My truck came with the gauge cluster without the tach. I want to swap in a new gauge cluster with a tach. Does anyone know if the new gauge cluster with the tach will just plug in and work or is there wiring involved to make the tach work?

My truck is a 99, 2wd, 318 auto.

 

I have checked into this for my '99 as well. Here are some things to think about. It is a federal offense to modify your odometer, which on a '99 is stored on a chip in the gauge cluster (incremented by the PCM as you drive). If I were to change the gauge cluster for one with a tach, I would be changing the odometer with the cluster. I talked to some dealerships about this to see what one would do if they had their gauge cluster or odometer break for example. I figured there had to be a way around it for that type situation too. They said they have to get a new cluster from the factory with a preprogrammed odometer chip matching the mileage on your current odometer. It is accompanied by a legal letter of disclosure stating that the odometer had been modified by the factory, but set to the same mileage that was on the original odometer. This is the only way they can legally change out your gauge cluster, and you have to present the letter if you ever plan to sell the vehicle legally.

An alternative I haven't expored yet is to see if the odometer chip can safely be removed from a cluster, and installed on a new cluster. This would allow you to put in whatever cluster you want, but retain the stock odometer reading, thus not breaking any laws.

Otherwise, an aftermarket tach would be an easy option.

 

I talked to my local Dodge dealership yesterday about ordering a gauge cluster w/tach and he told me the same thing. I priced the cluster and got a quote for install. My question is will it plug in and work or will it require a new wire harness to make it work. My thought is I could save some money by installing it myself if it's a simple plug in. I've thought about an aftermarket tach but I would like to stay away from the boyracer look.

 

On mine, I found the tach wire at the PCM, and it traced into the dash. I have been told by others who did it (and didn't care about the legality of it) that the wiring is all there already there, and that seems to be what I was seeing on mine as well. Let me know what you find out if you decide to do it. I'm still thinking about doing mine.