tachometer
Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 8,462
Likes: 4
From: Durant, OK (SOSU)
How many wires you got on it? I'm assuming it's an electrical gauge. What engine do you have?
The general suggestion is to mount it, hook up the power, lighting, and ground wires (power to anything that comes on with the key being turned to ON, lighting to anything else that is lighted by the main light switch unless you want it controlled differently, and ground to some sort of ground...). I'm going to suggest you allow a shop to hook up the actual signal wire, as there are several thousand volts down there you're playing with. Safer for you.
The general suggestion is to mount it, hook up the power, lighting, and ground wires (power to anything that comes on with the key being turned to ON, lighting to anything else that is lighted by the main light switch unless you want it controlled differently, and ground to some sort of ground...). I'm going to suggest you allow a shop to hook up the actual signal wire, as there are several thousand volts down there you're playing with. Safer for you.
Postmaster
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,417
Likes: 3
From: Durham, NC
Originally Posted by RangerPilot
How many wires you got on it? I'm assuming it's an electrical gauge. What engine do you have?
The general suggestion is to mount it, hook up the power, lighting, and ground wires (power to anything that comes on with the key being turned to ON, lighting to anything else that is lighted by the main light switch unless you want it controlled differently, and ground to some sort of ground...). I'm going to suggest you allow a shop to hook up the actual signal wire, as there are several thousand volts down there you're playing with. Safer for you.
The general suggestion is to mount it, hook up the power, lighting, and ground wires (power to anything that comes on with the key being turned to ON, lighting to anything else that is lighted by the main light switch unless you want it controlled differently, and ground to some sort of ground...). I'm going to suggest you allow a shop to hook up the actual signal wire, as there are several thousand volts down there you're playing with. Safer for you.
thousand volts coming from the PCM!!!
Laughing Gas
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 765
Likes: 11
From: Moneta, VA
Standard tach's I believe have a black wire and a green wire. The black goes to a ground, the green you can splice into the PCM, which should be mounted on the passenger side firewall/fenderwell. You will need to splice into pin number 48, which will be a brown or tan wire with a yellow stripe, to obtain your engine RPM signal.
You may try searching the forums, I have no hands on experience with wiring an aftermarket tach into a '95+ Ranger.
You may try searching the forums, I have no hands on experience with wiring an aftermarket tach into a '95+ Ranger.
Postmaster
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,417
Likes: 3
From: Durham, NC
Originally Posted by RangerPilot
I always was told it was hooked into the ground for the coil? My apologies.
is generated from the PCM.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 8,462
Likes: 4
From: Durant, OK (SOSU)
Ah this is what that PM was. Good to know I'll keep that in mind.
Guess I've been lookin' into older engines a little too much lately. Thanks Bob!
Guess I've been lookin' into older engines a little too much lately. Thanks Bob!
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Freshman User
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 29
Likes: 0
yes it is an aftermarket tach. and its for a ranger with a 2.3L. and i just got a guage bezle and its going in that and i need to know how to wire it..should i bring it somewere or is it easy enough for me to do.?
Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 8,462
Likes: 4
From: Durant, OK (SOSU)
you can do it yourself. You'll just have to run a wire from the signal wire for the tach (probably came as a green wire) to the signal wire going to the Powertrain Control Module or PCM. As tiggie said, this is a brown or tan wire with a yellow stripe. You can probably just get one of those "T" connectors that allows you to go right into the wire. Quick and easy.
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 299
Likes: 0
From: South Texas
I'm going to sorta hijack this thread. I would like to install a tach in my '87 Ranger and would like some info on how to go about it/what tach to use. My truck has an electronically (TFI) controlled distributor. It's the 2.3 with a 5 speed if that matters. My dash layout is the one with a gauge cluster on the left and a spedo on the right. I always wanted to have a tachometer but don't really know anything about installing one. Any info would be appreciated.
