VS RPM meter not working

[Shtato]

The RPM meter in my VS statesman does not work, it will work when I first start up the car, then after I accelerate it will flicker up and down for 5 seconds then not work completely, is this a common fault? How could I go about fixing it?

Thanks

[-ToM-]

im guessing cluster is on its last legs. Second hand cluster for a stato should cost you $100 or so, then youd have to fit it

[Shtato]

im guessing cluster is on its last legs. Second hand cluster for a stato should cost you $100 or so, then youd have to fit it

Serious? Damnit, can't I fix it if that's the issue?

[hako]

As -ToM- says, it could be the cluster (unless there are ignition problems) - it may be similar to the not un-common non-working temp/fuel gauges caused by dry/broken solder joints on the printed circuit board.
Have you tried a gentle thump on the dash to see if it brings the tacho back to life?

[Shtato]

Nobody else has had their RPM meter stop working?

[hako]

Nobody else has had their RPM meter stop working?

Don't remember seeing one go bung in the 5 years I've been on this forum. Temp and fuel gauges fail or stick but they work on a different principal to the tacho. Legally if you change your cluster you have to have the odometer set to what the old cluster said.
Have you had a new stereo fitted recently or work done on car? - usually faults can be traced back.

[Shtato]

Don't remember seeing one go bung in the 5 years I've been on this forum. Temp and fuel gauges fail or stick but they work on a different principal to the tacho. Legally if you change your cluster you have to have the odometer set to what the old cluster said.
Have you had a new stereo fitted recently or work done on car? - usually faults can be traced back.

The thing is I don't want to have to spend $100ish for a replacement cluster, so if I can fix it myself I will, I don't mind getting my hands dirty or playing around with things, no I just got the car recently, I've had no work done to it yet and it still has the original headunit atm.

[bryncas]

My rpm doesn't work and my speedo is off by about 10-20k's depending on how fast i'm travelling. saw another post showing how to troubleshoot and fix a faulty speedo will attempt sometime this w/e. btw 1996 VS Ute V6 auto

[vsl67]

IVe never heared of a factory Tacho do what you descrided but I have seen cheaper gauges do this over the years when the needle becomes loose

[hako]

The thing is I don't want to have to spend $100ish for a replacement cluster, so if I can fix it myself I will, I don't mind getting my hands dirty or playing around with things, no I just got the car recently, I've had no work done to it yet and it still has the original headunit atm.

OK - then you need a wiring diagram and trace/check everything from where the signal is generated to the tacho. Gregorys has decent ones though I'm not sure if it covers later Statesmans. Gregorys also covers testing items like the VSS etc. Just make sure when you play with it to disconnect the battery as failure to do so can cause fault codes that can only be erased by Holden - which is what happened to me
Have fun.

[88GreenVN]

The tacho it self probably wont be faulty. Will be the wires within the loom/connectors or the PCB on the back of the cluster as the most probable place of failure. Seeing that it works on start up it all points to a lose connection some place.

Pull the cluster out and give it a good look over. Tacho connector are Connector 1 #5 & 6 from memory. pink & black wire and maybe brown red. Check them for continuity. (the pin out is on the back of the cluster)

[Shtato]

Alright, I pulled the cluster out and had a look at it, one of the loom ports that it plugs into was loose so I put it back in, the rpm meter works but every time I use the breaks it will drop to 0, then go back up when I let go of the break.

Also, I noticed that it said 'Engine - V8' on the sticker on the cluster, my statesman is a v6, could this be a problem?

[shiftySLE]

Alright, I pulled the cluster out and had a look at it, one of the loom ports that it plugs into was loose so I put it back in, the rpm meter works but every time I use the breaks it will drop to 0, then go back up when I let go of the break.

Also, I noticed that is said 'Engine - V8' on the sticker on the cluster, my statesman is a v6, could this be a problem?

Maybe its already been changed once before by the previous owner

[Shtato]

Maybe its already been changed once before by the previous owner

I'm assuming so.

[Shtato]

Am I seriously the first person that has had their RPM meter stop working?

[88GreenVN]

No - seen em stop before. You will have a short some place. Also the lens may have been changed. The best way to check is the temp gauge will have gren paint on the back of the threads that the nuts go onto. A V6 tacho will work in a V8 and the other way round - just read wrong RPM. So thats not the issue. There is a thread on how to see if you have a V8 tacho - I'll just need to find the link

[Maxxiz]

Have you checked your tacho fluid?

[Cappy]

Hi Shtato,
I have had my tacho stop before. I own a vs v6 acclaim. I took my car in to the auto elecy because was having problems with it conking out, turned out was the crank angle sensor. Anyway just got raped 500 bucks i drive off and my tachos not working. I go back and straight away he says your power packs shot. I thought he was having me on just squeeze a few more dollars out. But got a second hand one. he put it in and it was working fine again. So maybe this is your problem.
Good luck buddy
Cappy

[Shtato]

Hi Shtato,
I have had my tacho stop before. I own a vs v6 acclaim. I took my car in to the auto elecy because was having problems with it conking out, turned out was the crank angle sensor. Anyway just got raped 500 bucks i drive off and my tachos not working. I go back and straight away he says your power packs shot. I thought he was having me on just squeeze a few more dollars out. But got a second hand one. he put it in and it was working fine again. So maybe this is your problem.
Good luck buddy
Cappy

Hey mate, firstly thanks for the reply, hmm interesting, what is a power pack though? Where is it located and how much does a S/H range from?

Cheers

[Shtato]

Need some more info I want this fixed grr.

[Shtato]

Anyone? What's a power pack?

[hako]

Anyone? What's a power pack?

It's probably the mechanic's technical term for "whoops, I forgot to connect a wire".
Nothing called a 'power pack' on a Commodore AFAIK.

[Shtato]

^ It's not a Commodore it's a Statesman.

Anyone know what a power pack is?

[88GreenVN]

^ It's not a Commodore it's a Statesman.

Anyone know what a power pack is?

The term "power pack" when it comes to Commodores and Statesmans refers to the electric windows/door locks/mirrows and arial options for the Berlina or Executice.

Calais and Statesmans normally come with a power pack included.

[moose man]

no no no...

a power pack is another term for the coil pack. This is because it houses the main power diodes for the ignition system switching.
The power pack or coil pack has a wire that feeds the tacho. There must have been a broken wire internally.

oh, and Cappy, you need to find another mechanic...