how to install tach?

i want a tach for my 90 hatchback and was wondering how hard they are to install? thanks fellas.

Hey bobbyd...
There are a few ways to install a tach...1) Get a cluster for your year Civic from a junkyard with a tach..The wiring is already there to support one....or 2) buy an aftermarket tach.

I installed an aftermarket tach..Typical tachs have 4 wires....
red - connect to 12v (i.e. - to ignition, power to make the unit function)
white - light, connect to dash lights or similar
black - ground, connect to a good ground source
green - tach signal, I connected mine under the hood right next to teh distributor, however, the same blue wire should be inside your instrument cluster if you don't wanna go thru the firewall. Here is a pic of my connection...the green wire is from the tach.....and I connected it to the blue wire with a fold-over crimp type connector..I filled the connector with silicone prior to the fold/crimp to prevent corrosion.
http://mediaservice.photoisland.com/auction/Aug/2002852490285760947382.jpg

thanks shawn!!!
that will do great. i am goign to print this out. hopefully i can get a cheap summit racing tach soon.

Autometer makes pretty good gauges and Summit sells them...You may want to think about picking a style you like so if you choose to add more gauges later, they'll match up with ones you bought before..

I bought a little SunPro tach, and it works great, but doesn't match the new Autometer gauges I bought to go with my ZC engine when I put it in...so if I wanna be stylin' and coordinated, I have to replace the tach. :(
I am 99% sure I got the wires right, but any tach should have complete instructions..the thing that is confusing is usually the signal wire (green on my tach), and which wire to hook it to on your car.

Good luck..Shawn :)

Hey Shawn,

I was curious about what kind of silicone you put inside that crimp connector? Also, is that the same stuff that they put on the turn-signal and parking light connectors?

Mike

hey, thats weird lol, i installed mine IDENTICLY... same color wire and everytthing... i duno i love my tach tho, indiglo at night, white face... and its on the A-pillar... which is definetally a cool thing i say... but ya i wont keep u all caught up in my words, cuz i dont have any pics yet! but ya, ill ttyl