The MFA the VW T3 never got
In the 80s VW gave the Golf and Passat a multi-function display. The T3 never had one. This is that idea, forty years on, a modern bright colour screen, but keeping the retro vibe, that goes in the clock slot, shows coolant temperature, revs, fuel consumption, battery and the time, and still looks like it rolled out of Hanover with the van. We built it for our own van, for long trips, to catch an engine problem while it is still a small one, not when the van is on the hard shoulder. Friends wanted one, so here it is.
Get one199 €, built and shipped from Latvia
What it does
An old van tells you almost nothing. This fills in the gaps, without making the dash look like it came out of a different car.
Catches trouble early
Coolant temperature, revs, fuel consumption and whatever else the engine's own electronics know, read from the diagnostic socket. A temperature creeping up over an hour is easy to spot on a screen and impossible to feel from the driver's seat.
Plug and play
It is the same size as the original dashboard clock and goes into the same hole. Pull the old clock out, push the display in, plug in the connectors. No cutting, no drilling, no modification, and the old clock goes back in whenever you want.
Looks like VW made it
The display comes with a button for flicking through the screens, designed to match the original T3 dash switches in shape, feel and finish. Sitting in the van, nothing about it looks aftermarket.
Phone app, free updates
The same numbers live on your phone, plus the settings: what goes on which screen, brightness. Bluetooth only, nothing to sign up for. We keep working on it, and every improvement reaches your display through the app.
A clock, finally
Most of the time it is just a nice clock, with a background picture of your choice. Deep black screen, readable in sunlight, dims itself when you switch off. It stays on with the engine off and is correct when you come back, which is more than the original ever managed.
Battery
Voltage and whether the alternator is charging. The sensor module measures right at the battery, so a tired battery shows up before it strands you somewhere.
Fitting it
An hour, maybe two. Nothing is cut, drilled or modified, and it comes out again without a trace. The full wiring guides are on the documentation page, so you can read them before you order.
Swap the clock
Take the original clock out of the dash and push the display into the same opening. The button goes in next to it and looks like it was always there.
Plug in
Power and the van's diagnostic socket. The sensor module, if you have it, lives near the battery and connects with the plugs in the box.
Pair your phone
Install the app, connect, choose what you want on the screen. That is it.
Pricing
Two versions. Prices include VAT, shipping is added at checkout depending on where you are. Card or PayPal.
Van Display
- The display unit, fits the original clock opening
- OEM-style button that matches the T3 dash
- Engine readings from the diagnostic socket
- Clock with your own background
- Phone app and updates
- Cables and plugs to fit it
Display + Sensor Module
- Everything above
- Sensor module for extra readings, such as oil or outside temperature
- Battery measured at the battery
- Knows for certain when the ignition is on
- Works on engines with no diagnostic socket too
Each one is assembled and tested by hand, in small batches, so there may be a short wait. Not sure which you need? Write to us and tell us about your van.
In the box
The Display + Sensor Module bundle, as it arrives. Nothing here is a render; this is the kit on our bench.
- The display, ready to go in place of the original clock
- OEM-style button for switching screens
- Sensor module in a sealed housing with two weatherproof plugs
- Matching plugs and pins for your own wiring
- Cable between the display and the van
- Power and diagnostic lead
Questions
What do you mean by MFA?
The multi-function display VW put in the Golf and Passat of the time: a little readout of the clock, outside temperature, consumption and oil temperature. The T3 never got one from the factory. This gives the van the same kind of thing in the clock slot, reading from the engine's own electronics, plus revs, battery and whatever else you choose. With the sensor module you can add outside and oil temperature sensors too.
Will it work with my van?
We made it for the VW T3 and it works with the engines most of them run today, including the usual swaps from the 1990s and 2000s. If you are not sure, email us what engine you have and we will tell you honestly. With the sensor module it is useful even on older engines with no diagnostic socket.
Do I need to be good with electronics?
No. Everything plugs in with the supplied connectors. If you can fit a car radio, you can fit this. Have a look at the wiring guides if you want to see exactly what goes where.
Does it need internet or a SIM card?
No. The display and your phone talk directly over Bluetooth. Updates download to your phone when it has internet and are passed on next time you are in the van.
Is there an iPhone app?
Android now. The iPhone app is in progress, and we will say so here when it is ready rather than promise a date.
Will it drain my battery?
No. With the engine off it draws about as much as a car clock.
How long does shipping take?
We ship within a few working days from Latvia. Within the EU expect 3 to 7 days, further away 1 to 3 weeks. You get a tracking number by email.
What if something goes wrong?
Every unit is tested before it ships, and there is a 2-year warranty. Most problems we can fix with an update through the app. A hardware fault gets repaired or replaced, no arguing.
Who is behind this?
A small team in Latvia, electronics engineers with a T3 and too many ideas. Ratronic is the name we put on the boards. If you write, it is one of us who answers, not a help desk.
Technical details, for those who want them
| Display | 536 x 240 AMOLED, adjustable brightness, automatic dimming with ignition off |
| Engine data | K-line, KWP1281 protocol (VW/Audi ECUs with the 2-pin or OBD2 diagnostic socket) |
| Outputs | Tachometer signal output |
| Sensor module | LIN bus link, analog inputs, battery voltage, ignition sense |
| Phone link | Bluetooth Low Energy, Android app |
| Power | 12 V vehicle supply |
| Updates | Over the air from the app, with automatic rollback; display and sensor module |