First of all, I’m having a hard time with this website. Every time I use the search bar, nothing relevant to my search comes up. So I have to create a new thread about my problem. Let me know if you can help me figure this stupid search engine out.

I have a 1990 firebird formula. So yesterday I took out my gauge cluster to check for any burnt bulbs, which there were some. And then I wiped any dust off the gauges, note that I wasn’t using any liquids just my finger. Then I put it all back together.

Then this morning I realize that my tachometer was reading way to high. It seemed alright when idling around 1k rpm’s, but when I start driving or apply any throttle, it will shoot up way above what it should be. I know my car very well by the sound it makes, so I know that what should be 4,000 rpm’s is reading 7,000 rpm’s on the gauge. Anybody know what happened? What could have gone wrong? Nothing should be broken, I didn’t mess with the tach.

if anybody has a solution, then that would be great. Would my replacement bulbs have anything to do with messing up the circuitry? Do the light bulbs affect it at all?

 

Tachs from that era of GM cars are notorious for that. Has nothing to do with the bulbs. Someone here sells a kit to replace the necessary electronic components to restore the tach back to proper working order...

 

I exclusively use google for searching the forum. Just add site:thirdgen.org to the end of whatever you are looking for on google and it'll only search this site for it.

The circuitboard might be laying on the pins funny. I'd take the cluster back out and give it a quick clean, make sure all the sockets are seated nicely and see if that does it.

 

i appreciate your response. Thanks for the tip on the search, I will do that

okay i will take it back out. How should I clean it? Blow some air? And what am I looking for, pins are touching something? What sockets need to be seated?

 

I use a wire brush or sometimes very lightly with a wire wheel on a dremel at low speed to clean up all the metal contact points, and then I spray an uncomfortable amount of CRC QD Electronic Cleaner to clean them off. Sorry forgot you had a firebird, not actually sure what you're seeing back there. But, if it worked fine before, usually taking it back apart and giving everything another once-over does it for me.

 

cool, I have both of those. I will give that a try and update this thread on how it goes. I can’t imagine much of a difference between the Camaro and firebird. I couldn’t find a replacement chip anywhere so hopefully it doesn’t get messed up more.

 

I seriously doubt that cleaning the contacts is going to make it read differently...

 

Could be you new need a new tach board, I had this same issue and a new tach board was the fix.

https://www.cajuntachshop.com/produc...-circuit-board

 

I agree with the crappy search feature. I too just use google and put thirdgen in the search title.

...also agree with Cajun Tach Shop! I've used his boards before and they work great.

 

but will this work on a firebird. I see that it says it works for camaro but it doesn’t say firebird. And I think they might be different

 

Is there any other solution to fixing this? Surely there is. I only moved the tachometer there is no way I broke the circuit board. And I can’t even find a new circuit board for a 1990 firebird

 

He does them for 82-86 Firebird/TA according to his site. Contact him and ask if he can do something with your year.

 

Hit up Brian @ Tuned Performance. I purchased a recalibrated board for my Camaro from him. He may have one for your year Firebird or maybe you can send him yours. Why it changed from just removing the cluster? your guess is as good as mine. I don't think you have a contact problem from just removing the cluster but maybe you knocked it lose so I would just make sure it is plugged in properly.

 

There is a tach fix thread up in the stickies of this board... It is a simple resistor that goes bad (99% of the time).

RBob.