1997-2003 Grand Prix Analog to Digital DIC Conversion

[tblake]

For everyone who wants to convert over their analog DIC to a digital one, today I successfully did this modification in a 2002 Pontiac Grand Prix SE 3.1 V6. A fellow forum member, Yourpappy, gave me a ton of great information on his post here and I also used wiring diagrams from mitchell ondemad. You can download them here:

Guage Cluster/DIC wiring 1 of 2
Guage Cluster/DIC wiring 2 of 2
Analog DIC connector end view
Digital DIC Schematic
Analog DIC Schematic

I ordered my Digital DIC from Ed Morad's auto parts ebay store. It costed $65.00 including shippind and it came with the spare plug and wires. It is in very good condition and I would totally recommend anyone who needs parts to contact him. Here is the dash before modification. Just a plain old analog DIC, Nothing Special.


First I disconnected the battery's negative cable. Next comes disassembly of the dash. This is pretty straight forward. Just remove the lower kick panel by taking out the two 7mm screws and gently pry up to release the snaps. Then pop off the dash bezel. This is also held in by snaps, its easiest to start on the left side and work your way to the right. Remember to disconnect the fog light switch. Now you will have to angle the dash bezel out by tilting the steering wheel all the way down. Its kind of a hassle, but it can be done, just be gentle. The Analog DIC is removied by gently depressing the snaps on each side to release it.


Next it was a matter of finding all the wires needed by the Digital DIC. Most of them are at the Analog DIC already, but here are a few pictures taken by Yourpappy of where the others are located.

These two show where the Data Line can be found, be VERY VERY carfull splicing into this one.




Yourpappy also found an auxilary power source for his constant B+ voltage needed. I couldnt find it maybe because I think he did this mod to a GT and I'm doing it to an SE. In my case, I had an aftermarket deck installed with a wireharness from wal-mart that plugs directly into the factory one. I used this harness to get my B+ and my grey and black wire from the interior lights system. Here is a picture of Yourpappy's auxilary power connection.


Here are some pictures of where Yourpappy and I spliced into to get VSS signal. (Photos compliments of Yourpappy)


Here is how I chose to connect to each of these wires. I first sliced a little of the casing off with a razor blade then I wrapped my wire around, applied some flux, soldered it together, and taped it with black electrical tape.



Once I had VSS, DATA, B+ Constant, and Lights wires ran, it came time to cut the old analog DIC out and install the new one. I also soldered all these wires, but this time used heat shrink tubing. Here is a picture of me just getting the process started. It was pretty easy just matching wire colors, but I mainly relied on Yourpappy's info from his post along with the wiring schematics available above.


Here is a picture of all the wires soldered together.


When I got to this point, I plugged it in and made sure everything worked. I then wrapped everything in black electrical tape.




Finally everything has to be reassembled in the reverse order it was removed. Here are a few pictures of the digital DIC in and working, and the car put back together.








Well, thats it. Looks pretty good huh? It went pretty straight forward like I thought it would. Took me about 2 and a half hours, but I was pretty meticulous with everything. Only had to do it once because there were no problems.

If you are doing this modification to an SE or GT you need to order a DIC with a "TRAC" button instead of a "TCS" button. I heard that these two are not interchangable and that the one with a "TCS" button is only used in GTP's.

I'd like to thank Yourpappy for the help with this, and also Ed Morad for such a great price on exactly what I needed. Now my Girlfriend is happy that she is one step closer to having a GTP like mine. Thanks Everyone!!! Good Luck.

[richtazz]

Nice write up TBlake. Maybe we should combine the two threads (this one and yourpappy's and put them in the tips and maintenance subforum. Bob and Lynn, what do you guys think?

[BNaylor]

I agree nice writeup. Moved to Tips & Maintenance.

[GTPMORAD]

excellent job, glad I could help you

[tblake]

Thanks! Glad to see you here on the forums Mr. Morad!!!

[TIMSKILLET]

i would like to do this swap as well, i have an 03 gt, but my analoge does not have the tire pressure light, or the last 2 trac spaces are both empty, all i have are the first 3 windows of my dic with idiot lights, will this swap work in my car, thanks for any help

[tblake]

Hey guys me again....

Just had a bulb burn out in my DIC and found these two posts.

http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbul...d.php?t=336441
--and--
http://www.automotivehelper.com/topic475884.htm

Both of them have some great info. In the bottom link, I even think Bob mentioned a brighter bulb part number that can be used.

[2001redfireGT]

I don't mean to beat the dead horse on the subject, but I need help and figure those who preformed this successfully could. I have a few questions.

Is the digital dic with the "check tire pressure" above the "low trac" only from the 1997 model (and therefore won't work on a 2001)?

When installed, and all the modes have a flashing Zero, what does that mean?

I think I need a wiring diagram specifically for a 2001 gt coupe. Could anyone help? As some of this write up helped, it didn't go as planned.

I used the instructions from this page and another and i end up with a few wires extra that I don't use from the existing dic and there was a wire or two from the digital I didn't know what to hook up to. I spliced up from the tan data wire, got power from the stereo, got the speed wire, and exnayed the HUD wire. Some of the color wires were not as described as above on both ends. I got a digital for cheap "claimed" from a 98, but am worried since it is not working as planned, and cause it has the tire light, it might be from a 97. Can anyone help clear this up?

Hope this makes some sense.

[tblake]

A flashing 0 on all the modes? I would check and make sure you hooked up the data wire.

Maybe the 97 DIC isn't compatible with a 2001.

[2001redfireGT]

Originally Posted by tblake

A flashing 0 on all the modes? I would check and make sure you hooked up the data wire.

Maybe the 97 DIC isn't compatible with a 2001.

As far as I know, i've heard the 97 is only compatible with a 97. I dont know why. But hence the question about the tire sensor, maybe I have a unit from a 97?.....But I am 99% sure the data line is connected properly, I don't know what it could be....

[jakegday]

ive been thinking about doing this and have several questions, ill just go ahead and start with this one. how is the analog DIC disconnected? do you have to cut the wires or just unplug a wiring harness? if you cut it out can i assume the digital one will come just cut out also, then all i have to do is connect all the wires plus add a few more? OR, if you simply unplug it, how do you attach the new wires to the digital dic? shove the new wires into the harness, solder them to the digital dic, or what?

[tblake]

The old analog DIC had to be cut out. There was no plug. The new digitial one has a plug on the back which you can see in the pictures. You will need to solder the wires together, then you can just plug in the digital DIC.

[jakegday]

ohok, that makes perfect sense. next questions: where exactly on the car is the data line? i see that picture but it is zoomed in WAY to much to tell where exactly on the car that harness is. im also not quite clear where on the car you tapped into the VSS, could you explain that? and the "B+ constant" that is just a constant 12v from the battery, right? and finally, how exactly do you tap into the lights without an aftermarket stereo?

[tblake]

Ahhhhhhh.

-The data line can be found all over the vehicle. I chose to tap in at the DLC (Data Link Connector) near the drivers knees.

-The VSS picture is of the back of the instrument cluster

-Both the B+ constant and the lights circuit can be found at the back of the radio. The B+ is the only orange wire that goes to the radio and the interior lights wire is the only grey/blk wire in the radio plug.

You will see what I mean when you get it apart.

I will see if I can re-host the DIC pictures that for some reason arent showing up anymore.

[jakegday]

the data line that goes all over the vehicle, is it a light yellow wire all over the vehicle like it is in the picture?