Page 1:Overview
Page 2: How-to install underbody neons.
Page 3: How-to cut and mold an accord
bumper to an escort.
Page 4: How-to install an aftermarket tachometer in an OBDII Escort years 1995.5+
Page 5: How-to install GT sideskirts on an LX
Page 6: How-to wetsand headlights.
Page 7: How-to install an aftermarket cone filter.
Page 8: How-to remove the stock spoiler.
How-to paint the reflectors
Page 9: How-to install clear corner lights.
Page 10: How-to install a switch from your cigarette lighter. (cold cathodes)
Page 11: How-to roll your fenders.
Page 12: How-to paint your door panels.
Page 13: How-to install an amplifier.
Page 14: How-to install struts and springs

Installing an aftermarket tach is a must in most escorts. Many of these cars came without a tachometer in the cluster. Even my 5speed sport sedan!

Your average aftermarket tach will come with four wires.

Red=power
Black=ground
White=illumination
Green=tach signal

This how-to is for OBDII escorts from 1995.5 and newer.

Test mount your tach where you'd like it to be. Now begin removing your dash. To drop the steering column go under the steering wheel and look up for 4 14mm gold bolts. These hold the steering column up. The steering column will drop down about 6-8inches and give you room to work. To remove the rest of the dash there are 9 torx screws holding in the plastic pieces surrounding the cluster. Vise grips will be needed to unbolt the hood pop mechanism latch as well. Now that your dash is off you have room to work.

Mount your tach and punch a hole in the dash for the wiring. Connect the ground wire of the tach to a grounded bit of metal to the top right of the dimmer switch. Apply the white illumination wire to the dimmer switch wire. The one that worked for me was red with a blue stripe.

I hooked my red power wire to a random plug under the steering wheel that had power only when I turned the lights on. I'm assuming it's my headlight power cable.

Finding the tach signal you must locate your PCM computer on the passenger side. Sit in the seat and push your left foot as far forward and left as it goes. You should be kicking a plastic piece that covers a silver box with a 10mm bolt in it. Remove the bolt and you will see a massive wiring harness entering the box. Locate pin hole #48. This is the hole for your tachometer signal. You will have to strip your wire quite a bit and get a real thin piece in all the way to the other side of the computer so it touches the pin.

Now test your tach. Turn the car on. Turn the lights on. Does the tach jump up? Does it light? If you said no to either of these check your wires again to make sure they're solidly powered/grounded. I ran into a good deal of trouble trying to get the signal wire into the PCM and finding the dimmer switch wire that worked. Once you're done trouble shooting you can put the dash back together and enjoy your new tach. Take a ride and hit that 5900 redline!!!