so i've got this 2000 ranger xlt supercab... i just hit 100,000 mi a week ago, and now my tachometer is bouncing and sticking. intermittenly, i'll go to start my truck and the tach jumps up to 4000 rpm and stays there while i'm driving. my engine isn't over-revving, and my transmission is shifting normally. sometimes, if it jumps up to 4000, i can pull the hood latch and it will immediately stop. or sometimes i'll be driving and the needle will bounce up to 4000 and down to about 900. i went to the dealership and they said that they didn't want to mess with it as long as my engine isn't over-revving, no transmission problems, and my speedometer still works. i've already had my spark plugs and wires, serpentine belt, and fuel filter changed in the past 60 days. should i be worried about my tach sticking like this? otherwise, it drives fine. thanks!!

--lee

 

Welcome to FTE!!!

Here are the pinpoint tests to determine the cause.

PINPOINT TEST H: INCORRECT TACHOMETER INDICATION


H1 CHECK THE GROUND TO THE TACHOMETER


Note:
4 cylinder engine equipped vehicles are not equipped with circuit 398 (BK/YE). Proceed to Step H2.

1

2 Instrument Cluster C216

3

Measure the resistance between instrument cluster C216-8, circuit 398 (BK/YE), and ground.

l Is the resistance less than 5 ohms?

è Yes

Go to «H2».

è No

REPAIR circuit 398 (BK/YE). TEST the system for normal operation.


H2 CHECK THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER PRINTED CIRCUIT


1 Instrument Cluster

2 Measure the resistance between the tachometer and instrument cluster printed circuit terminals; refer to the following chart:



Instrument Cluster Printed Tachometer Terminal
Circuit Terminal

C214-13 "B"

C214-15 "S"

C215-2 "G"

C216-8 "G" (6 CYL.)


l Are the resistances less than 5 ohms?

è Yes

Go to «H3».

è No

INSTALL a new instrument cluster printed circuit. TEST the system for normal operation.

H3 CHECK FOR CLEAN TACH OUT (CTO) CIRCUIT OPEN OR SHORT


1 Check for CTO circuit open or short; refer to Powertrain Control/Emissions Diagnosis Manual.

l Is the CTO circuit OK?

è Yes

INSTALL a new tachometer. TEST the system for normal operation.

è No

INSTALL a new PCM. TEST the system for normal operation.

 

thanks, man... the thing about it is i can tap the top of my dash and get it to jump back down around normal. could i have possibly shaken the connector loose? another thing i've noticed is that i get a high pitched whine intermittenly when i start my truck. my guess is it's the starter or the a/c clutch. it's more than a little annoying. then while driving, it does a little whine and i can feel my truck shudder a bit. the whine comes about every 60 seconds; about every 20 if i have the a/c or heat on. the dealership replaced the serpentine belt in dec 04, but they're kind of sketchy because they're the only ford dealer in town. is it worth driving to the next town to have a bigger dealership look at it? any thoughts or ideas? thanks!

--lee

 

It could be the connector, you'll have to pull the cluster to check it.

Do you get the noise with the climate control set to off?

 

yeah, i still get the whine when i start it even with the climate control off. when i went to change my oil, i checked the other fluids... don't know if this has anything to do with the noise, but my tranny fluid smells a little burnt.

--lee

 

If the fluid smells burnt I would get it flushed, check your owners manual for the proper fluid. It may have nothing to do with the noise but it should prevent a tranny problem.

 

ok... i swear up and down that it's the belt or the idler pulley. tranny's been flushed and filled, so it shifts perfectly... the dealership put some industrial strength belt dressing on the belt. it stopped squealing for about 24 hrs. it does it off and on now. but i did notice something at the dealership-for some strange reason they keep listing my truck on the invoice as a '96. i'm pretty sure ford hadn't come out with the flex-fuels at that point. '96 and '00 belts should be the same, right? or did they put the wrong one on there?? maybe they wanted it to be a '96 to match up with my mileage (25k/year). dunno. i'm definitely sure the tach connector is loose, but i don't know if i should take it out and check it if the rest of my gauges work...

 

I had belt noise, I cleaned the pulleys with a wire brush and put a new Motorcraft belt on, so far so good.

The 10th digit in your vin# is the year, my 2000 is Y.