Multi-Guage Malfunction.

[Auladan]

I've already asked this here several times, but I never got an answer. Though, I'm rather desperate and havn't been able to locate the answers for myself (internet, search, haynes, ect).

I just got my car running a few weeks ago, with a used 91+ JDM motor, and I have everything wired, hosed, and plugged (that I can see), however my Tachometer, oil pressure and temperature guages don't function.

Could y'all list any reasons for that?

 

[92awddsm]

Oil pressure- do you have the bell shaped oil pressure sending unit on the oil filter housing? If not, this is why.
Tach- did you use your original coil packs and transistor? If not, do so.
Did you switch out thermostat housing from the original engine onto the jdm? If not, are you sure the temp sending unit is the same from jdm to usdm?

 

[Auladan]

My USDM coil back and transistor had gone bad, so I replaced them with a 1990 coil and transistor (same year as my car). Still no tach readings.

I only swapped the thermostat elbow from my USDM to my JDM. I have a small wire that goes to the thermostat that has been severed. That might be the reason.

I swapped the oil sending units from my USDM to my JDM, but that did no good. I heard that I simply have to get an aftermarket unit to get it to work, according to others on this board who've done the swap multiple times.

 

[19Eclipse90]

I just got my car running a few weeks ago, with a used 91+ JDM motor, and I have everything wired, hosed, and plugged (that I can see), however my Tachometer, oil pressure and temperature guages don't function.

I bought my car 90 GST that had a JDM motor swap and I have two of the three same problems. My tach and oil pressure gauges don't work.

Oil pressure- do you have the bell shaped oil pressure sending unit on the oil filter housing? If not, this is why.
Tach- did you use your original coil packs and transistor? If not, do so.

Do not and haven't.... I guess those could be problems...

Thanks for posting this Auladan, and thanks for answering 92awddsm!

 

[92awddsm]

My USDM coil back and transistor had gone bad, so I replaced them with a 1990 coil and transistor (same year as my car). Still no tach readings.

I only swapped the thermostat elbow from my USDM to my JDM. I have a small wire that goes to the thermostat that has been severed. That might be the reason.

I swapped the oil sending units from my USDM to my JDM, but that did no good. I heard that I simply have to get an aftermarket unit to get it to work, according to others on this board who've done the swap multiple times.

Look at the usdm oil filter housing and you will see 2 sending units. The larger of the 2 is for the gauge. The jdm should have only 1 and that will not work the gauge, only the light. You can pull that sending unit out and install the larger there and hook the gauge to it. Oil light wont work but you dont need it anyway.

Does your coil pack have the 4 wire plug or the 3 wire plug. 4 wire is definately for 90 model only. There is another condenser or something mounted in the same area that you need to work the tach but I cant remember off hand. I would go look but I have a 92 so it wont do you any good. I know some people that have swapped jdm into a 90 and had these same problems.

 

[Auladan]

Anytime! I just really want to get this thing running again. My brother's running a lightly modded 305 firebird formula (92), my friend's in a mid-80's camaro with a swapped 350 motor, with an estimated 350-360 ponies, and I desperately wanna represent the DSM community. Both of them put it down all the time (since it's been out for 17 months), and say it has no chance of hanging with them. Also, my friend just recently sold his 95 GSX. He never really understood what a DSM was, just that his car was fast. NOBODY believes my car is as quick as his was, since I never really got the chance to push it.

Anyway, thanks again. I'll look all those things over. Also, my coil uses the 4-wire plug; the rectangular one.

If I get anything to work, I'll be sure to post what fixed it.