Ibiza Speedometer in Toledo: Compatibility & Installation

Hi,

I wanted to do some research to see if it's possible to install a speedometer from a Seat Ibiza into a Toledo.
The problem is this: My Seat is from 1998, but it's still the older model, so it has a 1.0L engine. The speedometer from the Ibiza was produced from 1995 to 1998 (I think). I have the same MFA (Multi-Function Display) as the Ibiza, but the Ibiza has a digital odometer, while I have a classic analog one. It's surprising that the Seat Ibiza had a digital speedometer from 1995, while a car from a higher class had an analog odometer. The speedometer fits perfectly, but I don't know what the issue is with the odometer itself. On eBay, when a speedometer, for example, from a Golf 3 is sold, it often says 'fits Golf 3, Ibiza, Toledo.' But the Toledo doesn't have a digital odometer, which is the difference.

I don't like the design of the speedometer from the Toledo.
I'm now wondering if it's still possible to install a speedometer from an Ibiza or a Golf somehow.

I don't want to say anything wrong... I don't think it will fit, because the Ibiza is based on the Polo (6N), and the Toledo was still assembled from various parts from different brands for that model year. Or is that already the current Toledo? That would surprise me. What you probably need are dashboards from a 35i... but I can't guarantee anything.

"The Ibiza from 1995 onwards did indeed have the Golf 3 instrument cluster. However, the Toledo was more or less a cobbled-together car. The older Toledo was based on the Jetta 2/Golf 2. While there were supposedly updated components from 1995 onwards, it certainly wasn't a comprehensive overhaul. Therefore, the Toledo definitely had a speedometer cable for the analog gauges, etc..."
I don't think it's possible to change this without a significant amount of effort.

@konjoy

If it's an analog kilometer counter, the speedometer most likely still has a shaft. If you then want to install a digital speedometer, you'll need a Hall sensor that is mounted in the transmission instead of the shaft. Then, the wiring harness will probably need to be adjusted, and the whole thing should work (at least electronically; I don't know what it will look like mechanically). Could you please post a picture of what the Toledo's speedometer looks like?

@x world one

The difference between a digital speedometer and an analog speedometer isn't as significant as often claimed. There aren't many differences between speedometers in gasoline and diesel cars either (although it always depends on the specific car; I'm referring to the Passat 35i in this case). The speedometers mainly have different faces (excluding the VR6 speedometer).

Best regards, WarLord.

Okay, I think the difference between a gasoline and a diesel tachometer isn't just in the face. I believe the pulse rate for the tachometer is also different. Otherwise, I could just buy a gasoline tachometer with an MFA (multi-function display), which are readily available, and install it. But the tachometer wouldn't work correctly. I wouldn't have a problem with a tachometer that goes up to 7,000 RPM. Additionally, it might also require a frequency divider. It all depends on how and where the current tachometer receives its RPM signal.

Okay, in my opinion, for example, the diesel speedometer in a Golf IV is exactly the same as the one in a Golf IV gasoline model. The only differences are the film used and the adjustments needed to the electronics on the circuit board. I don't know how it works in the Golf III.


I thought about the Toledo. I didn't realize it was based on the Golf 2... I really thought it was based on an older Passat. You always learn something new! But that makes sense.

matthiasTDI96 wrote:

So, in my opinion, the diesel speedometer, for example, in the Golf IV is exactly the same as the one in the Golf IV gasoline version. The film is different, and the control or, rather, the electronics on the circuit board need to be adjusted. I don't know how it looks in the Golf III.

Okay, the electronics are different, even in the 3-series estate where everything is electric. (There were some early 3-series models with analog functions.)
However, you can also purchase a suitable TDI instrument cluster from VW to replace the one with the conductor plate.
So, it's definitely not as simple as just swapping a gasoline engine's speedometer into a TDI. This is especially problematic with the tachometer, and even changing the scale won't fix it. If anything needs to be done, the entire electrical system of the instrument cluster needs to be replaced, which seems like a ridiculous amount of work.

So, the difference between a gasoline and a diesel tachometer, I think, isn't just in the dial. I think the pulse rate is also different. Otherwise, I could just buy a gasoline tachometer with an MFA (which are readily available) and install it. The rev counter wouldn't work. I wouldn't have a problem with the rev counter going up to 7000 RPM. Additionally, it might also need a frequency divider. It depends on how and where the current tachometer gets its rev counter signal.

Install a gasoline tachometer. I'm sure the rev counter works. The RPM signal is provided by the engine control unit (ECU) and is the same for gasoline and diesel engines (except for the VR6, which displays 33% too low for a 4-cylinder engine). The question I always had was, I've asked about this many times, and everyone always claimed it wouldn't work (because of different RPM signals, supposedly coming from the alternator in a diesel and from the ignition system in a gasoline engine). But it's only the different scales. I would have installed a gasoline tachometer myself if I hadn't been able to get the instrument cluster from a Passat 35i with MFA. Here's a link to it (it's a VR6 tachometer with different scales): http://www.tdiclub.com/articles/MFA-Conversion/.

Best regards, WarLord.

The TDi receives its signal from a different source than the alternator (Lima); the TD receives its signal from there. That's why, for example, a frequency generator needs to be installed in a TD so that a TDi speedometer can function correctly. Otherwise, the TD's tachometer will display incorrect values. Simply because the gasoline engine has a much wider speed range, the display cannot be driven in the same way!
That seems illogical to me. Then the TDI engine control unit must provide the same information to the tachometer at 4000 RPM as a gasoline engine control unit would at 6000 RPM, etc.

I know that. The fully electronic speedometers receive the pulse signals from the MSG. But I already mentioned that. So, it's up to you. You can always find a dashboard with MFA (Multi-Function Display) for sale on eBay.

Best regards, WarLord.

The Toledo 1L was based on the Jetta platform until 1994. From 1995 onwards, it used the Golf 3 platform.
No matter what I buy, whether it's suspension parts or wheel bearings, everything is labeled 'Golf3'. However, the air filter housing is from a Polo 6N, and the dashboard looks like an enlarged Polo 6N dashboard. I don't know where they got the speedometer, but I'll provide a link so you can get an idea. What's surprising is that it has a multi-function display (MFA), etc. The Toledo has air conditioning, power windows, ABS, airbags, etc. But then it has an analog speedometer, and it's from the year 1998. However, the brake discs from a Golf TDI 110hp were too small. The Seat has 280mm (maybe the dealership just gave me the ones for the 90hp model).

http://cgi.ebay.de/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2457462635&category=53931