How Do I wire my VDO Boost gauge lights to the car's lights?
06-18-2003, 01:11 AM
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Racer
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How Do I wire my VDO Boost gauge lights to the car's lights?
I just bought a VDO boost/ vacuum gauge from Summit racing- $27!! How do I wire the light from the gauge to come on when I turn my headlights on? I am a little electrically inclined, but could use some pointers? Best place to go through the firewall? Thanks <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" />
06-18-2003, 01:53 AM
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Burning Brakes
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Where are you mounting the guage. You can tap into the wire running to the light on the ashtray. This comes on when the lights are turned on. Why are you trying to go through the firewall. If it is to connect to the boost line for the boost guage, you can tap into the boost line going to the KLR in the passenger footwell. LOL
06-18-2003, 02:13 AM
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I am also installing a manual boost controller, bypassing my CV. Don't I have to tap into the line between the banjo bolt and the wastegate? I wasn't aware that the ashtray was lighted? Thanks, I'll check. Any other suggestions?
06-18-2003, 02:22 AM
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</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">Originally posted by Velvet951:
<strong>I need to run a fuse right? Inline?</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">If you run the light wiring to the ashtray light then you shouldn't need a fuse as the power supplied to the ashtray light is already fused at the fuse block. I ran the lighting for mine from there and it works fine. It's especially easy if the gauge is going under the radio. I have an A-pillar pod, so the wiring was a little more complex as far as running it up under the dash and then up the A-pillar.
<strong>I need to run a fuse right? Inline?</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">If you run the light wiring to the ashtray light then you shouldn't need a fuse as the power supplied to the ashtray light is already fused at the fuse block. I ran the lighting for mine from there and it works fine. It's especially easy if the gauge is going under the radio. I have an A-pillar pod, so the wiring was a little more complex as far as running it up under the dash and then up the A-pillar.
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06-18-2003, 12:28 PM
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Three Wheelin'
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For anyone who's mounting theirs on the A-pillar...I found it easiest to connect to the headlight rotary switch. I'm trying to remember which color wire it was(blue?)...anyways, just use a voltmeter and you'll figure it out. It'll go on when you turn the lights on.
06-18-2003, 12:59 PM
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grey with a blue stripe should be int. illumination. this can be taken off, say, the fog light buttons, or the headlamp buttons, or really, any illuminated button/switch in the car.
i'd suggest a "vampire tap" aka:
<a href="http://www.radioshack.com/product.asp?catalog%5Fname=CTLG&category%5Fname=CTLG%5F005%5F007%5F024%5 F000&product%5Fid=64%2D3053" target="_blank">http://www.radioshack.com/product.asp?catalog%5Fname=CTLG&category%5Fname=CTLG%5F005%5F007%5F024%5 F000&product%5Fid=64%2D3053</a>
<img src="http://www.radioshack.com/images/ProductCatalog/ProductImage/64/64-3053.jpg" alt=" - " />
this will let you install the line for the illumination and if you choose to change/reverse it, all you do is wrap electrical tape over the tiny slit in the insulation on the wire you tapped... normally i cut/solder/heat-shrink EVERYTHING in a car, but in this case, you're talking low-voltage, non-crucial wiring, this should be the easiest method.
i'd suggest a "vampire tap" aka:
<a href="http://www.radioshack.com/product.asp?catalog%5Fname=CTLG&category%5Fname=CTLG%5F005%5F007%5F024%5 F000&product%5Fid=64%2D3053" target="_blank">http://www.radioshack.com/product.asp?catalog%5Fname=CTLG&category%5Fname=CTLG%5F005%5F007%5F024%5 F000&product%5Fid=64%2D3053</a>
<img src="http://www.radioshack.com/images/ProductCatalog/ProductImage/64/64-3053.jpg" alt=" - " />
this will let you install the line for the illumination and if you choose to change/reverse it, all you do is wrap electrical tape over the tiny slit in the insulation on the wire you tapped... normally i cut/solder/heat-shrink EVERYTHING in a car, but in this case, you're talking low-voltage, non-crucial wiring, this should be the easiest method.
06-18-2003, 03:07 PM
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</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">Originally posted by Velvet951:
<strong>They gave me copper tubing with the kit. Is this ok or should I just switch to hose? Best place to tap boost gauge into?</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">I used that white plastic tubing on mine, and spliced in by the KLR computer in the passenger footwell with a tee.
<strong>They gave me copper tubing with the kit. Is this ok or should I just switch to hose? Best place to tap boost gauge into?</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">I used that white plastic tubing on mine, and spliced in by the KLR computer in the passenger footwell with a tee.
06-19-2003, 05:45 PM
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</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">Originally posted by p0wp0w:
<strong>dmoffitt,
which line did you use for the ground if the wire with the blue tracer is positive?
Thanks</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">Matt, just behind the headlight and fog light switches, under the fuse block, there are many grounds under there.
<strong>dmoffitt,
which line did you use for the ground if the wire with the blue tracer is positive?
Thanks</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">Matt, just behind the headlight and fog light switches, under the fuse block, there are many grounds under there.
