Ok I've been driving my OBD1 Z6 powered beater for about a week now and I finally came across an 88 cluster with a tachometer. Well I installed the cluster and everything works fine, except the tach. It reads way too high and Moves way too fast. At idle I'm clocking about 1500-1700 and it hits vtec @ approx. 7000. Rolling down the road at 30 in 4th I was clocking 3000. So with all that info you should be able to get a pretty good picture of what is going on. Is there some tach signal difference from the 88 electrical system compared to the 92-95? I've allready found that my 89 CRX cluster won't work, which I figured would because it was to my belief that 88-89 were the same. Is the tach just screwed in this car or is something else going on here? Even as impressive as it looks when the tach burys extremly fast, I really need to fix this.

 

well, sounds like a tach issue...there is no difference in the tach signal given off the z6 dist as opposed to the ef dist...so its either a fault tach in the cluster, or your idle is set wat too high, but either way, vtec should be kicking in arouin 5500...so i would say either get another cluster, or borrow a friends first to compare, or just get an autometer and direct wire it...save the drama ..hth

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by StripShowHatch &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">well, sounds like a tach issue...there is no difference in the tach signal given off the z6 dist as opposed to the ef dist...so its either a fault tach in the cluster, or your idle is set wat too high, but either way, vtec should be kicking in arouin 5500...so i would say either get another cluster, or borrow a friends first to compare, or just get an autometer and direct wire it...save the drama ..hth</TD></TR></TABLE>

Yeah I don't want an aftermarket tach, I allready have one I can rob from my CRX garage ornament. I just don't want a big hokey rice bowl in my beater. Is it possible the neddle might have gotten moved when I swaped my speedo into the cluster? Or is this tach just junk? If it is can I switch tachs out of a 90-91 as long as I put it back in the 88-89 cluster, or will it not fit? Thanks in advance.

 

Well, I have never tried to swap the internals from cluster to cluster, but I would assume since the housings are different, then the mounting, and or size may differ in the two tach, but you can try. I dont think the needle shifted when you swaped the speedo, but it may be possible...I would try and find someone with the same cluster and test theres first to see if it is just a tach issue, or whether it is something more in depth...and you dont need a monster tach to go after market...i custom mounted a tach in my center console...just about preference, but I understand why you like the cleanliness of the stock look....good luck...let me know what happens...it would be interestin to know if you can swap all the internals.

Jason

 

i had a similar problem before in my 88si it turned out to be just the tach.

 

Gonna go canibalize my CRX cluster right now. I wanted to get a Stack Dash for that bitch anyway. I'll keep you posted..........

 

I removed all of the internal tach parts and switched them between my '89 CRX and my '88 Civic cluster, well it was almost a direct swap. The faceplates line up with dowel pins n the cluster and the faceplates have to match the cluster so I had to pull the needle and swap faces also, I could have just shaved down the dowels, but it really wouldn't be right.

Once I did this my tach worked great, idle at about 700-750, VTEC at 5000, and I never reved it past 7000 but I asume the rev limiter is up there somewhere. I'm gonna try not to find it being my daily driver and all. It's funny how this motor cost me way less money then my CRX motor, but I don't beat on it near as hard, funny how that works.

As far as compatiblity between internal parts, I don't see why you couldn't use any year parts they all seem the same the back peice with the tracer wires is where all the difference seems to be. Next time I come across a 90-91 I'll try switching those part too.