H22a Rev Counter & Speedometer Issues!

[CrunchyAdams82]

Hi Guys,

Firstly, I'm sure this has been asked multiple times before, but I couldn't find the information I was looking for. Sorry if I'm repeating jobby here.

*Car is a 1994/L Manual H22a JDM BB1 Si Vtec LSD with TCS btw*

Ok, ordered some replacement dials from a member on here due to having the wrong ones in the car when I bought it. It had dials from a 2L Auto, and the Rev Counter didn't work. The Speedo didn't read right either, obviously.

Anyway, got my replacement OEM dials fitted today, and the rev counter still doesn't work at all. Also, the speedo is well off. I was driving along at about 30mph, & it was reading 60mph!

Where this is the second cluster that is displaying similar symptoms, I am presuming that it's not these that are to blame. Also, the seller said they were in good working order.

Unfortunately, I have never had a working set of dials in this car, so I have no point of reference as to what may be causing these problems.

There are obviously several plugs to check, but really don't know where to start. Tried pulling the distributor plug with 2 wires out - the engine promptly died. Played with that plug several times to see if it might be a dodgy connection; no dice. Haven't really tried any other relevant plugs though. Suggestions?

I read somewhere that maybe the problem is something inside the distributor. Any ideas?

I also read somewhere that someone pulled out his vtec oil switch (?) and the rev counter magically started working. But then the thread abruptly ended with no real solution.

Or is there an earthing problem?

Plus I don't know if the replacement dials were from a JDM or UKDM 2.2. Would that make any difference?

Also, the car is a TCS model but is currently running a non-tcs ECU as I damaged the last one. It is also fitted with a Spoon copy chip. I don't think this has anything to do with the problems I'm having, as the last dials I had which were displaying the same issues were when I had the original ECU & chip fitted. Just thought I should mention it though.

I'm certain somebody knows how to fix this, I just haven't been able to find the answers I'm looking for.

A little help please.

Thanks.

[4thgenphil]

running a non tcs ecu in a tcs car will cause the tacho issue. PM me tomorrow an i will dig out all the info on that for you!

speedo, first guess would be the speedo convertor on the fritz, followed by the speed sensor in the gearbox

[CrunchyAdams82]

What is 'the speedo converter on the fritz'?

And does it not seem a bit strange having two separate problems at the same time? Or is that quite feasible? Or are they related?

[4thgenphil]

i KNOW the tacho issue is caused by the ECU mix, easily fixed though

being jap it will have a convertor, these can fail. not saying it is the cause, it could be an ECU/wiring issue aswell !

[CrunchyAdams82]

So how come the last cluster I had in there had exactly the same problem; rev counter n/w at all, and that had the correct ECU in at the time?

Leads me to believe it might be something else.

Or, was that because it was the wrong cluster for the standard ECU? Is it just that I've not yet had the correct ECU/cluster combination fitted at the same time?

[CrunchyAdams82]

Where is the converter fitted? How can I check it? Do I definitely have one fitted?

This whole car smacks of bodge-job. Nothing would surprise me!

[4thgenphil]

well i had a look

i cant even remember how i worked all this out, must have been divine intervention, all i know is i did it 2 hours before i left for the ring

basically i spliced the blue with silver collar wire from the TCS plug of the p13 ecu (the one you wont have space for in a p28/p72). This blue wire is the signal from the ECU to the gauge . this means you need to splice it into the signal from the ICM (this does the rev counter aswell). on my car this was a yellow wire with a green strip.
the yellow and green wire will still need to be kept intact with the blue one added into it.

pin 21 on the diagram on this site.

http://technet.ff-squad.com/wiring.obd1.htm

i used this and the VAFC manual (i cant find it atm)

here's some pictures which i hope will explain a little better





sorry for the late reply, let me know how u get on, and if you get it ok

cheers

phil

i just copied this from a message i sent to drax, when converting from a p13 with TCS to a non TCS ecu this is the fix i found to solve the tacho issue.

[4thgenphil]

Where is the converter fitted? How can I check it? Do I definitely have one fitted?

This whole car smacks of bodge-job. Nothing would surprise me!

this is where it get complicated!

do you have a chip fitted

do you have vtec in 1st

do you have a 112 mph speed limiter?

the later 2 question will answer what side of the ecu the convertor is fitted, basically if its converting the signals into or out of the ECU.

[CrunchyAdams82]

Hmm, ok. Looks interesting, don't know if I'd be able to pull it off though! Worth mentioning, someone on here reckons they might be able to fix my ECU - just gotta send it off to him to have a look at it. So hopefully won't need to start splicing. This is very useful information though in the event that my ECU is beyond repair, as I understand the tcs units are hard to come by.

[CrunchyAdams82]

Yes I have a chip fitted. It used to have a 112 mph limit with the original chip, but not anymore. Vtec kicks in noticeably earlier than it used to - about 4700 apparently (ref seller). Haven't tried vtec in 1st yet. I would assume yes.