Help Installing New LCD Display Gauge (99 GSX Limited)

[Fish1]

Hello all,

I just got a used LCD Display Gauge to replace the broken one on my 1999 GSX Limited. I know next to nothing about this stuff so bare with the ignorance

Before taking off the hood and disconnected everything, I want to make sure this used gauge I just got is working and will work in my ski.

I didn't realize the gauge had three plugs to connect. I plugged the largest and easiest to access (just lift the hood) one into the ski, but I'm not getting any display from the gauge. Should I at least get power from plugging this large plug in, or do the other smaller plugs provide the power.

Plugging the smaller ones in is a much larger project that I'd like to avoid unless I know the gauge is working. is there an easy way to check and makes ure the gauge is working?

I've attached a pic of the gauge. I plugged the large plug in (circle purple in the pic), but not the two smaller ones (circled green in the pic).

 

[SabrToothSqrl]

what color wires are on that 4 pin? any of them purple?

 

[Fish1]

I'll have to check later tonight and report back. Thanks!

 

[SabrToothSqrl]

I only recall one plug going to the front of the GSX.

I think that 4 pin is your link to the start/top and trim up / down. maybe a speedo in there too...

I haven't looked at mine in a while, lol, what's the other gauge?

 

[Fish1]

The other gauge is just the Speedometer.

(The gauge in this pic is the old broken one I'm trying to replace)

 

[get_real]

Just added three gauges to my 96 XP. I had three connectors coming to the hood. The LCD gauge also had three connectors, a big 4-pin, and then two other 2-pin power connectors that went to the speedo and VTS. I noticed all the wire colors matched up the only difference being on one side the stripe colors where straight, and the other side the stipres were in spirals.

 

[Minnetonka4me]

Im pretty sure those are for the compass and temp sender.

It should be working. Check your connector on the MPEM for corroded pins.

 

[Fish1]

Im pretty sure those are for the compass and temp sender.

It should be working. Check your connector on the MPEM for corroded pins.

How would I check for corroded pins on the MPEM?

To show what little I know about this stuff, I don't even know what the MPEM is and where to look for it

 

[Fish1]

what color wires are on that 4 pin? any of them purple?

Yes, both of the smaller connectors have a purple wire (see pic):

 

[SabrToothSqrl]

The MPEM is the thing you are plugging the big connector into. Also check the fuses in there.

 

[Fish1]

I checked the MPEM and it looks pretty clean. Nothing appears corroded.

Should I be concerned that I'm not getting any display from this new gauge just from plugging in the large connector to the MPEM? Does this mean the new gauge is likely not working?

Thanks guys!

 

[Minnetonka4me]

Its entirely possible you got a bunk one, did you get it from ebay?

 

[SabrToothSqrl]

how are you testing it?

is the battery good? key off, press start?

 

[Fish1]

To test it, I simply unplugged the old gauge from the MPEM under the hood, and plugged in the new gauge. The old gauge shows power when plugged in, but the new one does not.

See post #5 in this thread for the old broken gauge. It does have power going to the display when plugged into the MPEM as it's showing some random scribble. When unplugged it shows nothing.

The only difference is that the older gauge is still plugged in via the other two smaller connectors.

When I plug the new one in, it's only connected to the MPEM under the hood. The other two smaller connectors are not plugged in.

Does the other two smaller connectors need to be plugged in to power the display gauge? Or does the power come from the large connector plugged into the MPEM under the hood?

Oh' the battery is fine. I have a battery trickle hooked up so it is fully charged. Once I put the lanyard in, I hear the two beeps right away.


Thanks all for the help!

 

[SabrToothSqrl]

the gauge shouldn't show anything until you hit the start button on the ski (key off). it should then turn 'on' for 33 seconds. I find it odd that just plugging it in does something.

 

[Fish1]

Aha! maybe that's the problem.

I'll try plugging the new display in and hitting the start button without the key in to see if the new display shows something.

The old broken gauge just constantly shows that garbled display (as seen in post #5 of this thread) as long as it's plugged in. Doesn't matter if the key is in or not, it just always shows that garbled display. I had to unplug it so not to run down the battery.

I'll report back. THANKS!

 

[SabrToothSqrl]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8DdeLUA0Fms

 

[Fish1]

No dice

I tried plugging the new gauge in and hitting the start button (without the key in), but I still don't see anything on the new gauge display. Any other ideas to try?

Do we know for sure that it should in fact power the gauge just having the large connectors plugged into the MPEM under the hood (and still having the other two smaller connectors loose and unplugged)?

 

[Minnetonka4me]

yes it should. you have to hit the start button 2-3 times to engage the power.

 

[68ragtop]

This might be allready taken care of, but keep in mind that the GSX info center gets its power from the other guage. Power is sent to the speedo(or tach on 96) then loops into the info center. That connection is inside the hood, not in the hull. Sounds like maybe that connection wasn't made? all the other inputs to the info center are under the hood in the hull.

EDIT: I am making a bit of an assumption here, as I have not worked on a 99 GSX, but I would think the INFO centers are the same as the 96-97.

 

[68ragtop]

yes it should. you have to hit the start button 2-3 times to engage the power.

With your DDS key off the post, you should still be able to do this & you could verify power from the MPEM by seeing if your VTS functions within the 30 seconds after hitting the start/stop button.

If you have good ears, sometimes you can hear the relay click in the MPEM when it turns on & off.

 

[SabrToothSqrl]

yes it should. you have to hit the start button 2-3 times to engage the power.

Just once, unless your button is worn out.

"Engage the power"! "Make it so Number 1".

 

[68ragtop]

"Engage the power"! "Make it so Number 1".

 

[SabrToothSqrl]

ALL star-Trek episodes are FREE on hulu until the 31st.

TOS
TNG
DS9
Voyager

 

[Minnetonka4me]

If you need a working one let me know...