Page 1 of 2
Factory rev counter question.
Posted: 21 Aug 2022, 17:40
by Africatwin
Hi all.
I’ve had a quick search in the forum to see if can find the answer but unsuccessful…
In a nut shell I have a 92 2.1 Multivan and the factory Rev counter is not working.
I haven’t removed the cluster yet.. but does the Rev counter take its power direct from the coil? Is there anything I should check?
Cheers
Re: Factory rev counter question.
Posted: 21 Aug 2022, 20:36
by Robsey
There are three connections to the rev counter.
RPM signal - green wire - instrument connector pin 9
Ignition live - black wire - instrument connector pin 8
Ground connection - brown wire - instrument connector pin 3
You would need to check continuity from the connector pins to the contacts on the blue plastic foil circuit panel where the three rev counter contacts are attached.
Re: Factory rev counter question.
Posted: 22 Aug 2022, 07:31
by Africatwin
Robsey wrote: ↑21 Aug 2022, 20:36
There are three connections to the rev counter.
RPM signal - green wire - instrument connector pin 9
Ignition live - black wire - instrument connector pin 8
Ground connection - brown wire - instrument connector pin 3
You would need to check continuity from the connector pins to the contacts on the blue plastic foil circuit panel where the three rev counter contacts are attached.
Brilliant! Thank you for the reply… I got as far as taking the dash pod last night to find that there looks like one of those pcb upgrades in place.. it got a little dark so decided to come In. Does the pcb upgrade connect to the existing wiring? So all
I’d have to do is trace the cables back to find the above cables you mentioned?
Re: Factory rev counter question.
Posted: 22 Aug 2022, 13:07
by Robsey
The upgrade kit will have an edge connector that slots into the white factory loom socket.
So yes - you can measure each one for continuity between the track on the edge connector and the terminals on the rev counter.
I guess you have checked the coil connector for the green wire that goes from the coil to the junction box and onward to the main loom to the front of the van.
(On petrol van).
On a diesel van you would check the green wire connector (W) on the back of the alternator.
Re: Factory rev counter question.
Posted: 22 Aug 2022, 18:09
by Africatwin
Robsey wrote: ↑22 Aug 2022, 13:07
The upgrade kit will have an edge connector that slots into the white factory loom socket.
So yes - you can measure each one for continuity between the track on the edge connector and the terminals on the rev counter.
I guess you have checked the coil connector for the green wire that goes from the coil to the junction box and onward to the main loom to the front of the van.
(On petrol van).
On a diesel van you would check the green wire connector (W) on the back of the alternator.
I have a petrol 2.1.. I’m just checking now.. and the first thing I noticed is that the pcb box says it should be for a diesel…. It couldn’t be as simple as that could it?
The previous owner has just bought the wrong one? And it’s not going to get a signal because it’s looking for the alternator output?
screen resolution finder
Re: Factory rev counter question.
Posted: 22 Aug 2022, 18:14
by Africatwin
Just read the CC website… and says that’s it’s compatible between petrol and Diesel engines… I’ll carry on troubleshooting

Re: Factory rev counter question.
Posted: 22 Aug 2022, 18:55
by Africatwin
So I’ve checked continuity at all three cables. And I’ve found no breaks in the cables, going back to the coil.
On this pcb cabling I’ve found that
E - positive
F - signal
G - negative
So I’m guessing that it’s either the tach is dead, or the the pcb kit is wired incorrectly but I doubt it…
image storage
Re: Factory rev counter question.
Posted: 22 Aug 2022, 20:29
by Robsey
Looking at this image from the Samba website
Apologies for duplicate post - see next post for more info.
Re: Factory rev counter question.
Posted: 22 Aug 2022, 20:31
by Robsey
Looking at this image from the Samba website
Pin 1 - Brown - ground - instrument connector pin 3
Pin 2 - empty
Pin 3 - Black - Ignition live - instrument connector pin 8
Pin 4 - Green - rpm signal - instrument connector pin 9
Looks like your order is wrong.
That would stop it working properly.
Based on a later 14 pin dash loom connector.
Re: Factory rev counter question.
Posted: 23 Aug 2022, 05:33
by Africatwin
Robsey wrote: ↑22 Aug 2022, 20:31
Looking at this image from the Samba website
Pin 1 - Brown - ground.
Pin 2 - empty
Pin 3 - Black -Ignition live
Pin 4 - Green - rpm signal.
Looks like your order is wrong.
That would stop it working properly.
Interesting thank you… I double checked the website and that’s the way the wires are labelled.
Switch them around to the picture you’ve found on the samba and report back.
Thank you
Re: Factory rev counter question.
Posted: 23 Aug 2022, 06:25
by Robsey
Hmm careful now - I don't want you killing the tachometer.
That looks like a 'GoWesty' set up.
I assume they should be wired up the same.
Afterall - they are the same base unit (gauge /meter) that they are wiring up to.
The word on Samba is - the give away is the positiion of the gap. - the unused pin position.
Re: Factory rev counter question.
Posted: 23 Aug 2022, 07:39
by Africatwin
Robsey wrote: ↑23 Aug 2022, 06:25
Hmm careful now - I don't want you killing the tachometer.
That looks like a 'GoWesty' set up.
I assume they should be wired up the same.
Afterall - they are the same base unit (gauge /meter) that they are wiring up to.
The word on Samba is - the give away is the positiion of the gap. - the unused pin position.
No I appreciate the help.. I don’t want to rush anything. I’ve just done a little search and found a few things online which back up the wiring that you mentioned.
If my wiring is already back to front then it could have. already killed the tach
how to get screen resolution in javascript
Re: Factory rev counter question.
Posted: 24 Aug 2022, 05:49
by Africatwin
Robsey wrote: ↑23 Aug 2022, 06:25
Hmm careful now - I don't want you killing the tachometer.
That looks like a 'GoWesty' set up.
I assume they should be wired up the same.
Afterall - they are the same base unit (gauge /meter) that they are wiring up to.
The word on Samba is - the give away is the positiion of the gap. - the unused pin position.
Checked again to make sure I had them all correct. Connected and tested… it didn’t work
So I can only assume the tach is goosed… finding another tach will be like hens teeth I assume.. does anyone know if there’s a company in the uk/Europe that can rebuild tach’s?
Re: Factory rev counter question.
Posted: 24 Aug 2022, 05:55
by ZsZ
There were a few pinouts for the tach connector. I will try to find the info.
E D I T:
found this pic. The regular late pinout is
- Ground
- blank
- +12V
- RPM signal:
The early pinout is:
- RPM signal
- +12V
- blank
- Ground
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewt ... c&start=40
Re: Factory rev counter question.
Posted: 24 Aug 2022, 07:01
by Africatwin
ZsZ wrote: ↑24 Aug 2022, 05:55
There were a few pinouts for the tach connector. I will try to find the info.
E D I T:
found this pic. The regular late pinout is
- Ground
- blank
- +12V
- RPM signal:
The early pinout is:
- RPM signal
- +12V
- blank
- Ground
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewt ... c&start=40
Cheers… yes once I’d traced the correct cables that the way around I have wired it. But still Dosent even budge. I have a hall sensor tach and put it on the signal and managed to get the correct rev’s so I’m confident the configuration is correct. I’m thinking now it’s the tach itself