Tack erratic on 2003 Beaver Contessa

[brylar007]

I am new to IRV2 and recently purchased a 2003 Beaver Contessa with erratic tack readings. Also have heard about attaching a diode to the back of the tack but need some info on how to do this. Any advice appreciated.

[vsheetz]

Bad or poor ground?

[Dakrism]

brylar

if you have not already found it or heard of it you may want to try to get some help at the Beaver Ambassador Club website.


beaveramb.org

[Jeff753]

Originally Posted by brylar007

I am new to IRV2 and recently purchased a 2003 Beaver Contessa with erratic tack readings. Also have heard about attaching a diode to the back of the tack but need some info on how to do this. Any advice appreciated.

Does the source input come from a small connection on the alternator. It may be loose

[holycow]

Usually when this occurs it is your alternator cutting in and out looking for work. Your batteries are fully charged and the alternator has nothing to do so it is checking for a demand to satisfy. Most tach signals come off of the alternator. Check the dash voltage meter it may show some movement as well. Try turning on just the running lights without the head lights and see if it stabilizes things. The tach and volt meter should settle down with the lights on.
Sometime it requires the head lights to be on too. When those gauges are fluctuating like that the readings are not accurate.

[brylar007]

Thanks to each of you for responding to my erratic tach problem on my 2003 Beaver Contessa. Connections appear to be good on the alternator and the problem was helped but not corrected by turning the running lights on and/or using head lights and driving lights. Also ran the air conditioning but at times still had unstable tach needle.

[walt2137]

Well if it was a bad ground the problem would get worse if the lights were turned on so I would look at the wiring diagram to find where the source wire from the Altanator goes

[hypoxia]

Is it an Actia dash gauge? ACTIA USA Home | Vehicle Electronics | Diagnostics | Telematics . My '07 Monaco has Actia gauges and the troubleshooting is completely different. If so you should call Actia.

[windsorbill]

I've had my coach since new. I had a progressively worse and worse tach problem, jumping around to the point I was using the Aladdin to get the tach reading. I finally went into the generator compartment and cleaned all the wires connected to a common buss and cleaned the #6 wire leading from that buss to a frame ground. I sanded all the paint off under that frame ground connection and re-attached everything securely. Just finished a 1000 mile trip and everything works perfectly. Problem solved.

[brylar007]

Thanks for your response on my tach problem. Due to health issues, I had to return my coach to storage. I just started checking the negative alternator cable today but having difficulty locating where it grounds to the frame. Any ideas? My Contessa was purchased from the original owner in Oklahoma with 34,000 miles. Coach has been maintained by his fleet mechanics and stored inside.