Tach problems on 06 Ram

[KMNixon]

Mine began around 67,000.

 

[DFranks]

Mine just started doing this last week.

 

[KMNixon]

Good luck - after talking to multiple dealers unless you are under a warranty you don't have a chance of getting it resolved other than with your own dime. Funny thing is none of the dealers I talked to acknowledged even hearing of this problem.

 

[camper42]

Mine did it at 68000. Had to replace the cluster.

 

[JDiehl]

My cluster was replaced under warranty with under 31K. No problems in the last 4K.

 

[JCockerill]

I had same problem on my 06, started around 30-40k miles. finally FORCED dealer to change the cluster after they said there was nothing wrong with it. (I can't stand delaers) after the cluster was changed no problems so far. tach is normal again. if you are still under warantee tell the to change cluster, if not i would just live with it.

 

[nipstech]

My 06 BigHorn started doing the same thing. Reads 300-350 RPM at idle and never gets above 1500 RPM even when I know the engine's running around 2k RPM. When it's idling the needle will fluctuate and during normal driving the needle sometimes jumps up to the correct reading. I'm glad I know how to shift by the sound of the engine but it would be nice if the tach worked like it's supposed to. If anyone has a solution (hopefully one that's affordable), I'd really like to know!

 

[SShafranko]

solution is new or rebuilt cluster. I had the same problem

 

[Okie-Go]

A new dash cluster fixed my problem.

Okie

 

[timelessconstructionllc]

Same problem here. Mine developed about 125k miles. I've got a triple polar gauge pod but I'm going to get a triple dash pod BC I still need fuel pressure and rail pressure gauges and I'm thinkinthat a Rachel will fill the 3rd hole.

 

[cowboysgottacummins]

Add another broken tach to the slew of 2006's with defective tachs. In the middle of trying to diagnose the trans/driveline issues was was previously odd tach behavior has become broken. Still get movement from time to time, but it has no relation to what is actually happening.



Gonna hope it is the sensor, but sounds like it is the gauge. Wondering if I can't just pick up an aftermarket gage (or maybe its time to get that Banks IQ programmer I have been wanting. )

 

[MChrist]

My '06 is goofy, too. Reads 600 at idle. I go off my Edge Insight Monitor, anyway. I've heard to plan on spending around $500 to have dealer fix it. Apparently, the solder points are bad and can be resoldered, but I'm not about to tackle that. Don't really watch the tach, but I HATE when things don't work the way they should!! Probably take it to the dealer when they do my trans service next.

 

[nipstech]

I'll definitely try tearing out the cluster and checking/repairing the solder joints... that's something I know how to do and if it solves the problem, I can save money!

 

[MChrist]

Let us know how difficult it was. I don't know how to even get to the gauge cluster!!

 

[cowboysgottacummins]

I probably wont get it fixed at the dealer. Banks's IQ programmer will monitor RPMs so why pay the dealer the cost of a sexy new programmer which will monitor EGT, TRANS TEMP, Boost, etc) will monitor 36 different functions in total. It runs standalone about $600.

 

[AMink]

Mine has now spun 360° and is UNDER the pin at 0 mph. Guess it's totally shot now. I disconnected batteries just to see what would happen, but no dice.

 

[Zzed]

With as many people with this issue as there are, I figure I should at least update on what I've learned recently on the '06 tach issue.

1. It appears to be isolated to the 2006's.
2. The symptoms are the same: Erratic tach behavior but other gauges operate fine.
3. The erratic behavior is the tach gauge itself, not the signal form the ECU.
4. Replacing the cluster fixes the problem.

Last week, I had the opportunity to dig into my instrument cluster (without being rushed to put it back together before the next morning). So I removed it from the dash and got access to both sides of the cluster circuit board. Being an electrical engineer working at a manufacturing company, I had high hopes I could locate the problem and be back in business before you could say "revolutions per minute".

... . yeah..... hmmm... .

Without a schematic and running on the sole assumption that I was looking for a cold solder joint or overstressed component, I quickly realized my chances of finding the problem were pretty slim. I found no obvious issues on the PCB. I touched up the solder joints on a few of the ICs, but I couldn't do them all. I even called several of the instrument cluster repair shops and asked if they had heard of the problem and what was causing it. Most said "bad cluster". The one place that mentioned being able to repair this specific issue on 06's would only say the problem was in "the tach driver circuit". I couldn't drag any more details out of him.

Without any more ideas, I slapped it all back together and.....

Same problem.

In fact, initially the tach didn't do a damn thing (a step backwards). After a day, the tach waffled between (apparently) working and absolute zero. Now, it's been working for the past few days without issue.

I wish I had more details on how to repair it, but those that know aren't sharing.

-=Zzed=-

 

[AMink]

Whatever happened to the simple cable? Electronics are so annoying. My multiswitch is acting up occasionally (l,l,l,l,r,l,r,l,l,l). My wife's Expedition's multiswitch went south and it cost over $400 to get it replaced. PIA. :{

 

[cowboysgottacummins]

I would be suspicious that what it is reading is correct. From time to time mine will appear to work fine, just as it did when I first got the truck. But the rpm's seemed off to me at first. That it was my first diesel I just assumed the rpm band was different.

After it crapped out, I got a programmer that displays gauges electronically, including RPM. So I see my tach behaving as though it is working again I compare the numbers to the digital tach, and indeed it looks to be working but is not accurate. 80% of the time. Between 1000 and 1750 it works normally, all else under reads or over reads. So I ignore it. I ended up with a decent moderate power programmer 5" digital display with 5 gauges, (can choose from 32 diff gauges). To hell with the factory tach. Spent $1078 for the programmer and digital display, display w gauges only runs about $600, but would have spent $600+ to replace the stock cluster. This way you get boost, EGT's, rail pressure, engine temp, and 28 others.

 

[SBeretz]

Mines doing the same thing. Sometimes it reads correct, sometimes it is way off. After a 130K miles, I know where it runs anyhow, so unless there is a less expensive fix, I will leave it as is. Kind of a rook. I have had the rig since new and this is the first thing to really "go". . Ah well, the truck still runs and drives perfect. Getting ready for the 4th set of tires, so I feel okay I guess... Surprised its not a recall though. Didn't realize it was that much of a problem. Scotty