VW T5 Transporter dashpod hacking

Parts you will need:
VAG-Tacho    (Clone lead here)
XVI32 Hex editor
VW Transporter van

(Remember this can brick your dashpod, Everything in the guide worked for my dash doesn’t mean it will work with your dash!!!!!!!)

One thing that I have always found strange is that the needles and display light up with the ignition but the gauges don’t?

So I set about seeing if I could change this?  First of all I connected up VAG-Tacho to the dash and selected VDO new and pressed connect.

After it gained access you then need to click read eeprom,  this will take a couple of minutes. Once it finished open the memory buffer and check there what looks like a eeprom dump.

Then click file and save.

Save the file twice, one called original and the other called modded. Leaving VAG-Tacho running, now open your hex editor.

Open the modded eeprom that you saved earlier,  once the file is open you will need to find the line 23A (This line is correct for a standard T5 dash without MFA/DIS)
and then find the correct cell.

Once found change the value to to desired value. It will be something like 3X, where X is value you change, Most T5 comes with 3B

3              – displays only

5              – gauges only

7              – displays and gauges only

9              – needles only

B              – displays and needles only

D             – Needles and Gauges only

F              – all lit up

I changed it to 3F 

Then save as the modded eeprom file.

Now back to VAG-Tacho. Click file and Read File, select the modded.eep file and load into memory.

You can now load the modded eeprom back into the dash.

Once complete you can then disconnect and reconnect, after it reconnected click the restart button and hay-presto one lit up dash pod 😀

Remember messing with the eeprom can brick your dashpod, you do this at your own risk!

Here a video of the dash just lighting up with only the ignition.

  1. andreas Reply

    hello

    how do you dismount the odometer from the T5 ?
    I have take a fast look, but i dont se how !

    REgards
    Andreas

    • Toby Gardner Reply

      Remove the lower dash trims and the bolt are under the dashboard and go from the underside into the rear off the dash pod 🙂

  2. Yass Reply

    hi
    How you do to power your dashboard (what are the pines connection)? thank you

  3. John Reply

    Hello Toby,

    Which version of Vagtacho are you using ? Does it use CAN or Kline for the T5 ?

    I think my immo is close to yours :
    7H5920872L
    KOMBI+WEGFAHRSP VDO V03

    Thank you !

    John

    • Toby Gardner Reply

      Hi John

      I’m using VAG-TACHO 3.6 – it uses K line for the communication.

      Out the car you only need:
      Power (Term 30)
      Ignition (Term 15)
      Earth (Term 31)
      K line to talk to the dash

      It works fine for upto 2006 T5 after that date they changed something in the dashpod and VAG-Tacho seems to struggle the newer/proper versions seem to be ok with the 2006> T5

      Toby

  4. John Reply

    Thank you Toby !
    I have a 2009 model released in 2008 T5, I’ll report you the result with VAG-tacho 5. A previous test with VAG K+CAN Commander 1.4 failed (struggling in some functions too).

    Best regards,
    John

  5. Alex Reply

    Your engine fault code is not illuminating? This happens on my -05 T5 2,5TDI and wondering why.

  6. Ralf Reply

    Hi Toby,

    I found your post and hoped do clone my old dashboard into an used one (T5 2003). Therefore I bought a cheap China vag tacho 5.0. Unfortunately it doesn´t work:

    Connecting VDO New – K-line…
    OK
    7H5920871 KOMBI+WEGFAHRSP VDO X53
    Check for VDO tacho…
    Tacho is VDO! Try to log in… Please wait!
    Software Version: VT5X02MH
    Password: 27
    Check for Seed-Key…
    Please Wait….trying to calculate Key
    Seed-key mode: 03
    !!! Access DENIED !!!
    Switch ignition OFF/ON,or Reset the dash before to try again!

    Do you guys all use the original vag tacho ?
    Any ideas?

    Thanks in advance

    Ralf

    • Toby Gardner Reply

      Have you tried vag-tacho with the new dashpod? I’m guessing your swapping because something is wrong with the old one?

  7. chiko Reply

    hello i have T5
    i want needle sweep. How can i do it ?

  8. Simon Parker Reply

    Toby I’ve been trying to find some info on swapping dash clusters on my T5

    I have a 2006 lowline T5 no mulifunction.
    On steering wheel or dash.

    I’m trying to find if it’s possible to upgrade my dash and wheel or stalks? Are you able to email me with what parts are needed if possible

  9. Barry Poole Reply

    Hi there
    Bit of a long shot but do you still have the eeprom dump from your highline dash.
    I understand if you don’t as it was a few years back.

    Kind regards
    Barry

  10. Mark Reply

    Hello Toby

    Firstly I’d like to thank you for posting such detailed and useful information, and helping others like myself to try and understand thins in more detail and do our own work (all being well)

    I was just wondering how did you know / find out what information was what and what to change to?
    E.g Needles / gauges lit up, Sliding doors etc?

    Again many thanks
    Mark

    • Toby Gardner Reply

      Hi Mark

      The info I’ve got was a mix of what had been done on a mk4 golf before and comparing CCM and Dash pod Eeprom dumps from various markets and options and working out what was different. A chap called Grasmere helped me a lot during this.
      I’ve got to be honest I’ve not had much chance to look any further into this and dont think I’ll bother.

      I must get round to writing up about my heated windscreen retrofit.

      Cheers

      Toby

  11. Mark Reply

    Me again

    Not sure if it is of any use to anyone but I have just tried the Dash all lit up mod using the info you have provided (Line 23A, 3B to 3F), my test clocks are half FIS, Part number: 7H5920960K

    I am looking to put these Midline clocks into my T5 while I’m waiting for some Highline ones to turn up. I have trip stalks and wiring to be fitted so that I can use the MFA.

    Are there any other mods that can be done to them Toby?

    Any help/advice would be greatly received

  12. Mark Franklin Reply

    Hi Toby

    I see fair enough, so lots of time spent interrogating different modules etc.

    Do you know how to remove the VIN, IMMO, SKC and key ID data from old clusters so that when you program them with VCDS the old data doesn’t show? I really want it to look as if it was there from the factory. In other words making the used cluster as if it was off the shelf?

    I am really looking forward to your Heated front screen retrofit too.

    Once again many thanks
    Mark

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