DIY: VDO Tachometer install

[Stuartzickefoose]

Hello all! Many people want to put a tach in, and I figured a light how to would answer the smaller questions. This wasn’t a perfect install, and isn’t totally finished yet, but here’s the pics anyways

First, run the green wire front to back. The wire needs to go from the 1 terminal, or the negative side of the coil.

As seen plugged in here after I added the terminal end:
(Coiled wire is points, straight wire is the tach signal wire)

Next fish it through this hole behind the steering pitman arm (the steering box lever up under the front pan)

Then drag the wire up to the dash tucking it away from moving parts and keeping it from hanging loosely...:

Next is the gauge...but since I’m posting from my iPhone I’m going to do a few posts to keep from loosing it all on accident.
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Stuart Zickefoose

2011 Jetta Sportwagen TDi 6 speed manual

206-841-7324
[email protected]

[Stuartzickefoose]

To set the gauge up, you will need to set the dip switches seen here to run a 4 cylinder signal, not a 6 or an 8, unless you have a engine swap like corvair or something with more cylinders...

Note the directions for your specific tach, mine was in order left to right:
Signal, ground, and 12v switched source power. This means there only power to the gauge when the key is ON.

I tagged the source wire into the last terminal on the fuse panel, where a couple other gauges snagged their power from as well. I got luck and it ended up being switched power without pulling out my multimeter...but check your year and find the proper power source. Many fuse terminals have spades on the back to plug cleanly into without cutting any stock wiring...

I tied both the gauge ground AND the dash backlight ground into the gauge pod grounds seen here with those nasty blue connectors. Yummy!

The dash light wire is a gray and red wire for every year bay bus, unless I’m mistaken. I like using piggy back spade terminals to take power from original wiring, but someone else was already in here and left me a nice already stripped red wire, so I put a terminal on it and plugged it into the first black pod for the dash lights. NOW...if you look close you will notice I wired the two lights in SERIES, meaning power goes in, then the ground goes to power the next light, then that light grounds. This cuts the voltage from 12v to 6v per bulb. Since most VDO gauges are MUCH to bright in comparison with a stock dash light, this should even it out. Going to have to test and report tonight. If you want full brightness, simply give each bulb that 12v source, then their own individual grounds.

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Stuart Zickefoose

2011 Jetta Sportwagen TDi 6 speed manual

206-841-7324
[email protected]

[Stuartzickefoose]

Now, seen here is a clever NLA part...a VDO mounting ring from the late BUSBOYS!

Don’t worry, if you didn’t buy one before they gave up on life, you can simply use the original blank plate tabs cut as flush to the circle as you can, you can use them as basic clamps to hold a gauge in. Takes a bit of cleverness and such, and common sense, but you can do it. I have pics of one I did once but that’s long buried somewhere hard to get to from my phone...


You’ll need to remove the old blank plate...:

Make sure you put the gauge in nice and level!

One note...

Often the needles bounce and are optimistic when revved suddenly. There’s a thread around here on how to put a diode in place to smooth it out and steady the needle. The justKampers tachs will need this as well...look for them via a search, maybe someone will post a link ....
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Stuart Zickefoose

2011 Jetta Sportwagen TDi 6 speed manual

206-841-7324
[email protected]

[mikewire]

Pretty solid DIY! Would have been good to have this when I installed mine.

Do you have part #'s and desc. for the VDO gauge and Bus Boys ring?
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-Mike

@countdowngarage
@bigskyeuro

1972 VW Kombi 9 Passenger Deluxe w/ 2.0L F.I. VWAC swap
1965 VW Beetle Deluxe Bahama Blue

[Stuartzickefoose]

[OB Bus]

I used the existing ring fill piece for my 2 1/8" tach. Turned it over and used a hole saw to cut a proper sized opening. Painted it flat black. Works fine.
The diode to stop needle bouncing was a Radio Shack stock item. If someone finds the part number I'm sure its on Amazon.
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Larry in OB
Stop dead photo links! Post your photos to The Samba Gallery!
69 Westfalia and 2002 Eurovan Camper.

[SGKent]

I've seen the ring for sale lately. When I find it I will post.
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“Most people don’t know what they’re doing, and a lot of them are really good at it.” - George Carlin

[Stuartzickefoose]

Per telford Dorr, the electrical guru around here...:

[Stuartzickefoose]

Went over to aeromechs place for something else, and he whipped out out a diode for us! Installed at the coil and now this tach is perfectly smooth and accurate 😎

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Stuart Zickefoose

2011 Jetta Sportwagen TDi 6 speed manual

206-841-7324
[email protected]

[alman72]

[Stuartzickefoose]

Aeromechs idea, not mine. One of the best San Diego VW guys for sure
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Stuart Zickefoose

2011 Jetta Sportwagen TDi 6 speed manual

206-841-7324
[email protected]

[Balmoral1958]

Great - were do you get the diode in the picture from?
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2x 1974 Karmann Ghia Coup
1984 Citroen 2CV
1956 Citroen 2CV
!984 911 Targa

[Stuartzickefoose]

[curtp07]

Good instructions. I “plan” to run a length of trailer wire from HD for my gauges..gives several wires inside a weatherproof sheath eliminating several loose strands running the length of the bus for all the gauges...

That’s the plan anyway..we shall see.
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Subaru

[OB Bus]

[Randy in Maine]

Just make sure you run the correct wire for the CHT sender to the gauge at your dash.

The trailer wire harness has 4 14 gauge wires and they are color coded. Tach, OP, OT and a spare.

I put mine in 3/8" wiring loom (from Home Depot and buy 2 since they are each 10' long) electrical tape it up. I secured mine to the under side of the bus basically to the frame about every 8" with zip ties. Came out in a hole witha grommet I drilled in front of my left foot location.

[vwible]

For the wiring from back to front, I cut the ends off a 3-wire outdoor extension cord.
Green wire for signal (coil -)
White wire to engine block (ground)
Black wire to coil +, which is switched.
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1970 Tin Top Walk Through Bus