Montero Tach Sticking. Any ideas?

[skinzluch]

I've had a problem for a while now with the tachometer on my Gen2 Montero sticking at about the 3500 rpm spot on the gauge. The needle moves a little bit with engine revs but within a very narrow range (within two of the small hash marks on the gauge). I tested the tach inputs on the the wiring harness with my volt meter and the meter needle tracks the engine revs perfectly, which leads me to believe the problem is with the tach itself.

When I pulled apart the gauge cluster and pulled the tach out, I saw a couple of wires behind the tach faceplate that were touching. "Ah ha!" I thought and separated the wires. When I put everything back together there was no change. The tach needle was still stuck in the same spot.

Has anyone ever had this problem or know of how to fix it?

Thanks,
Nik

 

[scrubber3]

Most of the time my tachometer doesn't even work. Sometimes it spontaneously starts to work until I shut the engine off. Doesn't really bother me too much as it has done it since the day I bought it. I cannot really think of any time I have ever really needed it for anything important. Would be nice if it did work though.

 

[skinzluch]

Hey Scrubber, mine was intermittent for a while too. I do like the tach for engine braking on steep hills to make sure I'm not over-revving. And the tach's there, so, yeah, it would be nice if it worked.

If you, or anyone else, has any other ideas, let me know.

Thanks,

 

[scrubber3]

I have pondered the idea of getting a small 30 dollar aftermarket tach and just placing it on the right side of the IPC. Then I run into the fact that the faster the engine is turning, the louder it gets and I just drive according to sound. Like I said, with an automatic I don't need one. Now, if I still have my GTO with a 6 speed I would need it. Especially at the quarter mile track. My Montero will never see any kind of speed competition so....

I do understand if you want one for your needs though. It would probably be more cost effective to look into an inexpensive replacement.

 

[PhyrraM]

If you've got the cluster torn down that far, why not just put a J/Y tach into it?

Other than that, I have no clue how to troubleshoot it on that level.

 

[skinzluch]

I tried the junkyard route. I got an instrument cluster out of an automatic, pulled the tach and installed it but it didn't work. Not sure if the other truck being an automatic had anything to do with it. (My truck is a 5-spd.) If I could find a replacement, that would be the quickest solution.

 

[off-roader]

I tried the junkyard route. I got an instrument cluster out of an automatic, pulled the tach and installed it but it didn't work. Not sure if the other truck being an automatic had anything to do with it. (My truck is a 5-spd.) If I could find a replacement, that would be the quickest solution.

Sorry... mine in all 4 rigs I've owned have always worked. If anything it was the speedo cable that went out in my gen I's.

There's a local guy (also a Montero owner) in the bay area who fixes older speedo's & tachs by rebuilding them from the ground up but for the most part current speedo's (post 1980's) have not been problematic. You may want to contact him directly. His name is Kris. Tell him I sent you. You never know. You may even see him in his red Gen I Montero on one of the outings I occasionally put together.

 

[skinzluch]

Thanks for the tip. I'm in the Bay Area. Do you have his contact info?

 

[off-roader]

Thanks for the tip. I'm in the Bay Area. Do you have his contact info?

http://www.speedometer.org/
His name is Kris. Tell him Ray/Off-Roader sent you. He's a cool guy and will help you out.

 

[skinzluch]

Thanks, I appreciate it, Ray.

 

[off-roader]

No problem. Let me know how it goes.