Tacho for boxer petrol

Hi.

I am trying to fit a rev counter to our 2l petrol Symphony.
I have looked everywhere for some info, but I have drawn a blank. I should be able to take signals from the coils, but no luck.
Has anyone done this before? I find it strange that a modern vehicle was supplied without one. I drive on revs, especially on a thirsty petrol engine!
A vacuum gauge is also usful; less so on injection engines than with carbs, but still worth having.

Hi and welcome to the forum sunny Bridlington 
Boaby

I don't know how to do it, but before anyone else asks - the OP's vehicle year is in his profile (under "Model") - it's a 1998 Boxer.

I'm surprised that anyone would expect to see a tacho in a white van. Perhaps a tuned XU10J2U in a souped up 405 or something might need one to stay on the cam, but a builder's van?? it is a commercial van engine - not peaky at all. Or mine isn't.

Tthe ideal place for the trigger wire is off the crank sensor - surely?
Loads on Ebay, although where you would mount it ??

Frank

boxerman wrote:I'm surprised that anyone would expect to see a tacho in a white van. Perhaps  a tuned XU10J2U in a souped up 405 or something might need one to stay on the cam, but a builder's van?? it is a commercial van engine - not peaky at all. Or mine isn't.

My 1999 Transit 2.5 DI had a rev counter and so did my 2008 Transit 2.4 and so does my 2014 2.2 Boxer. Like the OP, I use the rev counter, especially at low engine speeds.

Sorry to say, I don't know much about retro-fitting one, but suggest asking the vendors how they would do the job )I imagine Halfords and the like would be able to tell you).

Hi Bill and a big welcome to the forum from a glorious day in Filey.  
There are several tachos available that run off the alternator. You would need a method of calibrating them to the engine RPM though.
I got one for my old Landrover as like you I drive with information from the tachometer. Remember the vac gauges, brilliant bits of kit especially for setting up the carbs and ignition timing 

I like to see the engine speed of vehicles that I drive.
I have driven HGVs that are quite critical as to engine speed for efficient gear changes, including old fashioned and very thirsty petrol ones. I was hoping to use a standard 4 cylinder tacho that is looking for 2 bangs per rev. Should have been easy, just pick up from the 2 coil switched circuits, but cannot see any signal even with a 'scope.

I have a 2 hole pod mounted on top of the dashboard moulding. Has the tacho and vacuum gauge nicely in line of sight. Vacuum gauge helps to guide driver as to throttle position.

I have had Peugeot cars since 1988. All had tachos. present car is a 208. Only 3 cylinders, but it has a tacho.

I am getting 24 MPG from symphony, so not bad

24mpg is about the most any of us have ever got on a Symphony .

I am happy with 24 MPG. Have to balance all costs, so am thinking about all the possible costs with HPI Diesel. i have spent a fortune on failing Diesels. Vauxhall Omega; £1,500. peugeot van written off as too expensive to fix. Peugeot 305, Pump pulled debris though inadequate filter, £750. Peugeot 807 failed on Pyrennes. £500. Diesels were always the benchmark of reliability. just needed clean fuel, regular filter changes and clean lube oil. Since HPI they are a nightmare.

I have an old Ford Transit. Bought it because it had a traditional injector pump.

Hi Bill,
This is the one I got for the Landrover, picks up the W terminal on the alternator and is adjustable to rpm.
Only goes to 4000 rpm though but sufficient for my truck.

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

Hi.

Problem is that W terminal only provided on Diesel engines. I think I may have to scoop out the rev counter's insides and make my own driver. Back to the drawing board!

Bill Silvester wrote:Hi.

Problem is that W terminal only provided on Diesel engines. I think I may have to scoop out the rev counter's insides and make my own driver. Back to the drawing board!

Oops   Shows you learn something something every day 

Bill Silvester wrote:Hi.

I am trying to fit a rev counter to our 2l petrol Symphony.
I have looked everywhere for some info, but I have drawn a blank. I should be able to take signals from the coils, but no luck.
Has anyone done this before? I find it strange that a modern vehicle was supplied without one. I drive on revs, especially on a thirsty petrol engine!
A vacuum gauge is also usful; less so on injection engines than with carbs, but still worth having.

Hi Bill,
Car Builder Solutions, Redlands , Lindridge Lane, staplehurst, Kent TN12 OJJ. TEL.01580 891309.
have a catalogue & on page 222 have a Tachometer that takes its pulse from the ign coil.

Also.

Vehicle wiring Products 9 Buxton Court, Manners Ind. Est. Ilkeston, Derbyshire, DE7 8EF. Tel. 01159305454.
have a catalogue & on page 70 Tachometer with coil ignition pulse.

Regards
Gren.

I think if you are already getting 24mpg , why do you need a rev counter at all? Can't see you improving on the mpg, you already drive it economically without one.

Yes, sometimes it pays to work the engine a bit if it means that momentum can be kept up.

I was in error; the pulsing wire does if fact give 2 pulses per engine rev. have checked the little rev counter against my Photo coupled tach and it is reading true, just a bit sluggish. The vacuum gauge would flutter at idle, so I have made a damping chamber for it. 

Driving style is important. My car's MPG indicator shows how quite small changes in throttle position really do make a big difference.

I do keep the speed down, but try to avoid 90 K/Hr as I do not want to get in the way of heavy vehicles. They are useful, keeping the wind off me!

We leave all unused items at home, do not have any top hamper and run with minimum water unless expecting to be autonomous for a while.

Only had the van for 2 months and love it.
Last one was a Fendt on a Ducato Turbo Diesel. Bit of a pantechnicon really. Symphony build quality much better.

Does your van have an OBDII socket?  If so you can plug in a ScanGauge - Brilliant reader which gives loads of information - 4 programable digital displays including revs, speed, engine temperature battery voltage and loads more.  It can also read and reset fault codes.
If the van is pre 2000 it probably won't have the socket (normally in the cab near the steering column).

'That' is a seriously good idea Ron . There are some seriously cheap Bluetooth ones that connect to a phone or whatever for a remote display.

inspiredron wrote:Does your van have an OBDII socket? .

Nope!

Frank

No obd on van; too old as commercials did not need it until I think 2000.
As I posted earlier, I sorted problem out. Signal from common wire to coilpack was giving 2 pulses/rev, as with Kettering ignition.

I would like to be able to read any fault codes on the Peugeot specific connector. A bit like Morse Code if what I have read about it is correct. Has anyone used this?

Jaytee wrote:'That' is a seriously good idea Ron . There are some seriously cheap Bluetooth ones that connect to a phone or whatever for a remote display.

The problem with the cheap bluetooth readefs is that they can be on 24/7 and drain your battery.

inspiredron wrote:

Jaytee wrote:'That' is a seriously good idea Ron . There are some seriously cheap Bluetooth ones that connect to a phone or whatever for a remote display.

The problem with the cheap bluetooth readefs is that they can be on 24/7 and drain your battery.

Another 'worth knowing' thanks 

inspiredron wrote:

Jaytee wrote:'That' is a seriously good idea Ron . There are some seriously cheap Bluetooth ones that connect to a phone or whatever for a remote display.

The problem with the cheap bluetooth readefs is that they can be on 24/7 and drain your battery.

Agreed - the power feed on most (all?) OBDII sockets is on all the time, not ignition switched. The dongle should only take a few milliamps in standby mode, but there is no easy way of knowing whether it's in standby or not!

Both of the most recent ones I have are actually warm to the touch when the ignition is off - so they definitely don't seem to be in standby - not a problem for me as my vehicle battery is on float charge when it's not in use, but I reckon it would be a significant drain if not. Unplugging the dongle is not an issue, as they auto-pair via Bluetooth without needing any user intervention, but you would have to remember to do it if the van was not going to be used for a while...