sam0218

i need help installing my tach. it says that the red wire should be hooked up to any wire which is energized only when the ignition key is in the ON(run) position, not off or ACCESORIES. my question is, couldnt i put it under a fuse like the radio fuse? i tried but it didnt work so what else could i do? and another question, the white wire shuold be hooked up to the instrument panel lighting circuit or any lead that is controlled by the instrument panel dimmer control. i put that wire under the instrument panel fuse and nothing. please help!!! thanks in advance

boostedblkef

iTrader: (1)

the red wire is for ignition power so take a test light and test any cuircut in the fuse panel with the key in the on position then turn it off make sure the light in the tach goes off
the other wire is a dimmer its not a big deal to hook that up the light just wont dim down and the signal wire can go to the dizzy wire

janz3n

red wire you can hook up to anything with a constant power ie. radio fuse. the white one needs a 12v switch source unless you want the light on all the time. for that use the interment cluster fuse. and i think it matters where you put the wire under the fuse because of the flow of electricity.. i think its the one closest to the floor or firewall. thats what i did.

sam0218

i havent had a light in the tach at all tho so could my tach be bad? also there are clip like things like the ones that go on speakers, there are a couple spots for those will that work?

janz3n

you probably just havent had the wires hooked up right so your light hasnt had a chance to come on yet.. get the wires in the right place first

sam0218

i got it working, sorta. i got the wires right but when i have the light wire hooked up to the instrument panel it the light is very very dim without the cluster lights on, but when i turn them on the light completly goes away and the tach no longer reads the rpm. so now its like it isnt getting enough energy to work. maybe i need a new alternator or battery?

janz3n

what is the red wire hooked up to?

sam0218

the tach came with the connecter circled and there are 3 places for that so i plugged it in there, that is where it currently sits. i also tried with it under the fuse for the radio but it was still dim then nothing

chadmasterc

I just installed a tach into my brothers s10 this weekend.

you could splice/solder the red wire it into the power wire that runs to the ciggarette lighter or wrap it around one of the spades of the radio fuse.

the white wire needs to be spliced/soldered into any light that is controlled by the dimmer switch(an easy one would be the little lights on the back of the guage cluster). The guage cluster easily comes out.

Black wire goes to a good ground(my instructions told me to put it on the negative terminal of the battery for the least interference).

Green wire goes to the tach wire( behind the guage cluster somewhere) Ive never installed an aftermarket tach in a civic so im not exactly sure(think its blue)

hope that helps.

janz3n

ya its blue^ i dont know what your problem is then man.. thats a weird problem though.

sam0218

could it be that my ground isnt on the negative battery terminal, i just grounded it to a piece of clean metal with a screw

boostedblkef

iTrader: (1)

did you use a wire brush or something to scuff the metal around the screw hole just because its metal doesent mean it will be a good ground

janz3n

easy way to see if your ground works is to have everything hooked up except the ground. then turn your car on and touch the groud to where you want it to go and if the tach works your fine.. are you sure you put the switch to the 4 cylinder mode?