[wowee1]

So I bought a used pod set in the marketplace. The pods had been installed and when removed the wires were cut. I'm pretty handy with a soldering gun and wire stripper so I figured I could wire this thing up to my Smart pretty easily. There are 3 wires that go to the main harness, which the connector is located behind the speedometer. I saw that the pod has 3 colored wires, brown, black, and blue. I got some primary wire to lengthen the cut wires and pulled the speedometer. Unfortunately, the colors of the car wiring does not match the colors of the pod wiring. So I did a little sleuthing, and figured out the wires.


Here's the colors to hook up:


Pod blue wire to red/white harness wire

Pod brown wire to blue/violet harness wire

Pod black wire to brown harness wire



I debated for awhile on hooking the thing up because I'm sure that a wrong wire would cause some damage. I finally figured I would trust my research and went ahead and cut the harness plug, wiring it thusly. The harness wires are short, so I had to take some time prepping and soldering the wires.


I could see right away the clock was running, so I started the car and voila! Tach is working perfectly. It even lights up when the headlights come on like it should.



So if anyone needs this info here it is...




And thanks to magicbus66 for the pod!:laugh:


Andy

 

[magicbus66]

Rock on Andy ! ? Your skills are awesome !!!

 

[LSmiata]

Hello wowee1,

I have had my 2013 Passion for a few years now and keep kicking myself in the ass for not installing pods.

I tried to order from smart/M.B. dealer a few years ago and got the wrong kit. Then learned with "newer (post 2011)" smart fortwo's, they started cost cut and pods had to be "hard wired"....?

Will they snap-in to the dash mounting area or screws?

Have driven 30k miles and again kicking myself for not doing this upgrade.

Any suggestions welcome. Just want the PODS!

 

[Bob Ricewasser]

It should pretty much be a plug & play procedure to hook up the pods. The connector for the pods is taped up behind the instrument cluster on the post 2011 smart cars. There should be some U-tube video tutorials that you can check out.

 

[Shalmaneser64]

Hello wowee1,

I have had my 2013 Passion for a few years now and keep kicking myself in the ass for not installing pods.

I tried to order from smart/M.B. dealer a few years ago and got the wrong kit. Then learned with "newer (post 2011)" smart fortwo's, they started cost cut and pods had to be "hard wired"....?

Will they snap-in to the dash mounting area or screws?

Have driven 30k miles and again kicking myself for not doing this upgrade.

Any suggestions welcome. Just want the PODS!

I've installed pods in a 2009 and a 2015. The mounting bracket is different between the two, but the basic wiring is the same. Both are plug and play. The 2009 had to have the dash cover trimmed a bit in two places to clear the pod mounting bracket. Mothing a razor knife or Dremel tool won't take care of in short order.

 

[jwight]

Found this from an older thread:

D.I.Y. pod install...................

Having installed the pods myself in both my 2008 and my 2013,I am sold on DIY versus dealer installed.For both my cars I bought the pods from smartmadness,and colored trim rings from stealership.Saved lots of $$$, The install in the 2008 involved removing the button cluster and radio. The install on the 2013 is MUCH simpler!!
Pry up plastic cover with a screwdriver.
Grab speedo unit with both hands,and pull straight back. exposing the connector.Tape the plug for the pods to a straightened coat hanger. "fish" it to connector.
Plug in,and push speedo unit back in place.
Tighten screw to hold pods,and snap cover over screw.Set the clock.
YOU ARE DONE!! From start to finish 10 to 15 minutes!! NOT the hour that the stealership is going to charge you for.....................