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Re: when did the instrument cluster (turbo) change? Posted by Larry West [Email]  (#1140)  [Profile/Gallery]
(more from Larry West) on Wed, 3 Feb 2010 12:47:16
In Reply to: when did the instrument cluster (turbo) change?, ZAAB  [Profile/Gallery]
, Wed, 3 Feb 2010 11:25:24
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There were a few changes over the years.
This applies to the US Market...Other markets may differ. Or not.
1979 900s got a 120+ MPH speedo, calibrated on the "0" (e.g. 10,20,30...).
1980-1983 had a "see-no-evil" 85 MPH speedo.
1984- got a 125 or even up to 135 MPH speedo, calibrated on the "5" (e.g. 15, 25, 35...).
The logo on the boost gauge changed from TURB* (the 99 turbo badge) to turbo about 1981.
The whole typeface and design of the instruments changed in 1992 to conform with the 9000 CS instrument styling
Many pre 1981 speedos cannot provide a speed output for the Saab cruise control.
81-87 or 88 the cruise tap was a pair of metal pins sticking out of a circuit board stuck on the back of the speedo. About 88 or 89 that changed to a molded connector on the back of the speedo.
Speedo cable connection also changed about the same time. Early connection was a metal sleeve, and a metal spring on the back of the speedo. Later connection was made of white plastic.
The cruise and speedo connections all should have changed to the later style if the car has LH 2.4, which requires the late speed sensor.
Many, of not all 8V installations should have a second "tap" off the speedo. This is for a thinner speedo cable to run to the EXH reminder light device (basically the guts of an odometer, and a switch that closed at 30,000 miles, with a reset button). Not sure when they dropped the mileage-controlled EXH light.
I think there was also a slight change in the orange color used on the dial "hands" somewhere in there.
All this doesn't even begin to address the plethora of changes to the warning lights over the years. With ABS, SRS, etc. all coming on line, lights got moved, deleted, re-introduced, etc, so effectively nothing is the same.
Another thing to watch for: CIS & LH 2.2have an external circuit for the "shift up" light that applies +12v from the fuse box relay to the cluster, and the lamp is grounded through the cluster. The LH 2.4 has an internal circuit which grounds the bulb, and +12v is supplied by the cluster. The current flows in opposite directions. Saab actually produced a "relay" that fixes this, because while the changed the cluster, they were putting out LH 2.2 turbos for a while yet.
And, the "Check Engine" light is only on clusters from about when the LH was introduced.
Individual gauges (Tach/clock, Speedo, and the fuel/temp/turbo) can often be swapped without problems, almost regardless of year (except for the speedos as noted above). But the connections to the entire cluster changed, and changed often, so you can't just drop, say, a 1993 cluster into a 1980...
For your situation, you might get away with an 88 speedo (if the cruise and speedo cable connections match up), though it won't look anything like the other two instruments from the driver's perspective.
_______________________________________ Current: 2002 9-5 Aero Kombi Cosmic Blue 2000 9-5 SE sedan, Imola Red 1990 900S Rose Quartz, Auto Past: 1999 9-5 LPT Combi 1999 9-5 LPT sedan 2002 9-5 Arc 1990 900 5-speed 1986 900 turbo Convertible 1991 9000 turbo 1980 99 GLi 1986 900 turbo 1986 900 S 1991 900 turbo 1984 900 turbo 1976 99 GL
, Wed, 3 Feb 2010 11:25:24
, Wed, 3 Feb 2010 20:56:24, Wed, 3 Feb 2010 19:05:44, Wed, 3 Feb 2010 12:47:16 <-- Viewing This Message, Thu, 4 Feb 2010 08:46:47
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