[white93gt]

Tach keeping engine from running normally is nonsense, it merely reads engine rpm’s it doesn’t control engine or transmission performance.

Sounds like you transmission might be in limp mode (third gear only). When taking off from a stop, do you feel a shift to second and then a shift to third? Or do you not feel any shifts at all?

 

[white93gt]

I don't really feel a shift. But it sounds like it's shifting by the pitch of the exhaust

Since I can’t hear it that doesn’t tell me much, but if taking off from a stop and you can’t feel transmission move from low to second and then to third then somethings wrong with transmission.

When you takeoff from a stop does it feel very sluggish and after getting to ~ 40 mph start to feel a little better acceleration?

 

[white93gt]

It's actually the opposite. It feels alright going from 0-40. Still slower than I'd expect but not that bad but above that it's really slow to accelerate

OK…… that doesn’t sound like you’re missing first and second, so not likely limp mode. Above ~ 40 with slow acceleration, can to hear sound of engine revving to higher rpm’s with poor acceleration?

 

[white93gt]

Yes I can and it will even downshift like it's supposed to whenever I push the gas down farther but it really doesn't do anything besides get loud.

The downshifting for sure eliminates limp mode (third gear forward only). But your description sounds like some kind of transmission problem, like maybe slipping badly or bad torque converter or something else. I don’t know if a bad end clutch will do that, I do know a bad end clutch will cause you to lose fourth gear (OD). Don’t really know what to tell you at this point.

One thing I can tell you is tach not working is not causing this problem. Many here have driven their cars just fine with a dead tach. Me included, drove my ’93 for months after tach quit until I finally took time to remove it and replace bad capacitors to get it working again. Not sure about your melted wire, if you can post a picture of it or describe where it’s attached, we might be able to offer some advice.