AMC Eagle Den Forum

The Shop => Electrical => Topic started by: drock87 on December 18, 2013, 04:44:58 PM

Title: Tach/Intermittant Wiper Switch
Post by: drock87 on December 18, 2013, 04:44:58 PM
So, I did a Ford tach, which I bought from Vangremlin, and intermittant wiper switch on my car. I do not have everything QUITE right, and I need to take it back apart and correct my mistakes. I BELIEVE I have this figured out, but guidance would be good.

1) Ford tachs need to be grounded. Do not ask me why mine works, but it does. I have a Sport and therefore had a Factory tach. Three wires into a factory splicer thing out to two wires. Well, I figured out that the green wire goes to the coil, and the yellow is power. But...there's three wires...OH BOY! One must be the ground. BUZZ! Nope, wrong. One is an ignition switch for my oil pressure and altometer. But I thought it was a ground wire...so I hooked it up as a ground. So, I effectively knocked out two of my gauges.

Correct me if I am wrong. The power cable and ignition cable were both brown. I need to tie those in together and then ground the tach properly....and my tach should work AND my other gauges should work.

2) When I put the intermittant wiper switch in, I just threw the box behind the dash somewhere. And I tested it, and it worked! Joy. Then, I'm driving and ONLY high speed works. Huh? I figure something fell out of place, and I'll have to fix it. AND then I did 2+2...here's the common demoninator: If the lights are off, everything works. If the lights are on, only high speed works.

I do know, I disconnected the ground wire for what I thought was just the little light that lights up "LIghts" "Wiper-Washer". Clearly, it is more than that. Let me know if you think it is different. I need to reconnect the ground for those lights and use a different ground for the wiper switch.

3) WHAT THE heck TOOL DO YOU USE TO GET THE LITTLE WASHER/BOLT OUT OF THE WIPER SWITCH??????

Thanks all!
Title: Re: Tach/Intermittant Wiper Switch
Post by: Mernsy on December 18, 2013, 05:16:47 PM
Have you checked here?

http://amceaglesden.com/guide/index.php?title=Wiper_Switch_Replacement/Upgrade

http://amceaglesden.com/guide/index.php?title=Installing_a_Ford_F150_Tach_in_an_Eagle
Title: Re: Tach/Intermittant Wiper Switch
Post by: drock87 on December 18, 2013, 05:28:43 PM
Errrg...I didn't realize there was a wiper switch article there.

Ok. My question is why does it work properly when lights are off but not when lights are on?

Tach: Yes, vangremlin sent me the same set of directions. I got confused because he did not have a factory tach in his car; I did. Therefore, I didn't realize the factory tach was grounded into the cluster and I assumed those three wires were the three wires for the tach. One is actually, now I realize, for the rallye gauges. The tach I think I have figured out; I just need to rip everything apart and do it again. The wiper switch has me a little more baffled because it does work some of the time...but not when lights are on.
Title: Re: Tach/Intermittant Wiper Switch
Post by: Amc1320 on December 18, 2013, 09:53:17 PM
My wipers were doing the same thing, only worked on high speed

Thought my switch was bad but it turned out it just waning plugged in good, it pulled it apart and added soe contact lube and plugged it back in and it has been perfect ever since, I think it was not grounding correctly

Grounds cause all kinda weird stuff if they aren't good
Title: Re: Tach/Intermittant Wiper Switch
Post by: drock87 on December 19, 2013, 09:39:41 AM
Quote from: Amc1320 on December 18, 2013, 09:53:17 PM
Grounds cause all kinda weird stuff if they aren't good

True story. Well, I'm gonna take it apart again Sunday and see what I can figure out.
Title: Re: Tach/Intermittant Wiper Switch
Post by: drock87 on January 09, 2014, 06:16:34 PM
BUMP! Here is a video of it working PROPERLY :) Plus, acceleration. Calling Vangremlin!    :eaglebig:

http://youtu.be/kiGlb_WfMg0

Please note; this is like the first video I have ever posted, so I apologize for quality issues, lol.