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1967 - 1972 F-100 & Larger F-Series Trucks Discuss the Bumpsides Ford Truck

Tachometer causing short

Old May 28, 2016 | 07:56 PM
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Tachometer causing short

All right so it's my birthday today and naturally Ive been waiting for a tachometer and I get it in and installed, and when I hook it up to what I think is the negative post on the coil and have the switched and dash lights for the tachometer hooked up to the two spades on my fuse box
It would start up and read rpms but when the engine gets shut off and go to restart it, the engine doesn't crank and smoke plumes out of the dash. I have to go and unhook the wire that's connected to the coil and reconnect it.
So 1. What might my issue be? 2. Could someone point out what post they connected to to use these
 
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Old May 28, 2016 | 08:55 PM
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Using the "Search this Forum" located at far right of page, type in Tachometer or installing tach, this will take you to several threads that can help you.
 
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Old May 28, 2016 | 11:38 PM
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Originally Posted by gangstakr
Using the "Search this Forum" located at far right of page, type in Tachometer or installing tach, this will take you to several threads that can help you.
That hasn't helped me solve my issue with the whole no start and smoke out of dash issue
 
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Old May 29, 2016 | 01:14 AM
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Start by removing the instrument panel and inspect for damage.
 
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Old May 29, 2016 | 08:34 AM
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Originally Posted by GaryKip
Start by removing the instrument panel and inspect for damage.
+1 !!!! smoke equals the plastic burned off the wire , so you have a bare wire somewhere . this could lead to a bigger problem FIRE .
 
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Old May 29, 2016 | 09:55 AM
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Originally Posted by 70FE250
All right so it's my birthday today and naturally Ive been waiting for a tachometer and I get it in and installed, and when I hook it up to what I think is the negative post on the coil and have the switched and dash lights for the tachometer hooked up to the two spades on my fuse box
It would start up and read rpms but when the engine gets shut off and go to restart it, the engine doesn't crank and smoke plumes out of the dash. I have to go and unhook the wire that's connected to the coil and reconnect it.
So 1. What might my issue be? 2. Could someone point out what post they connected to to use these
One thing you must be sure when hooking up wires, if not you could end up with a toasted wiring system don't just think you must know!

It sound like you added a ground wire to where it should not be.

Ya remove all tach wires for now check fuses then do as posted and look for burnt wiring.
Orich
 
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Old May 29, 2016 | 10:57 AM
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Originally Posted by MIKES 68 F100
+1 !!!! smoke equals the plastic burned off the wire , so you have a bare wire somewhere . this could lead to a bigger problem FIRE .
Upon inspection, there is a red with blue stripe wire that has the plastic melted on it but all other wires seem just fine
 
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Old May 29, 2016 | 04:48 PM
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Are you sure it's red and blue stripe?

 
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Old May 29, 2016 | 06:19 PM
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Originally Posted by JEFFFAFA
Are you sure it's red and blue stripe?

Yes, it's connected to my ignition switch and ran along dash to I believe my starter solenoid. Turns out it melted onto my right blinker switch and would cause my truck to turn over with the blinker. Got that all patched up. Can someone please send a picture of their coil where they hooked their tach up as I cannot find how I screwed this up.

Unless, I hooked my switched and light wire up to the spade connectors in my fuse box, but I see now that they're both switched 12v. So would my light wire for the tachometer hooked up wrong really cause this?
 
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Old May 29, 2016 | 08:49 PM
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The hookup on the coil is the same wire coming out of the firewall going to the coil that is the + side.
The coil should have a small - &+ marking on it.

You light wire hooks into the dash lights that is a white & blue strip wire on the dash plug and not into the fuse block as it would be on all the time.
Orich
 
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Old May 29, 2016 | 09:24 PM
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From: Bismarck, ND
Originally Posted by orich
The hookup on the coil is the same wire coming out of the firewall going to the coil that is the + side.
The coil should have a small - &+ marking on it.

You light wire hooks into the dash lights that is a white & blue strip wire on the dash plug and not into the fuse block as it would be on all the time.
Orich
I'm supposed to hook up to the negative on the coil, the small wire that runs to the bottom of the distributor, correct? And I'm find with the light being one all the time.
 
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Old May 29, 2016 | 09:35 PM
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Originally Posted by 70FE250
I'm supposed to hook up to the negative on the coil, the small wire that runs to the bottom of the distributor, correct? And I'm find with the light being one all the time.
Yes it does hook up on the negative post.
orich
 
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Old May 29, 2016 | 09:51 PM
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Originally Posted by orich
Yes it does hook up on the negative post.
orich
Think it's safe to say my tach is bad. Brand new and it'd already messed up. Thanks equus!
 
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Old May 31, 2016 | 08:28 PM
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what brand tachometer ?
I ask because , when i was 16 I added a Tach (cheap kragen auto parts) to my 65 mustang , my car started running funny then after a day wouldn't start . my dad helped me figure out the problem. It was the poor quality Tach . returned it and bought a better tach.
 
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Old May 31, 2016 | 08:42 PM
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Originally Posted by MIKES 68 F100
what brand tachometer ?
I ask because , when i was 16 I added a Tach (cheap kragen auto parts) to my 65 mustang , my car started running funny then after a day wouldn't start . my dad helped me figure out the problem. It was the poor quality Tach . returned it and bought a better tach.
it's a 35 dollar equus tach. I usually have good luck buying cheaper parts but now I personally know that's not a smart idea anymore when it comes to such a special thing like my truck.
I may not add a tachometer as the only reason I was adding one was to be able to jam out and shift at a proper time. But I have quickly learned the shift spots from my speed and just feeling
 
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