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Tachometer Quits

Has anyone had a tachometer quit on them?  The tach on my 1999 U-320 has quit working and I have been unable to get it fixed.  When I turn on the ignition, the needle cycles once with the word "test" in the hour meter window.  Then when the engine starts, the needle indicates zero RPM and the hour meter reads the number of hours that were on the engine when the tach quit working. 

MOT spent two hours of diagnostics and determined that the gauge was not the problem and that the wiring back to the engine was intact.  They said the problem had to be in the engine computer.  Cummins of Nashville spent four hours of diagnostic time and determined that the computer was functioning properly and the problem had to be forward of the engine.  So now I have paid for 6 hours of labor and still have a tach that doesn't work and no answer to the problem.

If anyone else has had this problem before me and has a solution, I would love to hear it. 
Jan & Richard Witt
1999 U-320  36ft WTFE
Build Number: 5478 Motorcade: 16599
2011 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited w/Air Force One
Jan: NO5U, Richard:KA5RIW
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Re: Tachometer Quits

Reply #1 –
My fuel, tach, odometer, speedometer and engine hours all fail to operate from time to time. 1999 40ft U320 no tag, no slide
 
My VMS-240C is what I look at while driving, for example, see:
 
http://lazydazers.com/index.cfm?fa=ShowItem&ID=3036
___

best, paul
"Thriving not surviving" <(*¿*)>
Paul Schaye (at 2008 NYC Marathon) "Life is what happens when you are doing other things!" "If you are not living on the edge, you are taking up too much room!"
See our blog at LazyDazers.com
 
Quote
Has anyone had a tachometer quit on them?  The tach on my 1999 U-320 has quit working and I
1999 U320 40' 1200 watts on roof. 12cf AC/DC Cold plate fridge/freezer. VMS 240 CL Honda Element

Re: Tachometer Quits

Reply #2 –
I am sorry to read of your problems with your tachometer.  I can't think of anything worse than spending around $600 and still having the same problem.
 
While I don't have an answer for you I do have an option.  The VMSpc from SilverLeaf will tell you:  road speed, RPMs, and a whole lot more and you will be able to read the information a lot easier than on the absurd instrument read out devices that Foretravel installed on our coaches in 1999 and 2000.  My guess is that they are for trucks and are not that user-friendly in my humble opinion.

You can find SilverLeaf VMSpc info at:  www.silverleafelectronics.com/
If you are not familiar with this system I can tell you that the software is free, but that you hve to buy a cable and a connecting box from them.  Don't waste time thinking about trying to build your own cable and box.  It won't work.  As I recall the connection cable and box is $300.

I bought mine thinking I was getting a fun toy.  Now it is an indispensable part of our driving.  We would not leave home without it.
George Stoltz.  Retired from full-time living in a great Foretravel and now are back to living in a traditional sticks and bricks in Florida.

Re: Tachometer Quits

Reply #3 –
We had the same problem...though we did not spend quite as much on troubleshooting labor.  We spoke with James Triana at Foretravel, and he said those instruments sometimes 'die'.  We had Foretravel service look at it and they replaced the tach gauge and all has been well.  We too have Silverleaf and 'love it' but we like for the gauges to work as well.

Re: Tachometer Quits

Reply #4 –
The original VDO speedometer was replaced before I bought my coach(at 53,000 miles).  My tach has since died(about 85,000mi.)  Did MOT actually replace the tach with a new one for their test?  If they were doing diagnostics without a new gauge in stock, I would question their work.  I would think a faulty gauge is most likely.
Regards,
Brett

'99 42' Foretravel Xtreme
'14 Brown Motorsports Stacker
'05 Chevy SSR
'02 BMW R1150R