Display or Logger: which one do you have?
The IQ3 Street came in two versions. The Display model shows data from the ECU. The Logger model does the same and also records to a micro SD card. The quick way to tell them apart is to look at the top center of the dash: the Logger has a micro SD slot there, and the Display doesn't. It matters because the logging settings you'll see later only do anything on the Logger.
The two-part setup
Getting the dash working is really two separate jobs, and most setup problems come from finishing one and forgetting the other:
- ECU side: wire the dash to the Elite and switch on dash support in ESP, so the ECU starts sending data.
- Dash side: load the right configuration into the dash with Racepak's DataLink software, so it knows how to read that data and what to show.
Step 1: Wire it to the ECU
The ECU talks to the dash through the 34-pin connector on the back of the IQ3. That link carries the data over Haltech CAN. Make sure the connector is fully seated and locked, and that the harness is secured so it can't pull on the plug when the dash is mounted. For the basics of how the bus works, see our CAN bus overview.
Step 2: Enable the dash in ESP
Connect your laptop to the Elite and open ESP. Under Main Setup, go to the Displays section and enable Haltech CAN Supported Dash. Send it to the ECU and save your map. Until this box is ticked, the dash can be wired perfectly and still show nothing.
Step 3: Load the dash configuration in DataLink
The dash is set up separately, through a USB cable plugged into the mini USB port on its back and Racepak's DataLink software. In DataLink, use File / Open Car Configuration and choose IQ3_Config_Street_Haltech. That configuration is built to understand the Elite's data, so starting from it saves you mapping channels by hand.
Step 4: Choose your channels and screens
The dash can take in up to 32 channels from the ECU, and you pick them in the VNET Input Channel Parameters menu. Then open the IQ3S Haltech tab to decide what appears on each screen. The factory layout is a reasonable starting point, and you can change any of it. On the road, you flip between screens with the external toggle switch that comes with the dash, so route that switch somewhere you can reach easily.
Our tip: build one screen for normal driving with only what you'd glance at, like coolant temperature, oil pressure, AFR and battery voltage, and keep a second screen for tuning data. A crowded screen is easy to ignore.
Step 5: Logging (Logger model)
In the same area, the Dash Info tab holds the data logging settings. If you have the Logger model, set this up before you need it. A log from the moment something went wrong is worth more than any description of it.
Step 6: Warning channels
You can program up to four warning channels. They all share one light on the face of the dash, a red lamp that also doubles as the park brake indicator. Open the Warnings tab and click a channel to bring up its Warning Light settings. We normally use them for low oil pressure, high coolant temperature, a lean AFR under load and low battery voltage. Because the four channels share a single lamp, pair each warning with a screen that shows the channel, so you can see which one tripped.
Troubleshooting
| Symptom | Usually |
|---|---|
| Dash powers up but shows no data | Haltech CAN Supported Dash not enabled in ESP, or the map wasn't saved to the ECU |
| Some values read zero or nonsense | Wrong car configuration loaded, or those channels not selected in VNET Input Channel Parameters |
| Can't change screens | External toggle switch not connected |
| Warning light on with no obvious reason | One of the four channels is set too tight; check each one |
| No logs on the SD card | Display model (no logging), or logging not set up in Dash Info |
If the dash throws a firmware message, see IQ3 Street firmware error. You can also add position and speed data with Haltech GPS on the IQ3 Street.
FAQ
Do I need DataLink if I use the default screens?
Yes, at least once. The dash still needs the Haltech car configuration loaded so it can decode what the Elite sends.
Can the IQ3 Street work with a Nexus ECU?
This guide only covers the Elite and ESP. If you're running a Nexus or planning a new build, ask us which dash suits your ECU before you buy.
For a look at budget-friendly dash options, read a lot of dash for not a lot of cash, and find manuals for Haltech displays on our dash and CAN device guides page.
