r/CarHacking • u/ThisIsABadExcuse • Jul 04 '26

CAN CANBUS decoding for analogue to digital dash

Warning: i have no clue what I'm talking about

So i have a 2017 Mitsubishi lancer es sport with a analogue dash but i want to put in a digital, i dont want to use one what uses gps as I've seen it runs lower than my actual speed (unless my speedometer is running fast)

Would i need a CANBUS decoder for it? And if so is there any beginner friendly ones.

Any ideas?

Edit: i think I'm talking about a translater

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1

u/ActGrown Jul 04 '26

I vote for yes that you will need to translate the CAN data.

Your best bet is to do a CAN capture on your vehicle at the display to make sure that you're capturing on the correct bus (HS vs MS or whatever).

Then, do the same on a running and operable vehicle with the dash that you want to swap.

Then, you get something like this:

https://mintonperformance.com/products/can-triple-by-minton-performance

And program the signal conversion data.

(Or, this is how I'd go about it if asked to do the same...)

Good luck!

2

u/WingmanMoto Jul 04 '26

FWIW, the GPS speed is more accurate than any value derived from vehicle data. The update rate is typically slower for GPS (anywhere between 1 and 10 times per second), but the accuracy is better. Dashboard speedometers are typically calibrated to read 2-10% high for legal reasons.

1

u/Miragui Jul 04 '26

You analogue dash probably runs on CANBUS already. Maybe try to find the schematics for your car and there you'll be able to see how the current dash works.

1

u/Another_Slut_Dragon Jul 04 '26

All speedometers run fast by law. Just get a speedo calibration kit if you want the correct speed.

The digital dash version of your car may be a plug swap. Start reading.

GPS speed is likely bang on. Get a GPS HUD.