Date: Thu, 2 Jun 2011 11:41:54 -0700
Reply-To: Don Hanson <dhanson928@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Don Hanson <dhanson928@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: aftermarket tach
In-Reply-To: <BANLkTik1b9OCpxtM+t+qUMb8h4=na=xZ7w@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
Dunno about the wire with the signal. I ran a four-wire 'bundle' from my
motor up to the dash for other needed signals in addition to the signal from
the coil. Trailer wire, available at your local cheapo autoparts chain
store.
I did the tach add on too, after first trying a bunch of different dash
pods and instrument clusters and finally blowing that off...too fussy for my
skill-set, I could never get any of the diagrams to match what I had in
hand, in real life...so I kept my 84 dash and put in the extra aftermarket
tach. I kick myself for wasting all that time trying to adapt all those
other instrument clusters, foils, PINs and itsy-bitsy little wires. I musta
removed, re-wired, replaced, repeated that stinking dash about 15 times
without it ever working properly.
Couple of helpful hints. Your aftermarket tach may have a seperate wire
to connect to power for it's internal light. Hook that to a blue/gray wire
that comes off the light switch 'wheel' below the vanagon switch...if your
van's wires match the ones in my 84. Then the tach will dim with the other
dash lights..
I pop-riveted the bracket for my tach right onto the instrument pod face,
where the digital clock face eventually goes, or maybe that odd oil pressure
stuff from later years...
I shoulda used spade connectors for the wires, and I will, next time I
have the instruments out. I used some aluminum stock for the bracket and it
vibrates on gravel roads just a tiny bit...enough to make the pod cover
squeek a little...Only on really washboard roads....another sound to add to
the Vanagon 'tune'...A steel bracket would be stiffer, or a bit more
clearance somewhere...I don't really care much....
https://picasaweb.google.com/dhanson928/VanTach?authkey=Gv1sRgCKqJ8aHXmr66Bg#
Don Hanson
On Thu, Jun 2, 2011 at 9:21 AM, Jonathan Edwards <edwards151@gmail.com>wrote:
> Why would VW start installing tachometer's in '85 full campers, but not the
> Wolfsburg weekenders?? I'm lucky enough to have an '85 weekender with no
> tach, so I'd like to install an aftermarket tach. Picked one up at my
> FLAPS
> for $30. Wiring seems straightforward, but I've got a few questions.
>
> First off - do I need to run a wire all the way back to the coil, or is
> there a wire already from the coil to somewhere in the dash? (I only ask
> because I know some '85s came with a tach from the factory, so maybe that
> wire is part of a wiring harness?).
>
> Next question - I'm trying to figure out where to mount this thing so that
> it looks the cleanest, and is in good view. My first thought was on the
> dash, to the left of the instrument cluster right in front of the side
> window dash vent. Unfortunately, the mounting hardware that came with the
> tach won't allow me to tilt the guage up to compensate for the downward
> slope of the dash, so I'll have to fabricate something. Then I got to
> looking at the instrument cluster and noticed the space, dead center, that
> is directly below the idiot lights is about the size of my tach. I've never
> seen any lights come on in that space - it looks to be a cheesy 'fake'
> notification center or something. Has anyone here ever installed a tach (or
> any other gauge) in that space? Any reason not to? (assuming I have enough
> clearance behind to fit the depth of the guage, probably 2"). Click link
> for
> picture.
>
> Thanks!
>
> Jon
> 85' Wolfsburg Weekender 1.9 4sp
>
> http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd406/edwards151/misc%20van/tach.jpg
>
| 
