Date:         Tue, 30 Nov 1999 02:51:56 EST
Reply-To:     Oxroad@AOL.COM
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Jeffrey R <Oxroad@AOL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Tachometer woes
Comments: To: TPenberthy@creativepro.com
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

In a message dated 99-11-29 15:32:12 EST, you write:

> Anyone have any ideas?
>

Yeah. slap the dash again.

Ok I have a better one--maybe.... Take off the pod cover plastic piece to
access the back of the speedo/tach cluster. Locate the plug that plugs the
gauge pod into the electrical system. It's on the tach side of the cluster
and has all the pretty wires going into a white piece of plastic which is the
plug. Having found that, start the bus and wiggle the connector and see if
the tach works at all. If it does chances are the electrical connection at
this plug is bad. Unplug the connector and look at number 9 connection.
(there are 14 total spaces for wires each numbered with very small numbers)
to the best of my knowledge the tach wire is the Green wire at number 9.
Carefully clean the connection and look at the plug end (end with wires) to
be sure the #9 connector has enough of the silver metal connection point
sticking up above the plastic connector to make a good connection with the
instrument pod. You can bend it up with a small tool borrowed from a small
man who lives in a small house.

I think this is a good place to start looking. Especially since you said the
slap on the dash fixed it. There is also a chance the tach wire has severed
somewhere or is grounding out. If this is the case it sounds like it must be
close to the dash board since the slap whooped the tach into shape.

Good Luck
Jeff
83.5 Westy
NYC