I want to install a Tach in my 94 Ranger 2.3l. I checked with the local dealership and they were no help, they sent me to a pro shop who told my to "Rip out that 4banger and drop in an 8". I'm not going that far. The Hanse manual was a little more help, they at least told me that I should be able to install a tach. If the 2.3l were a 'regular' engine i.e. 1 sparkplug per cylender it would be a snap, however with 2 plugs per I'm wondering if hooking up my tach will just burn it up or burn up my truck.

Any help, suggestions ideas are greatly appreciated.

Thanx.

 

Welcome to FTE Thoth88.
You're right about the Haynes manual coming up short.
Plan "B" might be to replace the No-tach instrument cluster with one that has a tach. If you get a cluster from a truck with the same drivetrain as yours, is a plug & play installation.

 

Installing a tach is easy... All you have to do is find the tach wire in that huge wire cluster back there on the firewall... Consult the haynes for the proper color for your year, I think mine was tan with a yellow stripe.... Tap into that wire for the tach and you're all set...

 

Update! Got my tach in and working. If anybody would like to know the details I'll pass them along.

 

I have been looking for the tan wire with yellow stripe, can't find it.
Can someone give me the details.
Thanks
91 Ranger 2.3

 

I found mine by looking behind the sppedo. I had to partialy remove the instrument cluster, as far as the speedo cable would allow, and there on the bottom of the wire harness that plugs into the panel is the elusive tan/yellow stripe wire. Haynes says, from their wire diagram, the wire can be found at the PCM under the hood infront of the glove box.

To access the wire from the instrument panel you have to remove parts of your dash, panel under the steering wheel, hood release, steering colum cover, facia which uses snap clips (pull gently but firmly around and they will let go), the ash try and rail, and my radio. After you get all this out of the way there are 4 torx screws holding the instrument panel in place, these gotta come out the most dificult 1 is in front of the ignition switch, thight space to work. Gently pull the cluster out you may need to go below the dash and feed some of the slack from the speedo cable up to get what limited access you can. If you know how to remove/replace the cable you might want to disconect it. I used a wire splice to tie into the tan/yellow wire and ran a lenght of wire to allow the tach hook up. After you get the splice in you can put everything you took out back in. I mounted my tach next to the air vent to the right of the steering wheel, there is a 'dead' space to the left of the vent, I removed the vent while the facia was out and using a hole saw opened a hole for the tach. If you had to remove your radio you can use additional slpices to get your power, ground and illumination for you r tach from the radio harness.

I hope this helps you out 65van.

 

Thanks, I'll go look again.
I like standing on my head...