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LandRoverAnorak



Member Since: 17 Jul 2011
Location: Surrey
Posts: 11324

United Kingdom 
Anybody fitted a rev counter?
Picked this up from eBay the other day:


Click image to enlarge


The box is a bit tatty but otherwise new and unfitted, which is good.

The instructions are a bit of challenge but I understand that it needs a connection from the 'W' terminal of the alternator. Has anybody done this? Is that connector used for anything else that I could pick up from more easily or have I got to crawl around the engine bay?

Also, has anybody found any good 12v alternatives for the standard clock? I'm thinking perhaps of something panel mounted in the shallow recess beneath the radio.

Any ideas would be much appreciated. Darren

110 USW BUILD THREAD - EXPEDITION TRAILER - 200tdi 90 BUILD THREAD - SANKEY TRAILER - IG@landroveranorak

"You came in that thing? You're braver than I thought!" - Princess Leia
Post #181404 2nd Nov 2012 6:52pm
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Gareth



Member Since: 12 Dec 2011
Location: Bramhall
Posts: 1102

England 
Info here.
http://offroadbutikk.com/acatalog/tachometer.htm 2021 Defender 110 X-Dynamic HSE D300 MHEV
1966 S2a 109 aka Betsy
1968 S2a 88 aka Bob
2014 Jaaaag F Type 3.0 Supercharged.
Post #181406 2nd Nov 2012 6:58pm
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bob neville



Member Since: 30 Apr 2009
Location: Marbella
Posts: 3248

Spain 2001 Defender 90 Td5 SW Epsom Green
Yep Thumbs Up

Fitted a genuine LR one.
Signal comes from the black plug on the ECU pin 19. Some vehicles have a cable from the pin to the dash already. If you have to make up a cable let me know, I have the gold pins and the crimper for them here.

Excellent instructions here

http://www.web-rover.co.uk/nav.php?p=articles/vdotacho

Longest job was routing the signal cable from the ECU to the gauge.

Complete job took a couple of hours.

Edit - just had a close look at the picture and that is the Lowtension version that does pick up from the ECU plug.

Bob 2015 Jaguar XE240 R Sport - goes like ....... !!
2013 Defender 90 CSW - sold
2009 Defender 110 Double Cab - sold
2001 TD5 90 CSW - offroad project - sold to a forum member
2011 Porsche Boxster - for the sunny days !
Post #181408 2nd Nov 2012 7:00pm
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LandRoverAnorak



Member Since: 17 Jul 2011
Location: Surrey
Posts: 11324

United Kingdom 
Thanks chaps. It looks like they're two versions of the same instructions for a kit from a now defunct company called Lowtension. Unfortunately, this part "the DC offset is boosted for the standard VDO tachometer" suggests that their kit included something beyond what I have in the box. Unless somebody can tell me what that bit is, it looks like I'll need to wire straight to the alternator Confused Darren

110 USW BUILD THREAD - EXPEDITION TRAILER - 200tdi 90 BUILD THREAD - SANKEY TRAILER - IG@landroveranorak

"You came in that thing? You're braver than I thought!" - Princess Leia
Post #181416 2nd Nov 2012 7:20pm
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bob neville



Member Since: 30 Apr 2009
Location: Marbella
Posts: 3248

Spain 2001 Defender 90 Td5 SW Epsom Green
Hi Darren

The kit you have seems to be the version adjusted internally to run from the TD5 ecu - hence TD5 on the box ?
There will be no other parts as they modified the internals of the gauge, same as the ones Croytec sell.

Have read a couple of posts and it seems there are two sets of instructions for the gauge and it appears to be pot luck which set you got Shocked

I can't see that taking the signal from the ECU will cause any problems but I am sure somebody far more knowledgeable than me will be along soon !

Bob 2015 Jaguar XE240 R Sport - goes like ....... !!
2013 Defender 90 CSW - sold
2009 Defender 110 Double Cab - sold
2001 TD5 90 CSW - offroad project - sold to a forum member
2011 Porsche Boxster - for the sunny days !
Post #181434 2nd Nov 2012 7:47pm
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LandRoverAnorak



Member Since: 17 Jul 2011
Location: Surrey
Posts: 11324

United Kingdom 
That might not be right after all Rolling Eyes Using the Waybackmachine, I've managed to find the original website for Lowtension, which describes the kit in a bit more detail. It looks like the modifcation is within the gauge and the kit was just a wire with a pin to suit the ECU.

On that basis, Bob, I'll take a look at my ECU and if the cable isn't there already I'll come back to you, thanks very much.

It was a bit of a shock how cheap the gauge was back in 2005 Shocked

Edit: I still typing whilst you were answering. Thanks Bob Thumbs Up Darren

110 USW BUILD THREAD - EXPEDITION TRAILER - 200tdi 90 BUILD THREAD - SANKEY TRAILER - IG@landroveranorak

"You came in that thing? You're braver than I thought!" - Princess Leia
Post #181441 2nd Nov 2012 7:53pm
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bob neville



Member Since: 30 Apr 2009
Location: Marbella
Posts: 3248

Spain 2001 Defender 90 Td5 SW Epsom Green
Thumbs Up

If you're near Ilminster nip in and I will help you fit it, I was worried about playing with the ECU plug but that turned out to be the easiest bit.

Bob 2015 Jaguar XE240 R Sport - goes like ....... !!
2013 Defender 90 CSW - sold
2009 Defender 110 Double Cab - sold
2001 TD5 90 CSW - offroad project - sold to a forum member
2011 Porsche Boxster - for the sunny days !
Post #181449 2nd Nov 2012 8:00pm
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me@td5.org



Member Since: 16 Jan 2011
Location: Warwick
Posts: 856

2000 Defender 90 Td5 HT Epsom Green
The site has the instructions but without the missing pictures

http://www.web-rover.co.uk/nav.php?p=articles/vdotacho

I'm going to see if I can work out the electronics required to make aftermarket tacos work
Post #181473 2nd Nov 2012 8:34pm
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Steve B



Member Since: 22 May 2009
Location: Warwickshire
Posts: 586

United Kingdom 2000 Defender 90 Td5 SW Caledonian Blue
Hi,

I fitted one from croytec last year, check the plug up by the instrument cluster if your lucky the wiring for the rev counter will already be there. I think it is grey, and should be connected to ecu black plug pin 19 ( double check this info ) you could do a continuity test to be sure. Up by the plug it just stops and doesn't go further, this is where you can plug in your rev counter.

Steve 
Post #181481 2nd Nov 2012 8:53pm
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LandRoverAnorak



Member Since: 17 Jul 2011
Location: Surrey
Posts: 11324

United Kingdom 
me@td5.org wrote:
The site has the instructions but without the missing pictures

http://www.web-rover.co.uk/nav.php?p=articles/vdotacho

Thanks, but that's the same as Bob posted above Thumbs Up

Steve B wrote:
I fitted one from croytec last year, check the plug up by the instrument cluster if your lucky the wiring for the rev counter will already be there. I think it is grey, and should be connected to ecu black plug pin 19 ( double check this info ) you could do a continuity test to be sure. Up by the plug it just stops and doesn't go further, this is where you can plug in your rev counter.

Thanks Steve. That would be ideal if it is. It'll probably be next weekend before I get chance to take a look, but I'll report back when I do. Darren

110 USW BUILD THREAD - EXPEDITION TRAILER - 200tdi 90 BUILD THREAD - SANKEY TRAILER - IG@landroveranorak

"You came in that thing? You're braver than I thought!" - Princess Leia
Post #181512 2nd Nov 2012 10:04pm
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party monkey



Member Since: 31 Dec 2010
Location: Oxon.
Posts: 1311

England 2005 Defender 110 Td5 XS CSW Cairns Blue
@ LRA - Interested to know how you get on chap as I have same age/model truck as you and also have a rev-counter lurking in the garage waiting me to get off my bum and fit.

From previous chats with my local'ish Bicester LR guru (Benj85jty, not Mark Smith LR's Very Happy ) you're likely to find that the correct feed (fairly sure it Pin19) on the black ECU plug is already used for the TC/ABS sensor feed on XS Td5's, so you may need to tap in to that, rather than finding it spare and a possible wire in the loom lurking behind the dash. I must admit though, I've not yet checked all mine out.

Ben fitted his a few months back so might be worth PM'ing him to get the low down if he doesn't see this thread. He has a slightly earlier XS from memory. Jon - 110 td5 [sold]. Currently Defenderless.
Post #181553 3rd Nov 2012 7:34am
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bob neville



Member Since: 30 Apr 2009
Location: Marbella
Posts: 3248

Spain 2001 Defender 90 Td5 SW Epsom Green
Jon is correct if you have ABS/TC - you have to tap into the existing wire on 19 Thumbs Up

Mine is a CSW so no TC and no wire in 19.

There are three combinations for pin 19, nothing at all from the pin (mine), a wire from pin 19 to the dash but not connected to anything in the dash, and the ABS/TC version which has a wire to the ABS sensor which you have to tap into.

If you move the temp and fuel gauges along to the right so that the rev counter is next to the speedo you may have/want to extend some of the gauge wires as it is a bit tight.

The only other thing you need to do is find a SWITCHED 12v supply for the gauge (not the purple from the clock as that is permanently live), an earth for the gauge and the +/- for the lights.

All the extra wires are easy to run from the existing gauges, either splice in or use piggy back spade terminals (especially for the lights).

Bob 2015 Jaguar XE240 R Sport - goes like ....... !!
2013 Defender 90 CSW - sold
2009 Defender 110 Double Cab - sold
2001 TD5 90 CSW - offroad project - sold to a forum member
2011 Porsche Boxster - for the sunny days !
Post #181579 3rd Nov 2012 8:40am
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jont



Member Since: 02 Apr 2011
Location: Aylesbury, Bucks
Posts: 242

2006 Defender 90 Td5 XS CSW Santorini Black
Censored .... missed another one - was on holiday !!

one showing on eBay for £255 !!

Anyone got or sees one for a reasonable price then please PM me ...

Jon - if you decide not to fit then Ill pop up and take it off your hands !! ... (Have managed to get a few mods done since we caught up last Wink
Post #181607 3rd Nov 2012 9:59am
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Steve B



Member Since: 22 May 2009
Location: Warwickshire
Posts: 586

United Kingdom 2000 Defender 90 Td5 SW Caledonian Blue
The price skyrocketed last year, I think when the stocks get low on the Td5 badged parts they increase the price as no more will be made. I was looking at them during the summer last year and a Td5 rev counter was about £150 then suddenly went £200 +. That made my decision to buy from Croytec.

Mine is a year 2000 CSW and the wire was fitted and unused, I don't have ABS.

I heard somewhere on the Internet so must be true Confused The rev counters are nothing special just a VDO unit set to 4 cylinder as this is the signal sent out by the ECU, has anyone else heard this?

It a nice mod LA, make sure you put it next to the speedo I think it is worth the extra effort.

Steve


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Post #181622 3rd Nov 2012 10:49am
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me@td5.org



Member Since: 16 Jan 2011
Location: Warwick
Posts: 856

2000 Defender 90 Td5 HT Epsom Green
I don't think it would be quite as simple as just switching to 4cyl but I suppose if we don't try we will never know. A simple assumption would be that the ECU sends out a wave that has a frequency the same as the engine speed. When I get my defender back I'll try and find out what it is doing.
Post #181628 3rd Nov 2012 11:08am
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