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Engine Specific Info and Questions => IDI Engine => Topic started by: 91jettaidi on July 04, 2009, 10:03:54 pm

Title: Tack just stopped working
Post by: 91jettaidi on July 04, 2009, 10:03:54 pm

Hey guys my tach stopped working one day and when ever i drive in the rain it some times works but i hear a squeal(like a belt)but i don't know what it is.

Title: Re: Tack just stopped working
Post by: rallydiesel on July 04, 2009, 10:14:11 pm

Sounds like you have a problem at the w terminal on your alternator. Be careful if it is loose because you could blow a bunch of stuff. My w terminal shorted against the alternator housing and blew my radio fuse, wrecked my tach and junked my alternator. Not fun.

Title: Re: Tack just stopped working
Post by: 91jettaidi on July 04, 2009, 10:17:41 pm

so i should just tighten all the wires on my alternator

Title: Re: Tack just stopped working
Post by: Vincent Waldon on July 04, 2009, 10:18:06 pm

As well, loose alternator belt = slips when wet = makes a squealing noise = wonky tach operation.

Title: Re: Tack just stopped working
Post by: 91jettaidi on July 04, 2009, 10:19:48 pm

ya i tightened my belt but. . .it seems only in the rain it wanted to work some times but where is that terminal on the alternator? should i take it out and clean it a bit? and retighten it.

Title: Re: Tack just stopped working
Post by: rallydiesel on July 04, 2009, 11:07:29 pm

There will be one wire going into the alternator with a quick connect joint. That is the w terminal which is what your tach uses to determine rpm. There is really no way to tighten it. Just make sure it is not contacting the actual  alternator housing. That's just one possibility of why your tach isn't working.