The Ford Focus is a compact vehicle that comes in several different trims, including four-, five- and three-door models. The Focus, specifically the three-door model, has many aftermarket and tuning options available. When tuning and modifying the Focus, you can install a tachometer, or tach, in the Ford's dashboard to measure the engine's revolutions per minute (rpm). Before installing the tachometer, however, you must remove the car's instrument cluster.
Press the steering wheel's tilt knob, clasp the steering wheel with your hands and tilt it downward.
Remove the three screws that surround the Focus' instrument cluster cover panel's top area with a screwdriver.
Press onto and remove the Focus' black frame and coin tray from the instrument cluster's right portion.
Clasp the ends of the plastic cover of the steering column to remove it, and clasp and remove the trunk harness plug and wiring found to the right of the steering wheel.
Remove the four screws from the instrument cluster with a screwdriver. Pull down the instrument cluster by hand, revealing a tab and lever.
Release the instrument cluster plug by forcing the tab and lever to its left, then pull off the instrument cluster to the right of the steering wheel.
Plug the tachometer into the instrument cluster's white rectangular plastic plug, found at the bottom right corner of the instrument cluster. Force the lever back to the right with the tab.
Reinstall the screws you removed from the instrument cluster, and snap on the instrument cluster cover panel and column. Place the screws back onto the cover, and switch on the ignition to determine whether all of the instrument cluster lights illuminate properly. For the lights to illuminate properly, the lights at the right area of the Ford's instrument cluster display will turn on first, and then all the lights will illuminate.
Rev the engine by pressing the gas pedal down with your foot to test whether the tachometer works. The tachometer's small needle should move as the engine revs.
