Thread: 300 Tdi tacho problem

Originally Posted by woollyfree

99% of the time my tacho works perfectly. Then for some unknown reason it just dies. Cruising on the freeway yesterday, it did a couple of jumps then settled on the stop. The motor kept running, there were no other signs of trouble, just a dead tcho. When I got to the end of the freeway, it came back on again.
It did it again later so I pounded on the dash a bit to try and get a reaction, but nothing.
It doesn't seem to be related to road conditions, but who knows?

Hi Woolie,
I don't know how true this is but I have heard that if there is no load on an alternator then the signal that drives the tacho can drop off.
Next time it does it, switch on the head lights and see if the tacho comes back.

Tony

It has actually gotten worse since I refitted the plug on the wire attaching to the alternator. This makes me think it's either the wire itself, or the connection behind the plug on the alternator itself. As for working without a load, most of the time it has been playing up the A\C or the fan has been on so I doubt if that has any effect.
I hope to get som time to play with the wire next week, for now I've got to fix the rear drivers side door lock that doesn't unlock with the remote.
Locks fine, just won't unlock.