Easy Tachometer Installation!!

[STXS10]

i dont even have that tach anymore....

[xSmokYx]

i read on here before i put my tach into my 1997 that it was only 99+ or something that there is a wire for the tach. Thats wrong, in my 97 i pulled out my cluster, and plugged my tach power and ground in, then i simly took that annoying little wire that you dont know where to hook up that actually controls the tach- and started touching the metal prongs coming out of the plug that goes into your cluster. I finally found it, kind of a tannish white looking wire and i spliced into it. I was idling at 500rpm and wondered why my rev limiter hit and it said i was at like 2500, but it was because my tach was set for a v8 not a 4 cylinder... simply flicked the switch on the back and it idles exactly at 1k now and works PERFECT. There IS a wire for the tach in 97s!

[ss383]

thanks for the good tutorial... took like ... jsut a few minutes to install mine. I always was wondering how hard i was beating on the 4 banger.

[2.2L Sonoma]

Quote: Originally Posted by Jay02XBlazer

It actually only works on 98 -99... 2000 + run a digital signal and the tach will dance everywere I hooked a tach up in my 98 a long time ago I mounted mine on the a pillar if you have any questions feel free to ask...


I have HEARD on 94 there is a green wire coming off the coil packs and that what you splice into.....

BTW I spliced my white wire did not cut it just in case it might mess with something... also very good write up with pics I didnt have a digi cam at the time to get mine uploaded...


Jay

Somone mentioned that the '99s may have an analog signal going through the wire into the stock tach? Ive been looking into creating an LED/Light bar tachometer unit to mount on the top of my dash as a quick reference on acceleration....i really need to know what kind of signal is going into the cluster in order for the circuit to function correctly...does anyone know for sure?

(analog=a steady rise in voltage as RPM increases? that is my assumption)

thanks to anyone who may know...

[ss383]

Quote: Originally Posted by 2.2L Sonoma

lol talk about an old thread, but just curious....

do you know what kind of digital signal it runs? i always thought that it ran a pulse and then the circuitry counted the amount of pulses in a time frame, which was then displayed on the tach. Ive been looking into creating an LED/Light bar tachometer to mount on the top of my dash as a quick referance on acceleration.

thanks to anyone who may know...

that is a really cool idea..

[road_runner]

thanks man you really saved me alot of money!!

[a_k]

so from what I am reading on a 93 2.2L I need to splice into one of the white wires coming from the coil? Does it matter which one? Thanks

Adam

[NickyCamaro]

I have a 2000 S-10 2.2L. I put a sunpro super tach II in using these instructions. It worked great for about 10min then it craped out. But the light works fine and it does twich when I start up the truck. I didn't see that there was a switch for 4, 6, or 8 cylindar in the back of the tach I don't know if this matters it was set for 6. I did not yet have a chance to double check my solder job yet but the connection felt good through the tape. If the connections look good could the tach be deffective? Could I have fryed somthing?

Thanks

[BIGCRIP28]

i just took the tach signal wire (coming from the tach) and just touched it on all them pins for the gage cluster until it started working. (while the engine is running of course)

[bww3588]

Quote: Originally Posted by 2.2L Sonoma

Somone mentioned that the '99s may have an analog signal going through the wire into the stock tach? Ive been looking into creating an LED/Light bar tachometer unit to mount on the top of my dash as a quick reference on acceleration....i really need to know what kind of signal is going into the cluster in order for the circuit to function correctly...does anyone know for sure?

(analog=a steady rise in voltage as RPM increases? that is my assumption)

thanks to anyone who may know...

yes through 1999 is analog. 2000 up is digital.

[G90640]

Quote: Originally Posted by bww3588

i did. im my case i told em i needed a 98 s-10 cluster with tach with about 90k miles and thats exactly what i go. a tach cluster with 89765 miles. my truck had 90243 on it so i got the benefit of the doubt for 20 dollars and it works. but thats just me. it took me 20 minutes to do this and it was a simple swap so i think this is looking positive trying to simplify things. but do what you guys want. its your truck.

I tried doing this on my 99 S10, but the only things that seemed to work were the oil pressure gauge, the temperature gauge, the fuel gauge, and the battery gauge. The speedometer and the tachometer, along with others, did not work at all. Interestingly, the odometer and the high beam idicator light only worked while the ignition was off. I'm figuring that I'm going to have to move around some of the gauge cluster wires at the harness, in order to make it work properly.

With that said, does anybody out there have the wiring diagrams for the gauge clusters (with and without the tachometer), such as the Helm service manual? That would be very helpful and I would greatly appreciate it. (The Hanyes service manual was not very helpful.)

[bww3588]

Quote: Originally Posted by G90640

I tried doing this on my 99 S10, but the only things that seemed to work were the oil pressure gauge, the temperature gauge, the fuel gauge, and the battery gauge. The speedometer and the tachometer, along with others, did not work at all. Interestingly, the odometer and the high beam idicator light only worked while the ignition was off. I'm figuring that I'm going to have to move around some of the gauge cluster wires at the harness, in order to make it work properly.

With that said, does anybody out there have the wiring diagrams for the gauge clusters (with and without the tachometer), such as the Helm service manual? That would be very helpful and I would greatly appreciate it. (The Hanyes service manual was not very helpful.)

did you get one out of a 99? if they gave you a newer one it wont work 2000 up were digital and 1998-1999 were analog. make sure it is out of a 1999.

[G90640]

Quote: Originally Posted by bww3588

did you get one out of a 99? if they gave you a newer one it wont work 2000 up were digital and 1998-1999 were analog. make sure it is out of a 1999.

The cluster that I purchased was from a 1998 S10, which, according to my research, should be the same as the one for the 1999 S10. I think that it is just a matter of re-pinning the gauge cluster harness, so that the appropriate signal is sent to each of the components.

Hence my need for an accurate gauge cluster wiring diagram and/or instructions on how to this correctly.

[bww3588]

i see. yeas it should work. your right. probably just bad conncetions. if you got it from a junkyard chances are it might have been damaged in the accident. or when it was hit somthing could have shorted it out. take the back cover off and check to see if everythign is soldered in correctly. you can get a diagram from any gm garage. for free.

[marty20]

i spliced into my white wire and i got a signal clear as day i don't knwo if its a bad thing i didn't cut it instead. but it works.

[bassguy354]

I did the easy thing and bought a tach cluster on eBay. It cost $5 + shipping and hooked up to my '95 with no mods to the wiring at all. I have an auto and got a manual cluster, so I don't have my PRND321 anymore, but half the lights didn't work anyway and I know 3 clicks is drive And it does have 102k more miles than my original odometer, but I don't care. It'll be fun to roll around and have over 200k on the clock It was a super-easy swap and I fixed my broken hazard flasher switch and iPod FM modulator wiring while I had the dash apart. I just wish I'd checked the bulbs, cause now I've gotta disassemble it later and replace a few....

[sexchangedisuzu]

this is a great post! i followed it exactly and i hooked up my tach and BAM!!! i now have an rpm gauge! great work with the thread!!!

[NateZQ8]

MUUUCH easier to get a gauge cluster............but I kinda like that smooth look without all of the clutter.........looks good if you like that sort of thing


Nate

[dropped94]

so what is the wire you use for the 94-97 trucks

[BakerSince1986]

Is it possible to get a guage cluster from another s10 that has the tach in it and replace it with the one you have(cluster w/o tach)?

[bww3588]

Quote: Originally Posted by BakerSince1986

Is it possible to get a guage cluster from another s10 that has the tach in it and replace it with the one you have(cluster w/o tach)?

yeah thats what has been said for the past 3 pages. not to be a prick but read the posts.

[pearlwytesdime]

Quote: Originally Posted by dropped94

someone has to have done it

where is stinky when you need him lol

whats up bra...look i have a 96 and i been wonderin the same damn thing but i finally figured it out today...u seen how the 98+ have that blue and grey clip well 94-97 dont have that as you probably seen...but they do have a clip it is black and its in the bottom left hand corner after you got the cluster out. simply just pink both sides of the clip and it will come out...cut the white/cream colored wire tie the rpm signal wire into it hook up you power ground and light and there u go hope this helps all the 94-97 people out because no one specifically said how to in this thread...

[Red97S10]

I've seen alot of people say to just get a cluster from a truck with a tach. I found a cluster with tach from a 97 blazer, will it work on my 95 s10 4 cylinder? I want to add a tach but i'd like it to look factory. i wanted to put a tach in my s10, but i'd like it to look factory. I'm guessing since the blazer is a v6 i might need a tach adapter for the tach to work right, if the cluster will work at all?

[ktr_s10]

in my '94 i found the tach. signal off the ecu under the pass. side dash and spliced works perfectly, will have to take a look to see which one it is exactly

[The2.2LKing]

I just added a mini tach on my dash using these instructions... 98 s10 auto... i found it was easiest to just run the power and the ground and the dimmer from my cd deck... then the off-white wire second one down on the grey clip side... that helped the most...

*** I FOUND OUT THAT YOU HAVE GOT TO DIRECTLY CONNECT THE TACH INPUT WIRES!!!... THE BEST CONNECTION YOU CAN MAKE IS BEST...

[blazin24]

Anyone do I just hook up the wire for the tach signal up to my coil? I don't want to rip my dash apart. Last time i tried to take the guages off i think i amost broke it. lol. and its hard to take off the vent and light switches.

[road_runner]

i think you can just follow the directions in that came with the tach, unless your running a dis system, i think the 4.3s arent dis.

[longislandboi85]

Quote: Originally Posted by blazin24

thanks i think i am going to run a sunpro even thought some of you guys say they don't work i will try it for my self and if it doesn't work i will take it back. thanks

it will work you just have to get the right signal. As some of you may very well know a dis system isnt very good for getting a tach signal. If you think that you full of shit.

The perfect signal can be attained from the crank angle sensor. Tap into that line comming off the ecu and you will be great.

[road_runner]

Quote: Originally Posted by longislandboi85

it will work you just have to get the right signal. As some of you may very well know a dis system isnt very good for getting a tach signal. If you think that you full of shit.

The perfect signal can be attained from the crank angle sensor. Tap into that line comming off the ecu and you will be great.

or you can find the signal wire going in to your gauge cluster.

[ExtCab96S_Dime]

so in the back of the gauges on a 96 without a tach i just wire into the white wire that leads to nothing on the stock gauges?

[C-LEE]

yea, it's like a white/cream color

[ExtCab96S_Dime]

thanks a lot man!

[robocop98]

here is the tach I am going to use
it will be here thursday (had to order it)
will post a pic after the install.

[robocop98]

the white-ish wire on my 98 auto w/o tach
didnot work.
I ended going out under the hood & got the signal
from the vcm

[dropped94]

how big is that tach

[jbrisson]

Quote: Originally Posted by xSmokYx

Dont be so negative, and youll never find a truck with the same miles so you might as well forget that shit. I just bought the sunpro II that i noticed a couple of you said you were hooking up, im gonna try here in about an hour to hook it up, ill get back to you if it worked out right or not... im getting confused thought because some people are saying they spliced the wires, some are saying they cut them. I have a 97 so im just going to splice it off and try that out!

What about finding a truck with less miles... then just spinning it up to your miles, can that be done to preserve the correct reading?

[ironpimp]

Hi guys.
I have a 02 2.2L Reg cab

Wich wire is the Tach one in my dash?
whats the color?

[blazin24]

I had a sunpro installed in my blazer right off of the coil. Worked great so i bought another one for my s10 however i haven't had the time to install it yet.

[ironpimp]

Hey cool. But where is the coil on that baby? lol You guys got pics or something?

[ivybandit]

Easy to get tach signal from PCM, saves tearing the dash apart.

[mattchu60]

Im wanting to put a Tach in my 2000 s-10 2.2 with manual. I see a lot of posts on here about a digital signal used in this year and people saying the tach does not read correctly or doesnt work at all. Does this mean that my only option is to get another gauge cluster? Or is there another way for me to hook up a tach.

[Loki515]

Quote: Originally Posted by MtDewS10Zq8

Alright! I bought a RActive Tach (10,000 RPM) and It had four wires Black(ground), red(battery+), yellow (battery ignition), and green (tachometer signal source). For you aftermarket stereo people this should be pretty simple - if you have extra wire behind your stereo - pull out your head unit and splice the 3 power cables into the power cables from the head unit (black to black red to red and yellow to yellow). Now! the hard part right? NO! easy part! don't you dare drill through the fire wall if you have a '98+ truck!!! I have a 1998 S10 5spd no tach in guages. The wires going to the guages HAVE A TACH SIGNAL IN THEM!
you will see a blue clip and a grey clip holding in the wires. On the Grey clip side it is the 2nd wire from the left (white-ish wire) cut that wire and hook it up to the tach signal for your new after-market tach! Reply if you have any questions!

wow this thread is really old.....

this post really helps me out, but i get confused by what he says.
i have a "competitionEl Tach" from Faze it has 3 wires for the tach: red, black and green. it also has a back light with its own power supply (hooked that into my fuse box). My truck is a 98 s10 truck with a 2.2L, 5 speed manual. i hooked the red and black wires directly to the battery (its what the instructions said; and no i didnt drill into the firewall, there was a spot already in it that i ran them through). ok now the green wire is what controls the tach, so from what dew says, i need to hook it onto a white wire that goes to my gauge cluster right? ok besides removing some of my dash, what else do i have to do to be able to get my gauges out in order to do this. also just so i dont screw anything up, (in detail) which wire is it (pictures would help lots.)

[mattw205]

Quote: Originally Posted by MtDewS10Zq8

Alright! I bought a RActive Tach (10,000 RPM) and It had four wires Black(ground), red(battery+), yellow (battery ignition), and green (tachometer signal source). For you aftermarket stereo people this should be pretty simple - if you have extra wire behind your stereo - pull out your head unit and splice the 3 power cables into the power cables from the head unit (black to black red to red and yellow to yellow). Now! the hard part right? NO! easy part! don't you dare drill through the fire wall if you have a '98+ truck!!! I have a 1998 S10 5spd no tach in guages. The wires going to the guages HAVE A TACH SIGNAL IN THEM!
you will see a blue clip and a grey clip holding in the wires. On the Grey clip side it is the 2nd wire from the left (white-ish wire) cut that wire and hook it up to the tach signal for your new after-market tach! Reply if you have any questions!

do u havta take the gauges out, and is that on a 2.2 engine?

[bladehines]

ok read the sticky!

for anyone with 98+ model the dash is an easy way to find the tach lead wire. gray clip on the cluster and it's the white wire, cut it attach it to the green lead on the tach, run the red to an IGNITION 12V source ( which only comes on when the ignition is turned on!) run the black to a ground, not to the battery! that is wayyyyy to far aways to work correctly, any chassis, or body ground will work fine.

if any of you read the sticky, you would know this already.

i have done it this way i have a 2000 2.2, 5 speed.

[sabre]

Has anyone successfully installed a tac on a 4.3 98+ ? I've tried everyway listed except for the wire in the gauge cluster. None of them worked.

[stipster]

ok how does the gauge cluster come out i have a 97 S10 and tried to get it out but it didnt want to come the only way i could see getting it out was to undew w/e bolts held the stering colum at that point of the dash....so am i right or how else would u get it out...?????

[Paulysplitx]

Any replies to this? Im in the same boat

Quote: Originally Posted by mattchu60

Im wanting to put a Tach in my 2000 s-10 2.2 with manual. I see a lot of posts on here about a digital signal used in this year and people saying the tach does not read correctly or doesnt work at all. Does this mean that my only option is to get another gauge cluster? Or is there another way for me to hook up a tach.

[bladehines]

DAMN PEOPLE READ THE FVCKING STICKY!

or hell search for my thread where i installed mine!

i have a 2000 Hombre ( s10 ) i followed the sticky.

i took the dash trim off, gauge cluster out, found the white wire on the gray clip side. i cut that wire and hooked it to the green wire from my shift light ( tach, same difference!)

then i ran the white and red wire to a keyed power source with good voltage, the power source must be going to nothing but the tach or the tach won't get enough voltage to work right! then hook up the ground, put everything back together and you are done!



DAMMIT!.......


This is twice i have had to post this same anwser in the same fvcking thread! search people damn....

where is my blood pressure pills!

[Paulysplitx]

As stated here 2000+ it will dance if you hook one up due to it being digital. All i needed was a simple agree or disagree. No where in this thread had it justified as it will work no ifs ans or buts.[quote=jay98s10;1187447]It actually only works on 98 -99... 2000 + run a digital signal and the tach will dance everywere I hooked a tach up in my 98 a long time ago I mounted mine on the a pillar if you have any questions feel free to ask...

[bladehines]

well my signal seems fina on mine and it's a 2000.... and that is mostly due to the tach, not the signal.....

some tach's have a better setup for 4cyl apps.