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Vanagon tachometer woes
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chris garrett
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PostPosted: Mon Aug 03, 2015 2:11 pm    Post subject: Vanagon tachometer woes Reply with quote

I have an '85 and the tach only works sometimes. Other times it's either peg out or not showing the proper rpms. When I smack the top of the dash, it starts to work fine until I re-start the engine. I've had the dash apart and don't see anything obvious. Anyone?
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Merian
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PostPosted: Mon Aug 03, 2015 3:05 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

blue foil or its connector

hunt down the VW engineers who designed it and kill them
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chris garrett
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PostPosted: Mon Aug 03, 2015 3:18 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Before I kill a bunch of old Germans, any idea how to fix it?
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kalispell365
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PostPosted: Mon Aug 03, 2015 4:30 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Go Westy makes a wonderful replacement for the foil.
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chris garrett
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PostPosted: Mon Aug 03, 2015 4:57 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I'm just not ready to spend $250. Too many other things need my attention. I guess I'll keep banging on the dash for awhile. I get pretty funny responses from the people.
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geodude
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PostPosted: Mon Aug 03, 2015 5:28 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Can also be a bad connection inside the tach.
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chris garrett
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PostPosted: Mon Aug 03, 2015 5:37 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Yeah, I never took the tach out of the housing. I just looked at the connections and foil. Maybe I dig a little deeper. Not that I ever use the tach. Mine is automatic. I just don't like it when things don't work.
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wcdennis
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PostPosted: Mon Aug 03, 2015 6:42 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

When you say "peg out" do you mean the needle goes high or does it sit on zero? If it is going to the high extreme, then, no question, there is a problem inside the tach. A bad foil connection will cause it to read zero or bounce from normal to zero.
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chris garrett
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PostPosted: Mon Aug 03, 2015 7:05 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I mean it goes high all the way. Are there any common problems that I can look for?
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kobe
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PostPosted: Fri Mar 29, 2019 7:55 pm    Post subject: Re: Vanagon tachometer woes Reply with quote

I bought the Gowesty replacement and mine still pegs! 1984 Wolfsburg. I'm still trying to track this down with Gowesty...but still no luck.
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wesitarz
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PostPosted: Fri Mar 29, 2019 8:26 pm    Post subject: Re: Vanagon tachometer woes Reply with quote

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.


There are 3 wires to the tach. 12v, ground and signal. Black, brown and green. In the foil (or the GoWesty replacement maybe) there is a signal crossover connection to the oil pressure control on the back of the speedo. That might cause problems if you have that. You can jump the 3 wires directly from the wires before the big main connector and connect directly to the tach. You could try that to see if the tach works.
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kobe
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PostPosted: Sat Mar 30, 2019 5:16 am    Post subject: Re: Vanagon tachometer woes Reply with quote

Thanks for the reply. Here is the link to the install instructions: https://www.gowesty.com/files/GVW-255-919-059%20(Cluster%20PCB)%20Rev%20D.pdf

Again, I have the 84 Wolfsburg addition.

2 things, Mine does not have an Oil Pressure connection and instead of a green wire for the tachometer, I have a red and black striped wire.

Could someone tell me what should be the voltage on the 3 wires [black, brown, and green] during ACC and engine on at idle?
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On the Gowesty PCB, here's what I'm getting on my multi-meter (left to right), post 1 (brown wire)=.02, post 2 (not sure what wire)=5.32, post 3 (black wire)=12.34, and post 4 (green wire)=12.31

One last item of interest, with just the key in on ACC but engine not on, the position 9 wire (tach on the main vanagon harness) is reading 12.46. Yet, with the engine on it goes to 11.90 and when I accelerate it goes down. Is this normal?
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pathao
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PostPosted: Sat Mar 30, 2019 12:29 pm    Post subject: Re: Vanagon tachometer woes Reply with quote

You have one of those

https://www.amazon.com/UNI-T-Digital-Multimeter-Handheld-tester/dp/B00A14GQZI
the RPM feature could help you determine if your gauge is any good.


You could try, for testing, adding a potentiometer at your coil and see if you can get a good signal. As in https://paulnoren.com/all-posts/2015/7/12/fixing-tachometer-resistance
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Cookbook
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PostPosted: Sat Mar 30, 2019 3:05 pm    Post subject: Re: Vanagon tachometer woes Reply with quote

Likely a connection problem up front in the dash, or within the tachometer itself. You might also wanna check the tachometer's connection point to the coil. If there is corrosion between the tachometer connector and coil or the connector is not firmly secured to the coil, it may be causing variable readings (i.e., sometimes working, sometimes not). I had to figure this one out the hard way. Worth a check if everything up front looks solid.
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kobe
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PostPosted: Mon Apr 01, 2019 7:59 pm    Post subject: Re: Vanagon tachometer woes Reply with quote

I took a measurement from the ignition coil top <negative terminal> red/black wire; both that and a green wire are attached *see photo.
The measurement was 12.40 with key on but not fully turned over... then, with the engine on... 11.x and lower once you press on the gas.

Based on the above, does it look to be a bad ignition coil. Thoughts?
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kobe
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PostPosted: Wed May 08, 2019 6:23 am    Post subject: Re: Vanagon tachometer woes Reply with quote

Fixed it!!!


Link
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