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81 tachometer

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Old Dec 2, 2015 | 07:52 PM
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Default 81 tachometer

Recently purchased an 81 corvette that was in good condition before being submerged in water during a recent flood. I was given a price I couldn't refuse. We now have it running a running quite well.

We are working on the tachometer. We have located the wire underneath the distributor cap but can not find anything to plug it in to. Any help would be appreciated
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Old Dec 2, 2015 | 08:53 PM
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Originally Posted by 81skyblue
Recently purchased an 81 corvette that was in good condition before being submerged in water during a recent flood. I was given a price I couldn't refuse. We now have it running a running quite well.

We are working on the tachometer. We have located the wire underneath the distributor cap but can not find anything to plug it in to. Any help would be appreciated

The tachometer wire plugs into the underside of the distributor cap where its marked "TACH".
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Old Dec 2, 2015 | 09:48 PM
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Toobroke is right.. here is a picture
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Old Dec 3, 2015 | 05:26 PM
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It seems as though the wire is plugged in to Tach like it should be. What is the "extra" white wire?
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Old Dec 3, 2015 | 07:22 PM
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I'm not positive but I think it's a factory test terminal.
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Old Dec 3, 2015 | 07:49 PM
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Originally Posted by havesometo
I'm not positive but I think it's a factory test terminal.


Indeed.. the extra plug is for testing.

-Willcox
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Old Dec 4, 2015 | 12:26 AM
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Originally Posted by Willcox Corvette


Indeed.. the extra plug is for testing.

-Willcox


Thanks. Tachometer is stuck on 20. Attempted to bypass the tach filter but no change. Using a test light, the wire is hot. Not sure where to go from here
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Old Dec 5, 2015 | 02:17 PM
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If you bypassed the filter and you still don't have a working tach, you probably have a board issue on the tach...

So.. I'd pull the tach out of the car... (it's easy) by removing the lens (5 screws), and then the gauge inner bezel which is six Allen head screws. Once you remove this bezel then remove the three tach retaining screws and the tack will pull out of the housing.

Once you get this far, with the key on test the power clip for voltage using the ground clip as your ground. If you don't have voltage showing on the power clip, then use a different ground and test again (it may be a ground issue and this will eliminate that possibility.

If you have power and ground then test the signal clip for continuity from the clip to the plug where it plugs into the tach filter. If you have continuity then you need a board for the tach. If you don't have continuity then you need to find the break in that wire.

Here are so pages from my website that will help you.
1978-1982 Corvette Tachometer Testing, Removal, Board Installation
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