Hey guys I recently purchased 2 gauges to mount in my a-pillar, air/fuel and trans temp. Both require a power wire or switched iginition and im wondering what wire from the car you guys used? It says a switched ignition...what wire can i crimp into in the engine bay and/or under the dash? Will that wire necessarily be red?

Just thought id ask and see what other people have done, and also this question applys to prolly all gauges, not only the ones i mentioned.

Thanks, Steve

 

I would assume the same wires for power that come for the dash guages (all guages get the same power?)

So if you worked at it from that angle, I'm sure some manuals would have that. Just a thought for tackling the problem from another angle. (sorry, I don't know which wire it is...I'm still learning what all is under my dash as I fix my baby :P)

 

i stuck the power into one of the ports on the fuse panel.

 

I too will be running the same gauges and am looking for a power source. mw66nova, did you just use the gauge fuse spot?

 

You can buy a cheap little test light, with an aligater clip on one end and a sharp point with a light on the other for like 10 bucks at any auto store. Then just attach the aligator clip to ground and find a hot wire by poking wires with the sharp tip, the light will light when youve got a winner. The hole usually closes right up but you can tape it if you like.

Doing this you can even find the wire to the ignition switch thats hot so when the key is off the gauges are off too.

 

thats a pretty good idea, i might have to pick one up when i run out to the parts store in a bit.

Ill also take a look at the fuse ports.

 

i used an "ignition" source.

 

Ok so whats the proper way to install the Trans Temp? The A/F is pretty straight forward. Tap the tranny pan?

 

hmm...how about after the cooler, but before the pan? would that work? Cooling lines?

 

tap the tranny pan, that will give an accurate reading of the transmission's temperature, instead of the cooling lines temperature.

 

On another note, please consider avoiding what the previous owner of my TA did when running the pillar gauges: don't snake the wires through the door jamb and into the engine bay. No matter how neatly you do it, it isn't the right way. Run them through an existing grommet in the firewall or drill a new hole and put a grommet in it. Much cleaner and safer.

 

im prolly gonna be putting them in sometime this coming week/weekend, we will see how it goes. Also gots to be finishing my wheels that are becoming a major pain in the ***. Anyway thanks for the all the replys, ive got all my questions answered now just ready to put them in.

 

There's a plug in the side of the tranny above the shift cable on the drivers side- remove it. If you bought an Automter like I did, it comes with the sender thet threads in that hole. Run the sending wire through the grommet where the headlight harness passes through the firewall-I believe its behind the gas pedal. Find switched power at the fusebox and a good ground and you're set. If I can do it, anyone can!

 

Thanks H8!

 

now thats cool...

 

seriously...i didn't know about that, i'll be lookin on my spare tranny when i get back to the house on the 1st of may! did you use a mechanical or electrical guage?

 

Yeah, seeing in how it's nothing but rain outside, getting under my car to look is out of the question. Anyone have a pic of this?

 

ive talked to 2 others and read somewere else that people have used a "test" plug for the sender like said above.

Ill be under the car tommaro hooking these gauges up(if i get time of course!) and ill let ya know what il do. I just got mounting the whole a pillar + wires together so they are all ready to take to the car.

 

Hey, I'm glad I could help you guys out with some info- I've learned so much MORE about my car from these boards. I used an Autometer electrical tranny temp guage part #ATM5757. I would post a pic but I don't know how to shrink it so it will fit on this site. Sorry.

 

You can link it too, don't have to attach it.

I have an electrical one as well, comes with all the senders etc. #3357 I think the number is.

 

OK,Steve I posted the picture of the plug in the side of the tranny at the bottom of my car domain page. here it is: cardomain.com/ride/ 485757. I hope this helps!

Rob

 

Thanks man! Real nice camaro too btw!

Looks small, the fitting that comes with the gauge fits that?

 

Yes it definately fits- it's like 3/8" or something close to that. The Autometer kit comes with other adapters for the sender but you dont need them. I'm glad I could help you out.

 

Alright i got the gauges in today. I drilled a new 5/16 hole and used the grommet that came with the air/fuel gauge right above the hole you were talking about for the headlight harness. I just didnt feel like jamming more wires into it, either or works. Also ya i used the hole above the linkage for the trans temp, it just used the sender provided(the smallest). I also just used the 2 slots on the fusebox for ign that was easy enough.

Well started up the car, everything works but um the air/fuel just fluctuates back and forth everywere. I think its suppose to do that but im wondering if the ground is a little messed up. Also i know my trans temp should not be showing 250+ degrees the whole time?? Im going to clean the ground point tommaro and see what it does. But ya didnt get a chance to snap a picture it was getting too dark. Thanks for all the help guys!

 

Steve- any luck with getting your guages working correctly?

 

ya, the air/fuel is fine and is working like its supposed to. I called up autometer and told them about my problem. Apparently with this model there was a defect and they are reading off. A lot of other people have called with my same problem. So i am getting the right sender sent free to me by monday/tuesday so ill see if that does it, it should! Here is a pic of them installed:

 

looking good steve! might i suggest wrapping one time around them with some black electrical tape so that the white part of the guages are not showing from behind the bezel. would make the instal looking complete and factory.

 

ya, you know i was looking at that the other day and i was thinking what to do about that, i think ill take ur suggestion and wrap some around it so it looks flush. Thanks!

 

Looks great Steve! You could also get rid of that black ring with a black Sharpie. Thats what I did.