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Adding a tachometer

Discussion in 'Subaru Sambar' started by Koffer, Nov 27, 2020.

  1. Koffer

    Koffer Active Member

    Working on installing a tachometer in my plain Jane Subaru van , so far it’s coming along pretty well till I screw it up :rolleyes: 8C934009-DE52-443F-BA37-C7EB40091159.jpeg 2BF27949-279F-4CCF-8362-D612EF42A937.jpeg
     
  2. Roadster

    Roadster Active Member

    Wow, looks great!
     
  3. Reese Allen

    Reese Allen Member

    That is really nice. I almost went this route but then found a cluster with tach on Yakuoku.
     
  4. Wonko

    Wonko Member

    What tachometer did you use? What is the diameter and depth? I have a Sambar on the way, and am very interested in this mod.
     
  5. Drain

    Drain Supporting Moderator Supporting Moderator Supporting Member

    This looks clean as heck. Got any more details on the finished project or which tach you ordered? Yes I realize this is a two year old thread :)
     
  6. Joseph degiacomo

    Joseph degiacomo New Member

    Had some issue with the Supercharged EN07Y signal wire but managed to mock up a pleasing alternative to the gauge insert.
     
    Drain likes this.
  7. cop on my back

    cop on my back Active Member

    I did the same thing, but I like the look of yours more than mine. Same basic install but yours matches the factory gauges better. Where did you find the tach?
     
  8. Joseph degiacomo

    Joseph degiacomo New Member

    Originally went with something from EBay just to test for a signal as I could power the gauge with a 9V battery and have it portable to the rear I wasn’t running a wire for nothing until I knew. Ended up liking the stealthy look and at night it gives the tach a 3D effect and matches the green tinted gauge lights. https://www.ebay.com/itm/US-2-52mm-...2349624.m46890.l49286&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0 It works really well for an inexpensive unit but may upgrade the gauge in the future but keep the location.
     
  9. Latka

    Latka Member

    I *think* the vans had an option to come with a tachometer? Reason why I ask is that my 1995 5MT 4WD KV4 Sambar needs a tach. I picked up a small 52mm gauge, and I'm hoping I don't have to get a Sambar's length of wire to run a wire back to the coil. o_O I mean, if I have to I have to, but if anyone knows if the vans had a wire in the loom already?
     
  10. rkrenicki

    rkrenicki Active Member

    The Supercharged Dias vans did have a factory tachometer. The tachometer wire is only present on those models, and on those it does go all of the way back to the coil. The tachometer only works on supercharged models, as the coil used on those have a specific output pin for the tach. The carbed and EFI models do not have this output, so y0ur only option with those models would be to use an aftermarket tach since those use a different, more universal, method to detect when the coil fires.

    Since you have a Classic (or two, it seems), yours would not be supercharged, and would also not have this factory tachometer wire present as there is nothing to connect it to.
     
    Last edited: Oct 1, 2022
  11. Latka

    Latka Member

    Yes - we picked up the '96 because it has a wheelchair lift in it (we were going to use it to transport my wife's Dad), and then the 95 5MT came along and we had to get it, as aside from what looks like a "back-up oops" on the passenger side rear roof, it is perfect.

    My hope was that since some of them had tachs it would have been a common wire loom, but that doesn't seem to be the case. Sounds like I'm running a coil wire front to back!
     
  12. rkrenicki

    rkrenicki Active Member

    You should not have to run a wire to the rear. Aftermarket tachs work by sensing the drop on the 12v power feed to the coil when it fires. That power feed comes directly from the fusebox under the dash on the carbed models, and from the ECU on the EFI models. The ECU is under the rear drivers side seat on the EFI and SC models, so that is as far as you would need to run the wire on those.
     
    Last edited: Oct 1, 2022
  13. Latka

    Latka Member

    Thank you! You saved me a bunch of zip ties…and swearing. I found a YT video of a guy putting a giant 5” tach in…now that you mention it, he did just tap into stuff right under the dash.
     
  14. Joseph degiacomo

    Joseph degiacomo New Member

    Hi I made the video a few posts above. I’m new to this Kei truck scene but learned fast with the help of these amazing people and their wealth of knowledge here. For one that does not want to touch the fuel injected ECU wire for the tach , look at the ignition coil resistors wire harness for 4 wires coming from the resistor to the grey harness. If it has a dead or rubber plug on one or those 4 pots on the harness it’s a good bet that you don’t have the signal wire under the dash. Then you can choose your path to tap the ECU(not for beginners) or run a wire from the rear resistor harness for the fuel injected Supercharged trucks in particular. ECU are expensive and the Supercharged coil packs are not easy to find , it took me a few months of searching to find a good used supercharged coil pack. I’m thinking of sending one to MSD to have them make an aftermarket one resistor and all.
     

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