Notices
1987 - 1996 F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks 1987 - 1996 Ford F-150, F-250, F-350 and larger pickups - including the 1997 heavy-duty F250/F350+ trucks

TACH HELPPPP!!!!!

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jan 18, 2010 | 04:42 PM
  #1  
Hendrixx's Avatar
Hendrixx
Thread Starter
|
Freshman User
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 43
Likes: 0
From: Barrie Ontario
TACH HELPPPP!!!!!

I have an aftermarket tach, red wire, black wire, and the infamous GREEN wire... I have it so theres light and power to the tach when i turn the key, but where in jesus' *** do i put the green wire? I was thinking its on the coil just ontop of the right rockercover, but theres two prongs only coming out and theres a plug with two wires going to those two plugs, leaving nothing for the tach.. im real ****ing confused... please help! its a 1990 5.0L in an 86 F150!!
 
Reply
Old Jan 18, 2010 | 04:47 PM
  #2  
lew52's Avatar
lew52
Postmaster
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 4,558
Likes: 2
Red to power , black to ground , green to neg side of coil ...Lew
 
Reply
Old Jan 18, 2010 | 04:53 PM
  #3  
Hendrixx's Avatar
Hendrixx
Thread Starter
|
Freshman User
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 43
Likes: 0
From: Barrie Ontario
can you give me a picture description or something?

... cause yeah im that retarded
 
Reply
Old Jan 18, 2010 | 05:14 PM
  #4  
lew52's Avatar
lew52
Postmaster
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 4,558
Likes: 2
On the coil there is a neg & poss side , its probabley not marked on the coil , theres just a plug , you want to hook the tach wire to the neg side or distributor side of the coil , theres one power wire to the poss side the other neg will go go to the dist, thats where you want to hook the wire , i think looking at the front of the coil it will be on the left side ....Lew
 
Reply
Old Jan 18, 2010 | 05:16 PM
  #5  
Hendrixx's Avatar
Hendrixx
Thread Starter
|
Freshman User
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 43
Likes: 0
From: Barrie Ontario
so splice the wire going from the coil to the distributer and attach the tach one right onto it ? so its like a 3 way?
 
Reply
Old Jan 18, 2010 | 05:20 PM
  #6  
Virto's Avatar
Virto
Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 1,394
Likes: 0
From: Des Plaines, Illinois
It may also be labeled as TACH or ATTACH TEST on the body of the coil. Looking at it from the front, it *should* be on the left, if it's factory.
 
Reply
Old Jan 18, 2010 | 05:23 PM
  #7  
Virto's Avatar
Virto
Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 1,394
Likes: 0
From: Des Plaines, Illinois
Here's a really awful picture from my cellphone.

 
Reply
Old Jan 18, 2010 | 05:26 PM
  #8  
Hendrixx's Avatar
Hendrixx
Thread Starter
|
Freshman User
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 43
Likes: 0
From: Barrie Ontario
I love you. I think this will work. But there is a wire going into that side of the coil, so just cut a portion of the rubber off, and tie the green wire onto it and tape it or what?
 
Reply
FTE Stories

Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts

story-0

Top 10 Fords at 2026 Carlisle Ford Nationals

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

3 Best / 3 Worst Parts of Modern Ford Ownership

 Brett Foote
story-2

10 Amazing Upgrades That Solve Common Ford Truck Owner Headaches

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-3

Every 2026 Ford Engine Explained

 Brett Foote
story-4

10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)

 Michael S. Palmer
story-6

Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)

 Brett Foote
story-9

Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

 Joe Kucinski
Old Jan 18, 2010 | 05:28 PM
  #9  
Hendrixx's Avatar
Hendrixx
Thread Starter
|
Freshman User
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 43
Likes: 0
From: Barrie Ontario
Wait that picture is off an 86 arent they? I have the 90 motor, in my 86 truck, sorry for that confusion, but do you have a pic of that? I have the haynes repair manual for 1980 thru 96, but i cant find it in there.
 
Reply
Old Jan 18, 2010 | 05:29 PM
  #10  
Virto's Avatar
Virto
Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 1,394
Likes: 0
From: Des Plaines, Illinois
It's from a Chilton's F-series EFI edition, so it'll cover any EFI engine that came out of 87-96.

You can cut, solder and splice, or you can probably pick up some plastic wire taps. They basically have a little plastic snap-shut shell and a needle that runs though your wire and the wire you want to tap into.
 
Reply
Old Jan 18, 2010 | 05:31 PM
  #11  
Hendrixx's Avatar
Hendrixx
Thread Starter
|
Freshman User
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 43
Likes: 0
From: Barrie Ontario
So let me get this right. If im looking at the coil ontop of the right rockercover from the front of the truck, the wire is on the RIGHT of the coil, and i cut out a piece of the rubber and just put the green wire onto that wire and tape it or..?
 
Reply
Old Jan 18, 2010 | 05:37 PM
  #12  
Virto's Avatar
Virto
Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 1,394
Likes: 0
From: Des Plaines, Illinois
Looking at it in the book, there should be two wires running into the coil connector.

The wire that terminates on the LEFT side is the BATTERY, the wire on the RIGHT is the DEC.

You should be able to splice into the RIGHT wire. That said, if you're going to do the cut and tape method, you might want to heat shrink your work. Moisture = bad.
 
Reply
Old Jan 18, 2010 | 05:47 PM
  #13  
Hendrixx's Avatar
Hendrixx
Thread Starter
|
Freshman User
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 43
Likes: 0
From: Barrie Ontario
I will solder it then, thanks for the tip, one more thing... that LEFT wire, it goes to negative or positive terminal on the battery? The wire is crusty looking so i might just get a long wire and replace it.
 
Reply
Old Jan 18, 2010 | 05:54 PM
  #14  
Virto's Avatar
Virto
Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 1,394
Likes: 0
From: Des Plaines, Illinois
All that's indicated is that it's the battery terminal. From the other diagrams, it's from the ignition switch itself.

EDIT: For a 90 5.0, it's supposed to be a red/light green wire, that runs from the ign switch to the coil.
 
Reply




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 05:23 AM.

story-0
Top 10 Fords at 2026 Carlisle Ford Nationals

Slideshow: Top 10 Fords at 2026 Ford Nationals

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-09 11:10:08


VIEW MORE
story-1
3 Best / 3 Worst Parts of Modern Ford Ownership

Based on years of owning multiple modern Ford products.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-09 10:53:36


VIEW MORE
story-2
10 Amazing Upgrades That Solve Common Ford Truck Owner Headaches

SPONSORED: From muddy boots to rain-soaked cargo, these upgrades address some of the most common frustrations Ford truck owners face every day.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-06-08 18:50:34


VIEW MORE
story-3
Every 2026 Ford Engine Explained

Here's everything you need to know about every Ford engine available for the 2026 model year.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-05 12:58:01


VIEW MORE
story-4
10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love

Slideshow: 10 ugly Ford trucks that we still kinda love.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-03 09:51:16


VIEW MORE
story-5
10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)

Slideshow: the best gifts for dads & grads

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-03 15:43:58


VIEW MORE
story-6
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath

Slideshow: Called the Fortress, the 850-horsepower pickup combines Raptor underpinnings with military-inspired features, survival equipment, and a starting price of $285,000.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-03 11:38:36


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer

Slideshow: 10 most expensive Ford trucks ever sold on Bring a Trailer.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 16:24:34


VIEW MORE
story-8
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)

Here's everything that has changed for the latest model year.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-27 16:17:28


VIEW MORE
story-9
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

Slideshow: Top 10 Ford truck tragedies.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-18 19:34:33


VIEW MORE