I would like to install a digital gear indicator on my Free (I have one in my motorcycle and it's simply great!).
I am sure that most of you think it is a bad idea...but this is the problem:
I need to connect 2 wire on this device, one for the speed and the other one for the RPM; where I can find this signal? Normally I use the ones on the instrumental panel, but these are normal signal or CAN BUS? How can I find the right wires? (I have also the service manual but nothig related to that wire!).
I just need to pick up these 2 electronic signal as standard electronic speed and RPM indicator.
Waiting for some help.

Thanks
(I hope my english is good enough!)

Your English is great but your question looks tricky - You should be patient and await Alex Pescaru's response.

Last edited by mcphersonstrut on 16th Sep 2011 7:58 pm. Edited 2 times in total

alex_pescaru

or Private message him your question, he is out unofficial technical expert  Former Mod/Member, with the most post & Chicken George Arch nemesis

Great shame this isn't just automatically shown next to the mileage reading. It is in the Disco 3, which shares the same LCD - so there's plenty of room and LR obviously have the technology! It's such a simple thing, but really is very useful.

Thanks all!
I sent a pm to Alex as you suggest.
Waiting for further help.

Sergio

Unfortunatelly, you won't find the information about RPM and speed as on the old cars.
Still, that information is broadcasted over the CAN-BUS continuously.
With any device that can read CAN-BUS signals through OBD-II port, you will be able to read that information.
You should read/enter mode 0x01 (Show current data) and read the following parameter IDs:
- PID 0x0C: Engine RPM, 2 bytes returned (Note that the RPM is multiplied by 4, meaning 2000 RPM will read as 8000 RPM)
- PID 0x0D: Vehicle Speed, 1 byte returned.

Or you can use any commercial reader like the one here http://www.obdkey.com
You can display a lot of parameters, even on your phone, through bluetooth.

mcphersonstrut wrote:

...........You should be patient and await Alex Pescaru's response.

Alex

I am puzzled by this. My auto displays Park, Neutral etc in the small screen to the right of the steering wheel, and in Command shift the gear selected. However the display is too small and out of the way to be of much practical use! Does the OP have a manual box which does not display gear selection?? (suspect I have just answered my question DOH!) JT Upgraded to an ex demo, 7 mth old, Rimini Red/Ebony Napoli Auto HSE on 28th Jan 2011, added roof rails, mudflaps and side strips.
Gone - A great 57 Plate, Auto SE, Bought Feb 2009, Roof Rails and Mudflaps added on purchase. Blue colour, anything but drug dealer black.....

julytourist wrote:

Does the OP have a manual box which does not display gear selection?? (suspect I have just answered my question DOH!) JT

, You probably know this but if not then hover your cursor over any members Freely icon in their post and providing the info has been filled in, it will give the car details.

Thanks a lot Alex!

So I understand that these information are broadcasted over the CAN-BUS but also the instrument doesn't have a kind of converter to read the info as an electronic RPM and SPEED device (I mean on the back of the instrumental panel)?

Question number 2
Is there any problem to keep continuously connected a ODBC device to read some info? Do you need to use only the ODBC port to intercept the ODBC signal or you can connect simply on some "ODBC wire" (for example on the back of the radio) ?

Thank and sorry for all these questions!

Sergio

No and no.
I mean,
No, all the informations about the speed and RPM are decoded inside the instruments and displayed locally on the dial gauges,
and
No, there is no problem on keeping a device connected permanently on the bus, as long as it will be implemented to conform with the bus specifications and protocol. Your device will behave like any other node on the network.
As for the place of the device can be anywhere on the bus.
Just be carefull that there are two CAN buses on the car. The one for powertrain (high speed, 500kbps) and the one for convenience (low speed, 125kbps). To be sure to find both infos, you'll have to connect to the high-speed one, although the informations can also be founded on the low-speed one. But the RPM and speed are powertrain informations.

Thank you again Alex.

Do you thing that this CAN Bus Interface can fix my problem ?

http://www.ncs-systems.com/prod/637

(there are Speed Signal and RPM Signal , both analog)

If you look for a pulse output for RPM and road speed signals, then, according with their specifications, yes, it will work on your FL2.
But I don't know where you want to feed those pulse signals and which will be your hardware and therefore, ultimatelly, the decision is yours.
I can't make assumptions on other people's money and/or future or existing hardware...
Hope this helps...

This is the one i use in my motorcycle and it works very well!
http://www.gpcrono.com/prodotti.aspx?id=1

So I think it should work also in my Freelander with that device.

Thanks Alex