Q: How does the tachometer work?
How does the tachometer work?
Your central gauge cluster shows you a wide range of important information about your car, your engine and your transmission. The tachometer tells you a couple of things. First, it shows how rapidly your engine is turning, which is measured in revolutions per minute, or RPM. Second, it shows you when the engine is getting close to critical speed – the red sections at the upper end of the dial.
Tips
The engine’s RPM will change as the transmission shifts gears.
Do not let the needle move into the red section of the gauge. This is dangerous and can lead to engine damage.
The statements expressed above are only for informational purposes and should be independently verified. Please see our
terms of service
for more details
Get an instant quote for your car
Our certified mechanics come to you ・Backed by 12-month, 12,000-mile guarantee・Fair and transparent pricing
What others are asking
Car hesitates when accelerating from stop.
You do not mention a check engine light is on so a computer sensor may or may not be the cause. The throttle body (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/throttle-body-replacement), air filter (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/air-filter-replacement) or fuel filter (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/fuel-filter-replacement) may be dirty and restricting air or fuel...
Low coolant level warning
Hello. If the coolant level shows low when the coolant is cold, and then reads fine once it warms up, then most of the time this is due to a bad coolant level sensor (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/coolant-level-sensor-replacement). This is assuming that the...
The steering wheel vibrates at 50 mph
Hello. Any time you feel vibration in your steering wheel at a certain speed, but not at other speeds, it is caused from something being "out of round", which means something is out-of-balance. One thing many people do not consider...
My car shuts down when I'm driving down road, like it ran out of gas. It also overheats and blows cold air when the heat it on.
The very first step you need to take is getting a scan run on the computer. Take your car to a technician or a local parts store and have them scan the car. They will give you a list of...
I have changed my crankcase oil separator on my BMW e90 and now it's jerking at 1500rpm.
If you left any connectors loose or broke and seals in the process of the repair, a bad vacuum leak may cause your concerns. A technician equipped with a professional scanner may be able to hook up to the car...
car turns over but wont start
Hi there. Check the fuel pressure regulator on the fuel rail and see if its plugged up. You may have to remove it and clean it. If the regulator is good, then I recommend replacing the spark plugs to ensure...
My brakes are messed up
The noise is coming from your brake booster has a vacuum leak and will need to be replaced. This is why your engine runs rough when you press the brakes.
Why is my car making this clicking noise when accelerating past 40
Hi Boom. Thanks for contacting us tonight. Sometimes when a vehicle runs fine until it reaches 40 mph, the problem is in the ECU, or ignition timing department. When multiple services are completed, it's possible for error codes to be...
where does the 02 sensor plug in to a 1985 Olds. 98
Hi Wayne. Thanks for contacting us today. Back in 85, GM V6 motors only had one O2 sensor. It was considered an upstream sensor, which means that it was installed near the center of the exhaust manifold. Downstream sensors were...
Related articles
A Buyer’s Guide to the 2012 BMW ActiveHybrid 7
The The only thing better than a hybrid car is one that is designed with luxury and performance in mind. The 2012 BMW ActiveHybrid 7 nails it in all of these areas, and considering that it clocks in with a...
A Buyer's Guide to the 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan
If If you’re in the market for a concept SUV, you’ve probably noticed a few more options sprouting up every year. However, the 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan should still make the decision a relatively easy one. Key Features Being compact means...
A Buyer’s Guide to the 2012 Suzuki Equator
While While the Equator is a truck very similar to others in its class – and is built on the same platform as the popular Nissan Frontier – it suffers from a lack of name recognition as well as the...
Browse other content
Services
Estimates