Mech. boost gauge wiring help

[Jeffs FRC]

Im gonna install an autometer boost gauge and want to know if there is a wire I can tap into that will turn the gauge light on only when my parking/headlamps are on. Anyone have an idea?

Im gonna mount the gauge in the drivers left a/c vent so im hoping there is a wire to tap in the headlight or dimmer switch assembly.

Thanks for any help!
Jeff

 

[07torchgt]

yup, its off the dimmer... I can't remember off the top of my head which one I used but white comes to mind... I can look when i go home for lunch though

 

[07torchgt]

ok so after a little search it looks like it may be black with a white stripe... i can verify at lunch though

 

[Jeffs FRC]

Thanks torch. Let me know what you used!

 

[JeremyH]

Just take a voltmeter and look for a 12v source on the back of the headlight switch thats only there when the lights are on. Or find the one that changes voltage as u adjust the dimmer so u can dim the autometer gauge along with the dash gauges.

 

[shanec]

I was wondering if and LED (ie: not incandescent) Autometer gauge would work off a dimmer. Some LEDs are petty much just on or off, not so much for dimming.

 

[Hooty]

I was wondering if and LED (ie: not incandescent) Autometer gauge would work off a dimmer.

Mine do. Tapped off of the black/white wire mentioned above.

 

[07torchgt]

yup , its the black with white stripe... and the led's do dim

 

[Jeffs FRC]

Just take a voltmeter and look for a 12v source on the back of the headlight switch thats only there when the lights are on. Or find the one that changes voltage as u adjust the dimmer so u can dim the autometer gauge along with the dash gauges.

This is what I was going to do. I would have had to borrow a multimeter from a buddy, but I figured someone on here would have a quick answer.

yup , its the black with white stripe... and the led's do dim

Thanks!

 

[JeremyH]

Well thats just me, even if someone told me the wire color i would still meter it and verify it. Habbit from work lol. And yes the leds dim.

 

[Rpm427sc]

Will this work with the Auto-lights for a 2010 GT? I'm having trouble finding a place to tap into at the fuse box so it works with the auto-lights. Just bought a Whipple HO kit

 

[Five Oh Brian]

Okay, so the black/white wire is the one for power, but what about the other connector on the guage? Just ground it to anything metal?

 

[JeremyH]

Okay, so the black/white wire is the one for power, but what about the other connector on the guage? Just ground it to anything metal?

Yes you can ground it to the frame or splice it to a ground wire(solid black usually).

 

[Five Oh Brian]

Yes you can ground it to the frame or splice it to a ground wire(solid black usually).

Thx! Getting ready to install a mechanical VDO 15 PSI boost gauge in a Roush Vent Pod.

 

[bingo2]

Will this work with the Auto-lights for a 2010 GT? I'm having trouble finding a place to tap into at the fuse box so it works with the auto-lights. Just bought a Whipple HO kit

You can tap into the purple wire with the grey tracer off the light switch; same point Roush uses. I couldn't find a convenient grounding point near the light switch so I ran a wire under the dash and behind the center console to the factory grounding point behind the glove box.

 

[Five Oh Brian]

Man, I love the knowledge found on this website! Got power for the light from the black/white wire off the back of the dimmer switch (so my VDO gauge light dims with the dash lights. Pulled my front left wheel and splash shield out so I could easily route the tubing to the engine compartment. Easily inserted the Roush Vent cup and new boost gauge and it's done - thanks for the help everyone....

 

[bolivianpimp]

I know Brian, me too! I have the same autometer gauge and i will be powering it the same way as here.

 

[usafimj]

Instead of making a new thread I'll just ask here. I'm not very electrical savvy so help me out guys. Next month I'm going to install Automter C2 Boost/Vac, Fuel Psi, and Wideband gagues in a SOS pillar pod. How do you tap/splice into the dimmer wire? What all is needed? Would I tap/splice all 3 gauges into the same dimmer wire so they work the same? The wires would get routed from under the dash to the headlight switch, right?

 

[menace07]

Instead of making a new thread I'll just ask here. I'm not very electrical savvy so help me out guys. Next month I'm going to install Automter C2 Boost/Vac, Fuel Psi, and Wideband gagues in a SOS pillar pod. How do you tap/splice into the dimmer wire? What all is needed? Would I tap/splice all 3 gauges into the same dimmer wire so they work the same? The wires would get routed from under the dash to the headlight switch, right?

Yep...you would tap the same wire. Check out my thread in the DIY section for pics

 

[08stang]

great info here guys made my boost gauge install quick and simple.