Dead Spedo &Tach

[wrexwrench]

Thanks everyone for all the help with the spark issue. Turned out to be that bad pick-up in the dist all along- even put my original igniter back in so far so good, time will tell!
Next problem- Tach barely moves- maxes at about 200 rpm and spedo/odometer doesent work at all. I think the cable is good. Where do I go from here? Remember mine is an 83. Tach doesent appear to connect to the coil as most do.

[Dave A.]

The tach signal comes from the igniter. Most problems with the speedo not working are due to the elbow fitting on the trans. being at fault. It's also possible that you may have hosed the tach when you swapped in the wrong igniter. Try swapping the igniter 1st and see what happens with the tach.

[wrexwrench]

My tach didnt work from the beginning before I started sapping out igniters. There is an "extra" plug with black wire from igniter that doesent seem to have a corresponding plug on the harness. It is the one in all schematics Ive seen that would normally go to the tach- splices off the neg side of the coil. Just doesent seem to have been connected anywhere. I'll try digging around some more. The elbow on the trans makes sense- Ill try to find one. Thanks!

[Dave A.]

The extra plug is for connecting an external tach. How do you know that swapping out the igniter didn't damage the tach if the engine wasn't running before the swap?

[wrexwrench]

Engine was running before swap- would loose spark after sitting a while after driving it. when it cooled down, then would start. This only worked a few times then died for good. See my stuff on "no spark" Tach never did work- not even for previous owner. But you think that the igniter might be at fault for the tach even though engine runs now after I changed the dist?

[Dave A.]

The problem could still be the igniter, but the best way to find out is to connect an external tach to the igniter and see if it works.