Electronics Need help wiring something up? Thinking of adding an electrical component to your car? Need help troubleshooting that wiring glitch?

Tachometer freaking out and car wont start

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 04-18-2021, 10:20 AM
  #1  
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
isaiah04's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2020
Posts: 28
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Car: 1988 firebird
Engine: 305 TBI
Transmission: 700R4
Tachometer freaking out and car wont start

I have a 1988 firebird formula with a TBI 305. went to start it yesterday and the tachometer shot up to 6000 rpm while cranking off the starter. it will read anywhere from 1500-6000 rpm while tryig to start it. it has backfired a few times and is making some not so great sounds. I disconnected the fuel injectors while checking for spark with a timing light and it ran off of the fuel that was already in the intake and seemed to be running fine around 1500 rpm for a few seconds. I have spark and its fairly consistent and seems to be how it should be.

I used the electronic spark timing bypass to see if it would run without the computer trying to adjust the timing, it ran but was chopping and couldnt hold steady rpm, and was sounding really terrible.

When in run with the engine off the tachometer would randomly shoot up to the max it can go, and when it did that the fuel pump started running. I could get the tachometer to move when i put it into gear or put my foot on the brake. Assuming something went wrong electrically but i dont know where to start.
Old 04-18-2021, 01:46 PM
  #2  
Senior Member

iTrader: (3)
 
Blackdog36's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Buffalo, NY
Posts: 535
Likes: 0
Received 9 Likes on 8 Posts
Car: 92 Z28
Engine: LS3
Transmission: TR6060
Axle/Gears: Strange S60 3.73
Re: Tachometer freaking out and car wont start

Ouch, you have a few gremlins going on at once. Try replacing some fuses in fuse panel under steering wheel. There should be one for gauge cluster. Might be long shot but cheap enough for new fuses to try it out. Check out this youtube video for what each fuses is for on your car. Maybe there is a ground wire somewhere not working properly?

Old 04-18-2021, 03:24 PM
  #3  
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
isaiah04's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2020
Posts: 28
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Car: 1988 firebird
Engine: 305 TBI
Transmission: 700R4
Re: Tachometer freaking out and car wont start

Pulled off the ground on the back of the driver side head. Someone did a half *** job at recrimping a ground lug on but i redid that and its driveable now. Tach is still going crazy on startup but as soon as it starts it runs and drives fine. My guess is the next thing to check will be the power going into the fuse block because in run the tach still goes up to 6000 if i put my foot on the brake pedal. thanks for the respose
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
nbays1975
Tech / General Engine
1
10-21-2008 09:01 AM
jjlabinski
Tech / General Engine
9
04-23-2008 05:49 PM
89IROCZZ4
Tech / General Engine
2
06-08-2003 11:00 AM
Macgyver
Tech / General Engine
18
12-18-2001 01:25 PM
spearson
Tech / General Engine
4
06-08-2001 09:39 PM



Quick Reply: Tachometer freaking out and car wont start



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 06:33 PM.