Attaching Rev Burners to the C5 1997-2004 Corvette Dash with Onboard Computer.

[ARG]

Hello!
I recently started building a racing simulation project using SymProjects components.  I really enjoy these boards.  I also want to say I am really impressed with how helpful and responsive Cristiano is.  I had some questions about my Rev Burners and he responded very quickly with really meaningful advice.  He is fantastic!
I have collected together all of the interior parts of a 2004 C5 Corvette including doors and all trim etc.  The car will have both the driver and passenger sides.  My brother and I are assembling all of these parts to make a complete 2004 Corvette cockpit for racing games.  We have a prototype completed that we use for the games now. I modified my Logitech G-25 with an aftermarket steering wheel using an adapter I made from aluminum stock, and I re-made larger paddles from aluminum sheet.  I then adapted the G-25 shifter to use the corvette shift lever.  I use a foam ball and some pieces of mouse pad to give it a better feel.  So far this has worked reasonably well, but I am still experimenting.  The handbrake is functional, both in the games and on the dash indicators.  I am wiring up the electronic door controls and dash HUD controls to work as a controller in the games, essentially operating the G-25 buttons and D pad and also operating a Logitech xbox style controller I have opened up and rewired. I am integrating a pro-shift and GI- Max as well.  The simulated car has several built in sub bass tactile speakers and 5.1 surround sound both for the game sound effects, and from the "car stereo" playing music.    We use a 101" screen with a Mitsubishi video projector for the display.  
I have connected two rev burners to the dash instrument cluster and have the speedometer and tachometer working.  I use an inexpensive Pyramid 12V, 10 amp regulated power supply from amazon.com (http://www.amazon.com/Pyramid-13-8-Volt-Cigarette-Lighter-Adapter/dp/B0002BA57A/ref=pd_cp_e_1) to power the rev burners and dash as indicated on the SymProjects page (http://www.symprojects.com/faq/power-supplies/).  I have been able to “fool” the oil gauge and coolant warning into acting as if there was a signal.  The oil gauge does not read anything interactive, but it also does not sit at zero.  The corvette dash has an on-board computer and is a little more complex than simply wiring up the rev burners directly to the gauge motors.  I am not expert in computers or automobile electronics, and just figure things out by trial and error. I have figured out how to get everything working, so I figured I will post what I have learned to help out anyone else working with a C-5 (1997-2004) Corvette dash.  I was able to get a good C-5 Dash under 50 USD on Ebay.  I have seen them for 399.00 so I found waiting for one to come up for auction to be very worthwhile.  With our prototype simulator working, we are going to start assembling the full Corvette interior.  I will post descriptions and pictures of my progress, and the things I learn.  I would be glad to help out anyone working with a Corvette dash. I will post pictures, the full pin configurations and wiring diagrams soon.  I hope they are helpful!
More to come soon,
Andrew


Instructions for Attaching Rev Burners to the C5 1997-2004 Corvette Dash with Onboard Computer.
1) On the back side of the dash there is a recessed 34 pin male connector.  It is very hard to work with these pins in the small recessed area.  Ideally, the Dash would come with the female connector and wiring harness.  If you happen to have the wiring harness, you simply connect the components directly to these wires.  Mine did not come with the wiring harness.  Fortunately, it is possible and pretty straight forward to open the back of the dash and wire the Rev Burner connections directly onto the back of the pin connectors.  These are the most important pin connectors: Pin A7 is the speedometer signal input, pin A8 is the low coolant signal, pin A13 is the ignition voltage, pin A14 is the positive voltage terminal from the power supply, pin A15 is the left turn signal input, pin A16 is the right turn signal input, pin A17 is the engine speed (tachometer) input, pin B13 is a ground and pin 15 is a ground.
2) It is necessary to put a jumper (or 12 V signal directly) to both pins A14 and A13.  A-14 is the positive terminal from the power supply.  A-13 indicates to the computer that the ignition is on.  The computer must have this ignition signal before it will turn on.  The computer must be on and functioning so that the pulse from the Rev Burners can be interpreted and sent correctly to the speedometer and tachometer motors.  The Corvette has a security feature that prevents operation of the car if the wrong key is inserted or an attempt to hotwire the car is made.  Since we are basically “hotwiring” the dash, this featured has to be worked around.  By installing the jumper, the computer is “fooled” into thinking the correct key has been inserted into the ignition switch.  Without this, the computer will display a “SECURITY” error and the computer is prevented from performing any other operation. If there is any short in the dash electronics, this security feature is also triggered.  If the security feature happens to get set off, it can be reset by turning off the power supply.  The voltage gauge on the instrument cluster will read the correct voltage when everything is wired correctly.  When the dash is powered on, a series of warnings from the computer will become active, as will a series of warning beeping sounds.
3) Once the ignition is "on", the errors displayed by the computer can be cleared using the controls on the right side of the cluster bezel.  Simply press the “reset” button for each error displayed.  The sounds will stop as well.  Because the dash does not have input from the car’s other computers, there are a fair number of errors but all but one (reduced engine power) can be completely cleared.  â€œReduced engine power” will temporarily be cleared, but will return since there is no signal to indicate the engine is fully operational.  I find this a minor problem, since there is no associated warning sound.  The errors can be cleared from the computer’s memory by holding the “options” button down and simultaneously pressing the “fuel” button 4 times in 10 sec.
4) Pin A-11 is NOT 12V.  It is a 5 volt serial signal sent from a second computer.  If 12 V is wired to this pin it will probably burn out the computer. I found this on corvetteforums.com (a very helpful resource The pin configurations and wiring diagrams are posted there as well.)
 Interestingly, in order to control the temperature, fuel, coolant, etc the correct 5 V serial signal would have to be sent to pin A11.  I have had no luck finding out what the signal has to be.  In theory, if this information was known, a device much like a Rev Burner could be made to send the computer the information for these instruments to function.  In this case, all of the dash instruments including the navigation system and windshield HUD would be functional.  In theory…
5) The two grounds (B13 and B15) must be wired together.
6) For the onboard computer to send signals to the instrument cluster (speedometer and tachometer,) the dash must have the integrated power supply located on the back of the dash working and fully connected, and the display controls on the right hand side of the bezel must be connected as well.
7) When the Rev Burner for the Speedometer is working, so is the odometer, so you can keep track of the virtual miles driven.
I wired a 12V signal to Pin B8 (low coolant signal) and this cleared the “low coolant” warning on the computer display.  Seemingly, the computer is reading normal coolant levels.
From what I have read, the C-6 models (2005 to present) work very similarly, if not identically.
I will post more pictures with labels etc soon that will make the above much more understandable.  
ARG

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First 4 photos

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C5 Instrument Panel Connector End Views
Instrument Panel Cluster (IPC)

http://corvetteforum.shelor.net/Diagrams/IPC/2001_Instrument_Panel_Connector_End_Views/C5_IPC_Pinout.html#tab1-653594
 
Connector Part Information   â€¢   12065803
•   34-Way F Micro-Pack 100 Series (BLK)
Pin   Wire Color   Circuit No.   Function   Purpose   Description   SignalType
A1   --   --   Not Used         

A2   LT GRN   11   Headlamp High Beam Supply Voltage    Indicates to IPC the High Beam status    12V = High Beam On
0V = High Beam Off    In

A3   WHT   103   Headlamp Switch Headlamps On Signal    Indicates to IPC the Headlight status   12V = Headlight On
0V = Headlight Off    In

A4   BLK/WHT   99   Windshield Washer Fluid Level Signal    Indicates to IPC the Washer Level status (must stay active for 1 minute)    12V = Washer Level Low
0V = Washer Level Normal   In

A5   --   --   Not Used         

A6   TAN/WHT   33   Brake Warning Indicator Control    Indicates to IPC the Brake(!) light status   12V = Brake(!) light Off

0V = Brake(!) light On   In

A7   DK GRN/WHT   817   VSS Signal   Indicates to IPC the Vehicle speed
(4000 pulses per mile)   Held 12V and pulsed to 0V by PCM indicating Vehicle speed    In

A8   YEL/BLK   68   Low Coolant Level Indicator Control   Indicates to IPC the Coolant Level status   0V = Coolant Level Low
12V = Coolant Level Normal    In

A9   --   --   Not Used         

A10   DK GRN/WHT   357   Oil Temperature Sensor Signal   Indicates to IPC engine Oil Temperature    Has thermistor between this pin and B8    Analog

A11   GRY   1036   IPC Class 2 Serial Data    Communicates with all other computer modules in the car    7.5V (approx) = Data buss Active
0V = Data buss Idle    Digital
In/Out

A12   --   --   Not Used         

A13   PNK   139   Ignition 1 Voltage    Switched power
Footwell fuse 19 IPC (10A)    12V = Ign Start and Run
0V = Ign Off    In
A14   ORN   1640   Battery Positive Voltage    Full time unswitched power
Footwell fuse 25 BCM1& IPC (10A)    12V = Always
0V = Blown fuse or wiring problem    12V

A15   LT BLU   14   Turn Signal Lamp Feed-LF   Indicates to IPC the Left turn signal status    12V = Left turn signal On
0V = Left turn signal Off    In

A16   DK BLU   15   Turn Signal Lamp Feed-RF   Indicates to IPC the Right turn signal status    12V = Right turn signal On
0V = Right turn signal Off    In

A17   WHT   121   Engine Speed Signal    Indicates to IPC the Engine speed    Held 12V and pulsed to 0V by PCM indicating Engine RPM    In
B1   --   --   Not Used         

B2   BLK/WHT   238   Driver Seat Belt Switch Signal    Indicates to IPC the Seat Belt light status   12V = Seat Belt light Off
0V = Seat Belt light On   In

B3   --   --   Not Used         

B4   PPL   333   Brake Warning Indicator Supply Voltage [1]    Internally tied to pin A6 (see A6)   Internally tied to pin A6 (see A6)   In

B5   WHT   717   Illuminated Display Signal    Controls backlight intensity for HUD, DIC, and Fog/Trunk switches    PWM ground varied by Dimmer control.
100% (12V) = Dim, 0% (0V) = Bright    Out

B6   GRY/BLK   1458   Instrument Panel Lamp Supply Voltage - 4    Indicates to IPC the Hazard switch status   12V = Hazard switch On
0V = Hazard switch On   In

B7   --   --   Not Used         

B8   BLK   470   Oil Temperature Sensor Signal Low Reference    Indicates to IPC engine Oil Temperature   Has thermistor between this pin and A10
(Internally connected to GND)    Gnd

B9   --   --   Not Used         

B10   --   --   Not Used         

B11   WHT   375   Skip Shift Indicator Control    Indicates to IPC the 1 to 4 Shift light status
(PCM can be programmed as shift light control)   12V = 1 to 4 Shift light Off
0V = 1 to 4 Shift light On
Controlled by PCM   In

B12   --   --   Not Used         

B13   BLK/WHT   851   Ground   Ground   Ground G104
Splice pack SP208    Gnd

B14   --   --   Not Used         

B15   BLK   150   Ground   Ground   Ground G201
Splice pack SP201    Gnd

B16   BRN/WHT   419   MIL Control    Indicates to IPC the Check Engine light status    12V = Check Engine light Off
0V = Check Engine light On
Controlled by PCM    In

B17   BRN   9   Park Lamp Supply Voltage   Indicates to IPC the park light status    12V = Headlight switch Park or Head
0V = Headlight switch Off    In

[simcarman24]

Can you describe more about the wiring in detail, i have limited knowledge on wiring so all the help you can give me would be appreciated, would you be willing to make a diagram of how you have this wired i would appreciate it a lot. I am truly impressed by what you have accomplished and cant wait to have my own version up and running.

[bigmarky]

Hoping a chance someone sees this, as i'm replicating what the poster did

i don't have the female wiring harness either, but i just touched the wires to the pins

the gauges are doing nothing to turn on?
just for a baseline i hooked up the ignition/battery 12v and the 2 grounds

nothing is turning on, i thought it would make a beep?