this question might be a little off topic but i've had an aftermarket tach that i've been wanting to install for a while now but the only thing i can't figure out is where to run the RPM wire. and i dont want to just go and start splicing into wires that i dont know, so i want to figure out which wire it is forsure. anyone know?

 

Accoding to my 97 FSM, The tach signal is supplied by the PCM at slot c31 (I am assuming the three connectors are A, B, C) using a GY/LB (gray wire with light blue tracer) wire direct to a connector at the rear of the inst. panel. Hope this helps.

 

I've posted this before, but i'll put it out there again. Since installing a new gauge cluster on my '99 involved some legal ramifications that made it not worth it in my opinon, I installed an aftermarket tach instead. I went with a VDO tach because it was an almost perfect match to the factory gauges, right down to the face color and the color/size/design of the needle. I mounted in my Autometer steering column gauge pod. I used to have my trans temp gauge in that pod, but I moved it down to the lower part of the dash into a double pod with a diff temp gauge. I also even picked up a green bulb cover from Autometer so that when the gauge is backlight at night, it is damn near perfect match with my factory dash lights.

I went this route because I absolutely hate how aftermarket gauges look when they don't match anything else in the truck. Just doesn't look clean in my opinion. I like everything to match, even if it is just to match the factory equipment.

Install was a breeze. For RPM, I used a solder connection on the wire coming off the coil (signal was the black wire with a brown tracer if I recall correctly), then connected a ground and a switched ignition source for power. Piece of cake. I love having a tach. It always amazed me that these trucks didn't come with one on all models.

 

I do not have a tach in my S-10, and I would love one. I searched around on S-10 Forum.com and found a guy who takes used clusters and reprograms them to your mileage. Although I have not ordered anything from him yet, There are many people who have on S-10 Forum with good results. IDK if he could do a Dodge cluster, but it wouldnt hurt to E-Mail him.
http://myworld.ebay.com/digital_dash_solutions/

 

I did the change from a non tach to a cluster with tach.
Mine is a 98 automatic. So i was looking at ebay for instrument clusters of the same year with nearly the same milage. Found a cheap one ordered it and swapped it. Just Plug and Play.
Tach still works fine. I don't know if the cluster for the 94-97 models are interchangeable but for 98 it is and it will work also with 99-01 models. Important to swap with a cluster of the same year.

 

Nice install silver dodge, I get the legalities that is why I asked, I cannot believe that you cannot transfer your speedo/odo to the replacement cluster (which is what I had hoped to do) but obviously, if you could then you guys would have. So if I understand correctly; if one gauge goes you have to change all six!! Crazy!

 

The only way I could see how was to either:

-Have a dealership do it,
If your cluster completely fails, they can remove it and put in a new one. They program it to have the correct mileage. I checked on this option, and it was going to run about $700 for a new cluster (with tach) and the correct mileage. But this indicates that they have the ability to program the chip that comes in the new cluster. I doubt they would do it though if you brought in a used cluster and asked them to program it.

-Try to physically remove the chip that stores the odometer information on the cluster, and insert it into the new cluster. I looked on mine, and it is not a plug in chip though, looked like it was integrated into the board.

So that's why the aftermarket gauge was just a much simpler option for me.