How to Wire a Dixco Hood Tachometer

A tachometer is a device that measures the number of rotations your car engine crankshaft rotates per minute, which is why the unit of measurement indicated in a tachometer dial is RPM, or revolutions per minute. Tachometers come in different styles and brands, such as Dixco, but all tachometers are mounted on the dashboard and are basically wired to your car electrical system. Unlike modern digital tachometers, vintage tachometers have a dial and pointer to indicate your engine's RPM.

Instructions

1

Splice a segment of similarly colored wires onto each wire running from the back of the tachometer. Use insulation displacement connectors (IDC) to splice the wires without soldering.

2

Run the green wire to the positive side of your car engine electrical coil, then cut the wire with diagonal pliers. Crimp an eye connector at the tip of the wire, using pliers. Remove the nut on the coil's positive terminal, plug the red wire onto the terminal and replace the nut.

3

Run the black wire to a grounding screw embedded to your cars chassis, then cut the wire. Crimp an eye terminal onto the tip of the wire. Remove the grounding screw, slip the eye terminal onto the screw and replace the screw onto the car chassis.

4

Run the white wire to your car's fuse box, then cut the wire. Locate a wire running from the fuse box to a light bulb by looking at the label behind the fuse box cover. Tap the white wire onto the wire that supplies current to a light bulb, using an IDC connector.

5

Check all splices and terminals to make sure there are no loose connections. Start your car to see if the tachometer needle is moving each time you step on the accelerator.