Tach stopped working...
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 2,387
Likes: 2
From: Meriden CT
Tach stopped working...
Was cruising around, and it just stopped. I installed an MSD pro-billet last season, along with the 6AL box, and Blaster HVC coil. Could it just be a broken tach cable? Is this common? How hard is it to replace?
Thanks
Joe
Thanks
Joe
Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 35
Likes: 0
It could be the gear drive in the distributor or the cable. I just had my speedo and tach serviced and taking the dash off was the biggest pain (well, putting it back on was an even bigger pain). (Looking at your avatar, it looks like you have a chrome bumper model, which is all mechanical, unless you've upgraded).
You can disconnect the tach cable from the distributor and turn it by hand to and see if there is a little needle deflection. This is super easy. If there is needle deflection, your distributor is the problem, otherwise the cable is the likely culprit. Replacing the cable with sleeve is a PITA, as it requires passing the new sleeve through the firewall. Replacing the inner cable isn't as bad, just be sure to cut the cable to the correct length.
Excluding the time it took to have other work done to the car, I effectively replaced my speedometer and speedo cable, tach and tach cable, headlight switch and all bulbs in a weekend (about 3 hours to remove everything, about 5 hours to put it all back). I'm pretty much an amature mechanic, so your mileage may vary.
Just remember though, it is better to step back and take a deep breath than it is to force it! You don't want to break anything when pulling apart the dash.
Alex
You can disconnect the tach cable from the distributor and turn it by hand to and see if there is a little needle deflection. This is super easy. If there is needle deflection, your distributor is the problem, otherwise the cable is the likely culprit. Replacing the cable with sleeve is a PITA, as it requires passing the new sleeve through the firewall. Replacing the inner cable isn't as bad, just be sure to cut the cable to the correct length.
Excluding the time it took to have other work done to the car, I effectively replaced my speedometer and speedo cable, tach and tach cable, headlight switch and all bulbs in a weekend (about 3 hours to remove everything, about 5 hours to put it all back). I'm pretty much an amature mechanic, so your mileage may vary.
Just remember though, it is better to step back and take a deep breath than it is to force it! You don't want to break anything when pulling apart the dash.
Alex
