Tachometer issue....

[four.six]

hey guys, I just bought a new (well, used) '03 GT all stock. Here is the problem. the analog tachometer stick shows the car idling at 1200rpm. i started the car in diagnostics mode and went to the digital tach, and the digital tach says that is idling at 750rpm. then i drove it around some and sure enough, the analog tach is always about 500rpm above the digital tach. How can i fix the stock analog tachometer gauge???? Thanks for the help.

 

[Mustang5L5]

Does it have aftermarket faces? Does the tach fall to 0 when you turn the car off? Does the gauge sweep normally when you run diagnostics?

If it's consistently 500RPM off, it could just be a matter of taking the needle off and repositioning it correctly.

 

[four.six]

Does it have aftermarket faces? Does the tach fall to 0 when you turn the car off? Does the gauge sweep normally when you run diagnostics?

If it's consistently 500RPM off, it could just be a matter of taking the needle off and repositioning it correctly.

no, stock faces.. yes, it goes to zero when turned off.

dont understand what you mean when you say "sweep normally"..

 

[Mustang5L5]

Liker when you run the gauge diagnostics, there is a mode that will sweep all the gauges. Does the needle sweep to MAX RPM and back smoothly and stop at 0 and 7K right on the markings?

 

[four.six]

yes, it does... it goes all the way to 8 then back to 0. pin to pin. but after that, it goes up to right above the zero. looks like 100 or so rpm, with the car off.....

i hope i dont have to buy a whole new gauge cluster, those are expensive....

 

[kalvick]

here is the answer to the problem. take the plastic window off the guages and pull of the tachometer needle. turn the car on to diagnostic mode, go to the tachometer setting. drive the car and put on cruise control to stay at a steady rpm like 2000.

put the needle back in while you drive around so it points at 2000.
drive faster / then drive slower and the needle should be the same as the digital readout.

ghetto method i know but it works.

thats how i did it when i replaced the stock instrument clusters black background with a white one.

 

[four.six]

i will do that. cant believe i didnt think about that. LOL. thanks.

 

[Mustang5L5]

You you could just sit in nuetral and rev the engine to 2000RPM using the digital tachometer readout and set the needler.


Hell, if you matched them at idle they should be the same at every other RPM.


Safer than trying to drive and place the needle at the same time. Can't imagine what i'd do if i ever saw someone driving next to me trying to put a needle on their gauge at 35MPH. Kinda funny actually to think about it

 

[2000fordstanggt]

Safer than trying to drive and place the needle at the same time. Can't imagine what i'd do if i ever saw someone driving next to me trying to put a needle on their gauge at 35MPH. Kinda funny actually to think about it