[chowdig]

purchased a autometer temp sensor and oil pressure gauge.

wired them up and they aren't working correctly.

there are three prongs for each gauge, ground, ignition power and sensor/sending unit signal.


the ground wires are attached to a bolt in the interior

the ignition power wires are tapped in the white/back lines going into the cluster.

the temp sensor line is tapped in the yellow/green line going into the cluster.

the oil pressure line is tapped in the yellow/black line going into the cluster.


temp sensor gauge:
i installed the new temp sensor sending into the block. after this was done the stock temp sensor gauge DID NOT work.

once i hooked up the three wires to the new gauge the stock gauge began working again. the new gauge went all the way to the bottom when the car is turned on.

oil pressure gauge:
i installed the new pressure sending unit in the block. the stock pressure gauge DID work after this was done.

for the new gauge - i can hook up the power and the ground wire to the new gauge and nothing happens.

the oil pressure line is tapped in the yellow/black line going into the cluster.

once i hook up the signal wire to the new gauge the stock oil gauge goes all the way to the top when the car is turned on and the new gauge needle goes all the way to the bottom.

i tried using a ground line tapped into the engine harness and a different power line. i also used a long wire directly from the sending unit and it still did the same thing.

once i disconnect the signal wire to the new gauge both needles go back to normal.

what could be causing the stock gauge to go all the way up and make the new gauge go all the way down?


thanks!

[82te72]

i believe the oil pressure sending unit uses resistance to tell where the needle should be. so when the stock oil pressure guage is disconnected it would be at max because there is so much resistance. i could have that backwards though? also why would the new gauge go up at all if the car isnt on and theres no oil pressure.

as for the temp sensor. not sure why the stock one would turn on after hooking up the aftermarket one. i dont even see why you still have the stock one connected. you should just be using wires from the stock one to wire in the aftermarket one as far as i know.

[allencr]

Originally Posted by chowdig

the temp sensor line is tapped in the yellow/green line going into the cluster.

the oil pressure line is tapped in the yellow/black line going into the cluster.

If you really mean 'tapped', it's more like 'switched' sensor wire from cluster to new gauge.

[chowdig]

Originally Posted by 82te72

also why would the new gauge go up at all if the car isnt on and theres no oil pressure.

when the car is off teh needles dont do anything. once i turn the car on the needles move

[chowdig]

Originally Posted by allencr

If you really mean 'tapped', it's more like 'switched' sensor wire from cluster to new gauge.

i used a wire tap to get the signal to the new gauge.

should i disconnect the wiring to the cluster so it goes directly to the new gauge?

if so how can that be done without cutting the OEM wire that goes into the cluster?

[allencr]

Ouch!

[chowdig]

What have people done to bypass the cluster? Cut the wire? Use a brand new wire run from the engine bay?

[chowdig]

disconnected wires to cluster and connected directly to the gauge. it works.

it also looks like the white/black wire i was using for power isn't the right wire.

what wire have people used to power their new gauges?