[Vwdiesel] Tach for Diesel

Roger Brown r.c.brown at ieee.org
Wed Apr 7 21:11:18 EDT 2004


Wade Yorke wrote:
> 
>         I had a 1.9TD installed in my '84 Westy and now trying to get a tach
> hooked up.  Apparently I would have to use a signal converter  (Dakota
> Digital   DSL-1 rev. A  ALTERNATOR TACH INTERFACE UNIT  getting signal
> from W terminal on the alternator) to use the stock tach.
>         The other possibility would be to use an aftermarket tach if one is
> available that would work with a diesel without the expense of the
> signal converter.
>         Someone had mentioned to me to get a tach from a '86 turbo diesel
> Jetta and swap it with the Vanagon gas tach.  I got the diesel tach but
> the mechanic doing the install could not see how it could work.  I know
> nothing about electronics so I am looking for suggestions.

This page should answer the majority of your questions:
	http://www.4crawler.com/Diesel/CheapTricks/Tachometer/index.shtml


> p.s. if I do go the signal converter route, it has to be calibrated.
> Do diesels idle at a known rpm so I could use that figure as a
> baseline?

That's the crux of the matter.  You can get an optical or contact tachometer from Harbor Freight or similar that will show you the actual RPM for calibration purposes, figuer US$80 for one.



-- 
   Roger


More information about the Vwdiesel mailing list