I bought this tach and I'm waiting on it to arrive right now.Before it gets here,I want to be sure that I know how to install it so I can get it in immediately .

It's going to come with four wires,one power source,one ground,one illumination,and one for the tach signal.I have a question about the illumination and the tach signal.

Illumination -
I want the tach to light up as soon as my headlights are on.It doesn't have to come on with the markers...Just the headlights.Which color-coded wire coming out of the headlight switch will I need to splice into for the signal to illuminate my tach?

Tach Signal -
I'm installing this on the F-150 in my signature.Where will I need to put the tach signal wire,(i.e. the distributor,the ignition module,etc.).

Thanks for any insight.

Nightrain

 

when i did my i spliced into the main headlight switch for light . For your tach source i ran off the negative side of the coil green wire i think been a whil but mine is a 85

 

Yup, green(negative) wire coming off the coil is the signal source.
For your lighting, look for a blue wire with red tracer under the dash(there's one going to the light just above the wiper switch) that'll hook you into the dash lighting, dimmer and all.

 

Okay,so I run the green wire on the tach to the negative side of the coil?Call me crazy...But which is the neg side of the coil?What color wire will be connected to it?

So for my lighting source,I'll be looking for a blue wire with a red stripe?That will illuminate the tach when the markers,headlights,hi-beams,etc. are turned on?

Thanks fellas .

Nightrain

 

My oem coil says TACH on that terminal. Check it out.

 

I'll look into that.Thanks srercrcr .

Nightrain

 

what exactly does OEM stand for? i see this term used regularly, but am not sure what it stands for...any explanation would be appreciated...

MontanaFord

 

Original Equipment Manufacturer

 

Okay...My tach came in today.I think that I've found the wires for the tach signal,(Green wire on coil),and the illumination,(Blue/Red wire under dash).

But,I have a question about my power and ground wires,(Red and Black).I'm thinking of just running them to the pos and neg side of the battery.Is this a good idea?Or,do I need to find a power wire that only gets juice when the key is turned on?If so,which wire in the fuse box will only have power when the key is turned on?

Thanks for any insight .

Nightrain

 

I got my 'ol tach in .

It was a simple install.I ran the red wire to the positive side of my battery,the ground to a little ground bolt in the cab,under the radio and A/C-Heater controls,the green wire to the green wire on the coil,and the white wire to the Blue/Red wire.Everything works great,although I haven't been able to check the light in the tach yet.I'll have to wait until it gets dark so I can see it .

Thanks alot for the help,as always .

Nightrain

 

you don't want it to be connected to your battery at the time. It will deaden it. I hooked mine to the radio supply. it is on when you turn the key on.

 

Yeah...I forgot about that.I'll fix it tomorrow.What color is the wire that runs the radio so I'll be able to find it?

Thanks for the advice.

Nightrain

 

that I am not sure of. I just slide mine in with the radio fuse. ghetto, but works.