 variant available. or possibly broadcast e46 and translate via another arduino?

Screenshot 2025-03-04 114926.png (28.45 KiB) Viewed 9013 times

[dazq]

You can feed additional analog and digital inputs into speedy , see the wiki about aux io .
The aux input data is also available on the serial3 stream.

I have all the additional sensors setup for the speeduino, minus items unrelated to the engine ie hazards etc.

what i'm ideally trying to do is get a functional cluster / system working and tested on the bench before transferring it into the car.
so my current thoughts are speeduino broadcasting analogue sensor information -> serial 3 -> SN65HVD230 CAN bus transceiver -> another arduino reads this whilst having additional inputs from flashers etc. -> information is translated and output through mcp2515 -> mk8 cluster.

Or another option is there a possibility to create and add my own additional dash broadcast via tunerstudio as there is a VAG and e46 variant available. or possibly broadcast e46 and translate via another arduino?
Screenshot 2025-03-04 114926.png

Ok,
Best how to do this.
Speedy serial3 (only speedy engine data)
-
To a coprocessor (esp or teensy etc) via serial port(no need for any transceivers etc)

Additional analog and digital readings into the coprocessor.
-
From coprocessor via canbus to the mk8 instrument cluster.
Obviously depending on what MCU you use as a copro will depend on if you need a canbus interface such as mcp2515 and transceiver or just the transceiver .

There is no point adding to the broadcast option unless you are going to use a teensy or stm32 as your speedy MCU as it only works for speedy MCU with native canbus.

Take a look at palepps work . He did a similar setup but to realddash instead of a OEM clock set. That code would be a good starting point for you.
A copy is on my GitHub account (autohome2) along with some other dash and secondary serial works.

[RenegadeMasta]

Just found it. Thank you for saving it to your github. its like a goldmine. its a huge leap into figuring out what direction to go with this. Apologies if my questions come out messy, This quite a learning curve on my part!

i have a few esp32 wrooms laying around and i will get some Optocoupler's ordered.

Another question, Rather than sending what i assume is the output to a bluetooth module or uart - usb module. can i replace this with the MCP -> cluster?

Cheers.