My '95 Maxima SE (with manual transmission) tachometer does not work correcty. I would say about 20% of the time, it gives a correct reading. The rest of the time, it reads either at zero or near idle speed. Is this a common problem? I have taken apart the dashboard console to see if any of the connections there were loose or corroded, but everything looked fine. Where does the tachometer get its information from? Could I check a connection on the distributor (if so, where is it?) Any ideas? Thanks.

 

Explain how it doesnt not work ... Does it stay at 0, ???

 

"The rest of the time, it reads either at zero or near idle speed."

There seems to be no rhyme or reason as to when it works and when it does not. It functions equally as well/bad regardless of weather, engine temperature, driving or idling, etc.

 

It might be sticking since you take it apart so much.

 

On mine it does one of the following (in order of low to high frequency):

1) Stay at 0.
2) Wag like crazy between 3,000 to 5,000 rpm.
3) Indicate a reading that's a bit off (the higher the rpm, the more it's inaccurate).
4) Give the correct reading.
5) Stay at about 8,600 rpm.

During winter months, mine used to occasionally come back to life with the correct reading and max out at 8,600 rpm again after running a few miles. The tach is not too important for me since I got an automatic, but I have a cluster coming in the mail soon. I will let you know if changing it out fixes this problem.

 

a new cluster will fix that... otherwise I would have recommended cleaning the tach electronics under the gauge and tightening the screws that hold it in

 

"It might be sticking since you take it apart so much."

I don't take it apart "so much," I did it just once, and that was reactive to this problem. I figure the problem is possibly on the "other end" of the connection, i.e. at the distributor (or wherever the tach gets its information from). Does anybody know where it gets its information?

 

my tach went crazy in my 97.. then i replaced my alternator.. and it got fixed..

 

Hey, that makes sense. The alternator will spin at a speed directly proportional to engine RPM. Perhaps that is where the tach gets its data, and by cleaning all connections (I am not going to get a new alternator just to solve this problem), the tach will work. I'll try it tonight or tomorrow and let y'all know if that does any good.