I would like to swap out the std instrument cluster for one that includes the tachometer on my1990 Dakota. Can I assume it is the same wiring harness and will be plug-and-play?

 

No, you can not. You cannot even count that the tach signal is THERE.

It will depend on what year your donor truck is.

It will have to be a 1993 or older; 1994 went to the electronic speedometer.

I've attached a XLS spread sheet that covers my 1988 to a 1993 cluster.

I'll suggest you may want to pick up the factory service manual for your 1990; it will have the wiring for the 1990 tach/non-tach units in it.

RwP

 

Good information! Thanks. And I do have the shop manual. I will check it out.

Rick

 

DO verify the year your new cluster is from; I have 1992 and up wiring diagrams. Also 1990 and 1988.

RwP

 

So Ralph,

I took your advice and looked up the wiring schematic then checked for those wires at the connectors; sure enough, they were there. Not just the tach wires, but also the fuel gauge wires as well. On the std cluster, the fuel gauge is on the left, on the tach cluster, it is on the right. I got a great deal on a tach cluster on eBay, and it works...plug-and-play! I was even able to swap my original speedometer. I will post a pic once I have it back together. One of the few times I took a gamble and won, LOL. The addition of a tachometer is great, especially since my Dakota is a 5 spd manual.
Thanks again for your input!

Rick

 

Good deal!