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Few tech questions about a 72-73 fastback
73t3fastback - April 6th, 2005 at 10:41 PM

Can some one please help me, I have 2 anoying problems!!!

I have installed a VDO tacho in place of the old clock which works nicely untill I use something electrical!!!! When I turn on the lights the reading doubles, when the blinkers are on the tacho reading goes up and down with the blinking, reverse and break lights also cause a slight rise in the reading. Could it be something with the generator or regulator??????

Also the steering!!! From the original wheels I put 6 inch wheels on the car and found the scraped the mud guard and were fairly heavy, since then I put 5 inch wheels on the front which are great BUT when i do full lock one way, the wheels are straight the the steering wheel is 1/4 turn out. Do a full lock the other way and the steering whee is 1/4 turn out the other way. I end up douing full lock one way then almost full lock the other way to get the steeing wheel straight!!!!!! Is this a problem with the steering column or with the steering box

If any one has had and solved these problems please let me know how to fix them

Kieran

Andy - April 7th, 2005 at 08:33 AM

Not too sure on the tacho, but did it come with the resistor? I know mine was missing it and it was all over the place all the time, the resistor fix all the problems.
With your's if it only happens when you use something else, could you be getting power from the wrong place, or a bad earth?

As for the steering, not quite sure what you mean?? If your wheels are pointing straight ahead, and the car is stationary, it there play in the steering? As in you turn the steering wheel left/right and the wheels don't move?
This is adjustable in some steering box's, not sure on your model though.
:(

vw54 - April 7th, 2005 at 08:38 AM

Quote:

Also the steering!!!



I think you had better get the ball joints and tie rod ends checked and replaced if necessary. Check out if any thing else if loose under there on the front end at the same time.

Then get a wheel alignment and camber adjust at a good wheel aligner.

As for your Tacho, do you have a loop in the pulse sensor lead, the one connected to the negative side of the coil, if not make a small loop before it attaches to the coil.

also try connecting the positive side on the back of the tacho direct to the battery to see if that fixes the problem. keep it away from the terminal that has all the acccessories hooked up to it.

PurpleT3 - April 7th, 2005 at 08:59 AM

I'm not quite sure what you mean with the steering. Are you saying that even on full lock one way the road wheels still point straight ahead??? Is there slippage between the steering wheel and the road wheels?

It doesn't matter where the steering wheel is at full lock, it only matters where it is when the road wheels are pointing straight ahead. Make sure the road wheels are pointing straight ahead then remove the steering wheel and replace it so it is correctly aligned. I find you often need to go for a short drive to check that it is truly straight. During the drive make a mental note of which way it is out. Then adjust the steering wheel by a few splines. Once you are confident the steering wheel is straight when the road wheels are pointing straight ahead, you can then evaluate the full lock position.

Octa - April 7th, 2005 at 10:26 AM

With the steering it is possible that due to having 6" and rubbing that the pressure excerted caused soemthing to come loose (as Dave said), I would be careful driving it like that.

vw54 - April 7th, 2005 at 10:48 AM

Quote:

could you be getting power from the wrong place, or a bad earth?



yeah as Andy said BAD EARTH would probally make the tacho do strange things as well. check it out first, there should be 4 terminals on the back of the Tacho

Power
Earth
Pulse
Internal light

ragged - April 7th, 2005 at 11:15 AM

Regarding the steering, check where the steering shaft slides onto the steering coupling is tight. I think you will find this is loose and when you turn the steering wheel against either lock it is slipping on the shaft. You may also find that the car will dart one way or the other when you hit a large bump in the road as well! Need I say the potential DANGER if not recified.

**** Disclaimer****If none of this makes sense to you, seek professional help...

Cheers
Dave

Octa - April 7th, 2005 at 12:12 PM

Dave (ragged) is right. I replaced my steering coupler not long ago and notice that shaft and how dangerous it could be if it's loose. AND read the disclaimer, steering is among one of the most important mechanical items to get right 100%.

vw54 - April 7th, 2005 at 01:15 PM

The other item in steering that could be damaged in the rubber coupling. these tend to desintergrate, so removing the fuel tank to replace the rubber is a good idea.

73t3fastback - April 7th, 2005 at 05:40 PM

Thanks for the help, I'll have a look at the suggestions.

For the Tacho, it was originally playing up and VDO supplied a diode inline with the pulse lead. Also I have tried 2 grounding points, i'll try going straight to the battery.

With the steeing, i'll try to explain it a bit clearer but it look like some have understood me. Ok so full lock one way then then the wheels are straight, the steering wheel is 1/4 out of straight. Then full lock the other side makes the steering wheel either becomes 1/4 turn out the other way or close to straight when the wheels are straight.

Thanks for the suggestions, i'll have to look at it this week end, I've been driving with it this way for about 6 months already!!!!!!

Kieran