Master7122 Posted January 22, 2017 Share Posted January 22, 2017 For some reason my aftermarket tach will not work. I put the red to positive, black to ground, white to the dash lights, and green to the green/white wire coming from the coil. The tach lights up and that's about it. I know I can put a full gauge cluster in but I don't want to. Its a 87 4.0. Also the switch on the back of the tach is set to 6 cylinders Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete M Posted January 22, 2017 Share Posted January 22, 2017 corrosion at the coil? I guess it could always be a bad tach. :( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HOrnbrod Posted January 22, 2017 Share Posted January 22, 2017 What - aftermarket - tach? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eagle Posted January 22, 2017 Share Posted January 22, 2017 Sounds like a Sun Super Tach http://leverfamilysite.com/images/PDF_Files/Microsoft%20Word%20-%20Sun%20Tack%20How%20do%20I%20hook%20up%20the%20wires.pdf Note that these instructions say to connect to the negative terminal on the coil. I have a Sun Super Tach in the '88 Chief. The instructions include a basic function test before making the final installation. The test instructions are: Clip the black lead to the negative battery terminal. Clip the red lead to the positive battery terminal. Clip the green lead to the negative terminal of the coil, or the tach signal point [which you can also tap off the appropriate terminal in one of the two diagnostic test blocks -- you can find that in the factory electrical manual on-line] When all [three] connections have been made, start the engine. Confirm the operation of the tachometer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HOrnbrod Posted January 22, 2017 Share Posted January 22, 2017 Sounds like any aftermarket tach, including Autometer. Try hooking the green tach wire to terminal C on the ignition module like the factory tach is wired. http://comancheclub.com/topic/2511-wiring/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Master7122 Posted January 22, 2017 Author Share Posted January 22, 2017 What - aftermarket - tach? Its a basic 40$ tach you can buy at auto zone. Think its like a auto guage? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eagle Posted January 22, 2017 Share Posted January 22, 2017 What - aftermarket - tach? Its a basic 40$ tach you can buy at auto zone. Think its like a auto guage? Does it have a brand name? Not that it matters, it sounds like the color coding of the wires is fairly standard. Did you try the check-out procedure I posted? This one? http://www.autozone.com/gauges-and-gauge-accessories/tachometer/equus-3-3-8-in-black-bezel-electric-tachometer/255933_0_0?checkfit=true Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Master7122 Posted January 22, 2017 Author Share Posted January 22, 2017 What - aftermarket - tach? Its a basic 40$ tach you can buy at auto zone. Think its like a auto guage? Does it have a brand name? Not that it matters, it sounds like the color coding of the wires is fairly standard. Did you try the check-out procedure I posted? This one? http://www.autozone.com/gauges-and-gauge-accessories/tachometer/equus-3-3-8-in-black-bezel-electric-tachometer/255933_0_0?checkfit=true Yes that's it and yes I did as you said and it did nothing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eagle Posted January 22, 2017 Share Posted January 22, 2017 Does it have a brand name? Not that it matters, it sounds like the color coding of the wires is fairly standard. Did you try the check-out procedure I posted? This one? http://www.autozone.com/gauges-and-gauge-accessories/tachometer/equus-3-3-8-in-black-bezel-electric-tachometer/255933_0_0?checkfit=true Yes that's it and yes I did as you said and it did nothing Then it appears you got a defective unit. Take it back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HOrnbrod Posted January 22, 2017 Share Posted January 22, 2017 Did this tach come with an inductive pickup? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Master7122 Posted January 23, 2017 Author Share Posted January 23, 2017 Did this tach come with an inductive pickup? Not sure, came with the tach itself, mount, some screws, a thing to splice into the tach wire and some wire crimps Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eagle Posted January 23, 2017 Share Posted January 23, 2017 If you have to splice into the tach feed wire, it doesn't have inductive pickup. There's also a tach signal in one of the yellow diagnostic connectors. Try poking the green wire in there. http://www.bteventures.com//mj1988electricalmanual.pdf Scroll to page 19 for the diagnostic connector pinouts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HOrnbrod Posted January 23, 2017 Share Posted January 23, 2017 You don't "have to" splice into the tach feed wire according to the install manual for the tach he says he purchased. It comes with an inductive pickup. That's why I asked. Check it out...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eagle Posted January 23, 2017 Share Posted January 23, 2017 You don't "have to" splice into the tach feed wire according to the install manual for the tach he says he purchased. It comes with an inductive pickup. That's why I asked. Check it out...... Where did you find info on an inductive pickup? I didn't see any link to instructions on the AutoZone site, and the OP said it came with "a thing to splice into the tach wire," so I assumed it came with "a thing to splice into the tach wire." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HOrnbrod Posted January 23, 2017 Share Posted January 23, 2017 I went to the manufacturer's site and downloaded the manual HERE. It says "An inductive pickup IS NOT provided with all tachometer kits. In such cases,the tachometer IS NOT compatible with the inductive pickup....." blah blah. Thought it might have one. :dunno: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DirtyComanche Posted January 23, 2017 Share Posted January 23, 2017 That tach is a total pile of garbage. Return it and get your money back, do not exchange it. And no, they do not come with an inductive pickup, but there is another P/N (for more money) that does. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eagle Posted January 23, 2017 Share Posted January 23, 2017 Spend the money for a Sun Super Tach and don't look back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HOrnbrod Posted January 23, 2017 Share Posted January 23, 2017 Unfortunately the original Sun Super tachs that we loved with the big chrome shells from the 60's-70's have not been manufactured for many years. A good used one on Ebay can go for several hundred dollars and usually more. Sun changed their name to Sun Pro in the 80's and though they still make a line of "retro" tachs that resemble the vintage Super models and others, they are all made in China and are garbage. Probably the best tachs you can get now reasonably w/o floating a loan are Autometers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eagle Posted January 24, 2017 Share Posted January 24, 2017 Unfortunately the original Sun Super tachs that we loved with the big chrome shells from the 60's-70's have not been manufactured for many years. A good used one on Ebay can go for several hundred dollars and usually more. Sun changed their name to Sun Pro in the 80's and though they still make a line of "retro" tachs that resemble the vintage Super models and others, they are all made in China and are garbage. Probably the best tachs you can get now reasonably w/o floating a loan are Autometers. Ah, so. Sic transit gloria mundi. So maybe the best option is to just pop in a factory instrument cluster ... which the OP has stated he doesn't want to do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minuit Posted January 24, 2017 Share Posted January 24, 2017 So maybe the best option is to just pop in a factory instrument cluster ... which the OP has stated he doesn't want to do. Yep. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Master7122 Posted January 24, 2017 Author Share Posted January 24, 2017 That tach is a total pile of garbage. Return it and get your money back, do not exchange it. And no, they do not come with an inductive pickup, but there is another P/N (for more money) that does. I second that, this tach is garbage, I returned it and ordered a better tach so hopefully it'll work unlike the one I got from auto zone. Lesson learned, don't buy gauges from autozone Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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