Suburban tachometer

litlfish · June 2, 2003

Hello,

Yesterday I changed my distributor cap, rotor, plugs, and plug wires. I had the fuel filter changed at a shop. Today, I noticed my tachometer isn't working. Could I have damaged a cable or wire or worse when I was changing any of these routine items? I'm NO mechanic but I try to save a few $ where I can. I know nothing about tachometers but I'm not sure if it was something I could have done when I was under the hood. Anyone who can help point my in the right direction as to whrere/what to look for I will GREATLY appreciate it.

robsawatsky · June 2, 2003

First of all, a better answer will be provided if vehicle details are available. (i.e. year, model, engine, auto or std). Yes, it would be very easy to accidently disconnect a wire crucial to tach function when doing the work you state. However, exactly what will depend upon the year and engine. Take a look around under the hood for any possible wiring damage and check that all electrical connectors in the area you work are tight. If you disconnected anything, take that connector back apart and look to see if any pins were bent or pushed back out of the connector housing. The last point is tricky since the connector could look mated but still not have electrical contact. Also, check for any blown fuses.

litlfish · June 2, 2003

...sorry about that. I have a 1994 k1500 Suburban Silverado . It's an automatic w/ the 350 (5.7 liter) engine. I'm not sure but there are two separate plugs going into the back of the Distributor - one has two wires (white & pink) that go to the coil (I think?) and another plug that goes into a wiring loom. Both look ok ...I'm just not sure what I could have done but as I said in the earlier post it was working great before I put on the new cap & rotor, plugs, & plug wires. I just need led by the nose to the wires that run the Tach - I'm guessing??!

tfpary · June 3, 2003

The tach not working is probably a result of your work. IIRC, the white wire is the tach wire on the distributor. The pink is power for the ignition. Make sure the white wire is not broken at the connector and the connector is in the right spot. Not sure on your truck, but lots of the older gm's had the connections labeled on top of the spot where the wires plug in, if not on yours a quick look at a manual should have your tach working again.

tad

litlfish · June 4, 2003

Thanks!

Hey robsawatsky & tfpary, I wanted to thank you both for your help. It was indeed the 'white' wire from the Distributor leading to the coil. apparantly, the original owner had spliced the wire at some point (I've owned the Suburban for 41/2 years) and covered the splice w/ electrical tape - so near the loom that I thoought it was just tape wpapping the end of the wire loom. Anyway, once I removed the tape, there was the break in the wire! reconnected the break and presto, I have my tach. back! Just goes to show you be patient and follow those wires ALL the way - they do get brittle after time! So thanks guys for pointing me toward the problem!