Questions and Answers
Another Crazy Honda Tachometer
Q. I was just reading your Q&A about the Crazy Honda Tachometer. I have the exact same problem with my 1995 Honda Accord V-6 EX. Just like that Honda, mine has 120,000 miles. The tachometer goes wacky (fast flipping between 0 and the appropriate RPM's) on a daily basis while driving and while that wouldn't bother me so much, I have started to hear the engine hesitations.
Now that causes concern. The tachometer stays steady as long as I can hold a steady speed without having to slow down and accelerate again. I drive in heavy traffic every day so I rarely maintain a steady speed. Once the wacky flipping starts, it doesn't stop until I do sustained driving at 50MPH to 70/75MPH - by sustained I mean 10-15 minutes.
I have not visited the mechanics because I wanted to do a little research myself. Did you every hear from the original submitter? Do you know if it was definitely the ignition coil? How expensive are ignition coils?
Thanks!
MMA. As in this case, most times I do not hear back from the people who write me so I never know how close I come to diagnosing a problem. From the ones who do write back, I do come up with the right answer about half the time. I should take this opportunity to repeat that my diagnoses in this venue are, basically, educated guesses. Without actually seeing the vehicle and be able to test it, the best I can do is offer the most likely causes of a problem.
I still believe the problem is with the ignition coil since that is what sends the signal to the tachometer. An Ignition Coil from Honda is P/N 30520-P0GA02 and lists for $83.13. You will be able to get an ignition coil from a parts store for less than that however.
Added 5/16/02...
Mr. Ciulla,
Thank you for your recommendation! I wanted you to know that you were absolutely right!! Unfortunately two highly recommended mechanics wouldn't believe your diagnosis. I finally found a Honda dealer to verify the Ignition Coil as the culprit. Please post this confirmation so that all of the other Accord owners with this problem won't have to waste so much time trying to get their vehicle repaired.
Thanks!
MMAdded 10/27/02...
I would like to thank both Steve at Larry's Foreign Auto Repair of Albany, NY and Mr. Ciulla at Auto Repair website for helping me solve the Wacky/Crazy Tachometer problem in my 1997 Honda Accord.
I did not need the $450.00 repair that the dealer suggested. I was done in $100.00. All I needed was a new ignition coil. Now my Tachometer is back to normal. I did not have to replace the costly ICM.
Keep up the good work guys.
Somesh
Troy, NY
Additional Information provided courtesy of ALLDATA
