1992 Range tach problem!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Mforrest327]

I just recently put a tachometer in my '92 ranger with a stick and 2.3. I wired it all up, and it wouldn't work. I looked online and seen that the green tach wire is to hook up to the black w/ yellow stripe on the DIS. Well there is a black w/ yellow stripe wire on the top and bottom plug of the DIS. Which one does it go to? I tried both and neither worked. So I pulled out a wire tester and started testing the wires on my plug modules. ( twin square modules) I found that on each of those plugs for the modules also have a black w/ yellow stripe wire in the center of the plug with a tan wire on either side of the black one. When I checked the tan wires with the tester while she was running, my tester was flashing. Black wire was just hot with no flashing. So i took the flashing to mean thats when its firing, and hooked the wire up to that. The tach now works, but is no where near accuate. It shows idle at 500, 1.4 throttle at 1000, 1/2 at 1500 and hammer down at 2100. That poor truck can be screamin....at it will not go above 2100. So I have no idea. Has anyone put a tach in this truck and know where that darn green wire is SUPPOSE to go? Thanks. I can upload a video with the truck reving and tach as it is now incase anyone would like to see what im talking about. thanks.

 

[AgPete139]

It is indeed the tan wire that you need to be plugged into...

The reason why is not revving higher is due to one of a few things. Either the one wire is only part of the signal from the DIS, or you have an improper setting on your tachometer.

Which model / type of tach did you use? Do you have a picture of it?

If aftermarket, I suggest taking the back of the tach apart and flip switch. There should be a 4, a 6, and an 8 option. You obviously want the 4 cylinder option.

Also, I would use the tan wire that feeds into your dash gauge cluster instead of the pin connector. Why are you using the pin connection anyways?

Pete

 

[Mforrest327]

Yes I am using an aftermarket tach, I will try posting a picture tomorrow. The switch is set to 4, its on the back of the tach. The reason I used the pin wire is becaues I have never hooked up a tach on a newer truck like this and its obvious I dont know what the hell im doing lol. So let me get this straight...from my DIS, tap my tach wire into the tan wire that is going from the DIS, to the dash...correct? And the only reading half a signal sounds about right, because now that you made me feel ignorant I have realized that with two seperate coil banks, I am only taped into one of them. By doing so would only read half of my total RPMs. That sound about right?

 

[AgPete139]

Yes I am using an aftermarket tach, I will try posting a picture tomorrow. The switch is set to 4, its on the back of the tach. The reason I used the pin wire is becaues I have never hooked up a tach on a newer truck like this and its obvious I dont know what the hell im doing lol. So let me get this straight...from my DIS, tap my tach wire into the tan wire that is going from the DIS, to the dash...correct? And the only reading half a signal sounds about right, because now that you made me feel ignorant I have realized that with two seperate coil banks, I am only taped into one of them. By doing so would only read half of my total RPMs. That sound about right?

Yea, I understand. On older trucks with distributors, you can just plug right onto the coil. We all have to start somewhere, man. I'm always asking electrical questions, too. I like that you've tried first, and THEN asked relevant questions. And regarding the 1/2 signal, yes.

Here is a pic of a Ford modular 4.6L (8 cylinder). It's an EDIS, and it's the same concept (well, it's just a newer revision). Note the 2 separate coil packs:

Additional reading/knowledge:
http://www.aa1car.com/library/dis.htm
http://www.dainst.com/info/edis/edis.html


Yea, when you take the gauge cluster out, unplug the connections and locate the needed wire. Splice into it with (usually) the green tach wire (signal wire). The white is usually for illumination (that I spliced into my headlight controller), black is obviously ground, and red is power/hot that you can splice into an ignition or even cigarette lighter wire.

The wire behind the dash is the combined signal of both banks.

Good luck!

 

[Mforrest327]

Right on. Thanks for the advise. Its pouring right now, so i will had out there soon as it lets up. I taped my red and white wires into my headlight switch. I figured 12v is 12v and might as well tap it in there while I was doing the lumination wire. So, pull dash fase off, unscrew guage cluster, find the tan wire that will give me the true reading of both banks combind, tap my green tach wire to it. Sound bout right? Oh and I am going to run some of that seafoam stuff I heard about here through it. They say not to let it stall, but then after a third of a can gets sucked in there, to shut her down and let it sit for 15 minutes or so. I want to do this to my GMC 1.2 ton and my ranger.

 

[AgPete139]

I've always keep up regular maintenance on the Ranger, so Seafoam was never needed. However, on 2 family members' 1.6L SOHC Civic and 2.4L Altima, the brake booster/ vacuum hose trolution worked decently. The Altima was too far gone and had too many problems to notice a difference, but the Civic had an immediate improvement and had a better idle, and was quieter. It just removes a lot of buildup. Any fuel injector cleaner or petroleum distillate (even from the $1 store) works as well. Some people are just too brand loyal to Seafoam or blind...(granted, I do favor my Fords! ) Just be sure to run this stuff outside in a driveway...it smokes like you would not believe...

Off topic, but one product I can truly vouch for is Marvel Mystery Oil. I used it in the crankcase of the Ranger and 5.0 Mustang and it works very well regarding engine noise/smoothness/restoring power, and lubricating/cleaning the engine. It definitely works over other brands, IMO.

 

[Mforrest327]

Well I do agree with you that people take brands WAY to seriously. I prefer GMC. However I love my little ranger and my cj5 as well. I like all makes and models........except for an H2,H3 bla bla bla. An ugly Tahoe in my opinion lol. But I have never heard of doing this before so I'll try anything. The ranger has x22,xxx on the clock and runs ok, but it idles rough and when its cold and I start it, once and a while it will just die right after starting then takes forever of turning it over for it to start. And i know the last 8 year history of this poor truck and it was never taken care of very well. So any little thing would be an improvment im sure. And where can I find some of this Mystery oil?

 

[Mforrest327]

Ok, i took my dash cluster out and noticed two plugs going into the cluster. The one on the driver side of the cluster is for the voltage and Temp, speedo cable in the middle and pass. side plug is for the oil and fuel. I am half color blind so after staring at a thousand colored wires for a few seconds, they all mix together which makes this all the more difficult. So I tested every wire on both plugs and still nothing. Do you have one of those diagrams for a Ford Ranger 2.3 DIS? Also, if i find a guage cluster with a factory tach in it, will it plug into mine?

 

[Mforrest327]

Nevermind, I got it figured out. Its actually the black wire with yellow stripe that is on the bottom plug on the DIS. I also just used that seafoam stuff and to say it was awsome is the least i can say. Took a trip to get her warm, poped a vacume line plug off the intake, used a peice of clear tubing to slide over stem, then put other end in can. In about 5 seconds, you could not see my house, or any neighbor down wind. Awsome. I also took a couple runs in her right after and took video of it. Im loading it now and will send it to your inbox soon as I get it loaded. I couldn't get the tach in the video, but Im sure you can hear her whine.

 

[AgPete139]

Congratulations, & good job. Yup, heard the engine & saw the speedo. Thanks for the update!

Pete

 

[Mforrest327]

So from the video, does everything seem correct? I even tried again about 5 minutes ago on my way home to squeeze 60 out of 2nd and it just aint gonna happen. She will just stop at 50 and thats it.