How do i add a Tach?

[91FastFestiva]

Hello all, im new to the forums here and the festiva world. I just picked up a 1990 festiva for $225. The guy thought it had a bad motor but the timing belt was just wore out and it skipped a couple teeth on the cam gear. New belts and an oil change and away we go. The car is in real rough shape but runs real well

The car has a 5 speed but nothing drives me crazier than not knowing what the motor is doing.

My question is this: Where do I connect a tach on the motor? I don't really see anything on the distributor to plug it into. Im just going to pick up a cheap Oreillys tach and wire it in.

Thanks for the help!

[dalebwilson]

There is a single pin connector near the brake booster (the wire is probably yellow with a green stripe). That is your RPM signal. Be careful not to confuse this connector with the ST1 self test wire for diagnostics. It too may be a yellow wire. There should also be a RPM signal wire located in the instrument cluster wiring harness for factory tachs.

[koRnhead]

Yellow wire with green stripe on the coil is your signal wire. The instructions for your tach would have told you that.

[Bert]

Under $100 and there is a OEM white tach cluster for sale on the forum as we speak. Plug and play and even tells you the running lights have not been turned off. What is there to decide?

[bravekozak]

Like Bert said, just change your instrument cluster to one with a tach already in it. No wiring, skinned knuckles or burned out brain cells. Plug and play.

[91FastFestiva]

I like the idea of the factory dash, I looked at some but I wasn't sure if they are plug and play, that's sweet! As I haven't actually bought a tach yet, I like that option. Thanks for the help!

[m3t4lm4n222]

Is this the cable your all referring the OP to?

[Gomez]

The only thing you have to do is move the cable from the center of the steering column brace to the right of it. You will see what I mean when the cluster is out. Just be sure to unplug the Speedo cable from the tranny before you start. I learned that lesson the hard and expensive way.

[dalebwilson]

M3.....Yes that looks like the correct wire and connector.

[m3t4lm4n222]

I got my tach wired up to the tach wire (green with yellow stripe) and my ground, but where do I wire my power (red) and light (white) wires on the tach?

[TominMO]

You can tie them into the fuses. Try rear wiper fuse for hot in run (your red wire), and the room fuse for your white wire. I think the room fuse is the one for dash lights.

[m3t4lm4n222]

My Festiva L doesn't have a rear wiper. WHat's the room fuse?

[Chobobulous]

In the fuse box by your left knee when in the driver seat. The room fuse is the 10 amp fuse on the bottom right just above the 30 amp belt fuse.

[m3t4lm4n222]

Okay perfect, however I am still not entirely clear on where the red power wire/fuse is located. Where would that be, considering I don't have power rear wipers.

[bravekozak]

m3, please add your location to your profile.
I trust you are stateside. Since there are no 30 amp belt fuses in Canada.
The TAIL fuse provides instrument illumination. You don't want the ROOM fuse, since it is HOT AT ALL TIMES.