Sup Club. I am tied op in trying to decide what kind of Tacometer I should buy. I would get one from Auto Meter but there prices are ridiculous. So this si were ya'll good ol Advice come in. My choices are a Ractive tach( 3/38 )( 5inch ), Summit Tach, and El Glow Monster Tach ( 3 3/4). I'm not really interested in a 5inch tach but if it looks better then I'll consider it. Well holla back iight.

Peace


2002 DX 2.0

 

by the autometer. do it once, do it right.

 

Ditto that comment. I have bought a cheap tach before and regretted it. Most cheap tachs are plasticky pieces of dung with needles that bounce up and down by ~500 rpm when you hit bumps. You should definitely buy a name brand like Autometer or VDO.

BTW I noticed that you already mentioned Summit; I recommend that you make sure to check their domestic-oriented catalog (as opposed to their "Sport Compact" division), and also check some other big domestic-oriented mail order places such as Jeg's. Many "import racer"-oriented stores only carry expensive tachs with fancy "ricer" features (such as huge shift lights, fake carbon fiber trim and Indiglo faces). The domestic-oriented stores often carry a better selection of less expensive, less fancy tachs with much lower price tags.

 

Amen. Get the AutoMeter. It's expensive now, but in thelong run will bring you much more enjoyment.

 

Just a quick question: Can anyone tell me how to change the tach on the P5. Also, maybe a stupid question, but does it void the warranty (on the instrument panel) if I do mods like this.

Thanks

 

Im not sure if you want to add an additional tach, or replace the factory one in your dashboard? Can you clarify?

Adding one is easy. just hook up 4 wires-power, ground, light, and negative coil. and mount it where you want.

cutting your dashboard to replace the factory one would be ill advised on a new car like the P5.

Adding one will not void your warrenty. cutting the dashboard probably would.

Also, not sure if you have distributorless ignition, the hookup might be a little different. Autometer has instructions avalable on thier web site.

 

It cannot be done unless you are an electrical engineer, and a very smart one at that. The Protege's instrument cluster does not use individual gauges like an older car; it is completely computerized. The gauge cluster is basically a big, flat circuit board with little surface-mounted motors that operate each gauge needle, surrounded by microchips and all sorts of other electrical components. Replacing the tach would require rebuilding and rewiring the whole thing.

In short, if your job is designing weapons systems for the F-22 Raptor, you could probably do it. Otherwise, forget the idea right now. And yes, it will void your warranty.

 

OR... You could just tap the TACH lead in the diagnostics port and have it done in 5 minutes... That way you'll have the rest of the day to build that F-22!

 

I dont think thats what he was talking about. I already mentioned it was easy to hook up an additional tach, but cutting out the original dashboard tach is not possible becuase you will cut through the printed circuit board for the rest of the dash, and I think thats what he meant with the F22 comment.

 

I was talking about buying an additional Tach. My DX didn't come with a tach. So I plan on buying a tach, Voltage gauge and Oil Pressure gauge.

 

oh...why didnt you say so. Ive installed a tach. into a dashboard before, but it was on a 83 buick. I just carefully cut out an opening and trimmed it down with a file, then slid the tach through the front. Looked great. You might be able to do something similar.

good luck.

 

coo. what did you attach the wiring too?

 

well, i attached the ground wire to ground, i attached the power wire to power, I attached the tach. input to the distributor cap "tach" terminal, and I attached the wire for the backlight to the dash lights.

 

how do you locate the tach lead on the diagnostics port...come to think of it where exactly is the diagnostic port...i think its drivers side by the firewall,but i'm not sure!!

 

That's it! Right behind the driver's side strut tower.