Oil pressure/water temp gauge install.... HELP

[CB91StangGT]

This is driving me insane . I'm trying to install autometer's 2 1/16" phantom oil pressure and water temp gauge using an a-pillar, but the instructions autometer supplied aren't helping me much at all . I don't want to attemp the install until I really know what I'm doing so I don't mess anything up and get myself into more sh*t. Does anyone know a site that has HIGHLY DETAILED installation instructions/pictures of these gauges for a 5.0 Mustang? Please help me before I crush these stupid gauges with my size 12 1/2 foot!

[HiFlow5 0]

Dude, if you are having that much trouble, I'll give you a hand this weekend!

[GTStang]

I don't know why you would be having so much issue with the install. It's really not very hard at all. Maybe you could ask a specific question about what is puzzling you?

[CB91StangGT]

Its just I am a newbie when it comes to electrical stuff. I have no idea where to connect the wires to the headlights (how are these wimpy short wires attached to the bulb in the gauge suppose to reach all the way to the headlights?!?!?), no idea where to connect it to the ignition. I took it all apart and there are a lot of wires that confused me. And I can't find this stupid temp sensor. I know its around the intake manifold, but I can't locate it. I know I sound like an idiot, but hey... its the truth. I would think after doing a 3G alt swap on my 91GT that I should be able to figure this out. (PA performance supplied very well detailed instructions, and I had an extra hand).

[[SS]Disabled]

Originally Posted by CB91StangGT

Its just I am a newbie when it comes to electrical stuff. I have no idea where to connect the wires to the headlights (how are these wimpy short wires attached to the bulb in the gauge suppose to reach all the way to the headlights?!?!?), no idea where to connect it to the ignition. I took it all apart and there are a lot of wires that confused me. And I can't find this stupid temp sensor. I know its around the intake manifold, but I can't locate it. I know I sound like an idiot, but hey... its the truth. I would think after doing a 3G alt swap on my 91GT that I should be able to figure this out. (PA performance supplied very well detailed instructions, and I had an extra hand).

Wow, you sound really pissed. I hope HiFlow gives you a hand and you learn somethng. Good luck,

[Mendari]

Hello CB91StangGT,

Try calling the manufacturer's customer service/sales department. It is possible that the gauges for your car require a "sender" unit. In older vehicles, the gauges were electro-mechanical and very simple to install. For example, I had a friend who installed a tachometer on a 1970's Fairmont by simply sticking a wire into the distributor cap. It wasn't perfect (you could feel the electrical current flowing through the tach when you touched it ). But it was a simple installation.
However, new cars have computers that control almost everything. The "sender" unit plugs into one of the C.P.U.s in the car and then transmits that signal to the gauge.

Good Luck,

Mendari

[GTStang]

Originally Posted by CB91StangGT

Its just I am a newbie when it comes to electrical stuff. I have no idea where to connect the wires to the headlights (how are these wimpy short wires attached to the bulb in the gauge suppose to reach all the way to the headlights?!?!?), no idea where to connect it to the ignition. I took it all apart and there are a lot of wires that confused me. And I can't find this stupid temp sensor. I know its around the intake manifold, but I can't locate it. I know I sound like an idiot, but hey... its the truth. I would think after doing a 3G alt swap on my 91GT that I should be able to figure this out. (PA performance supplied very well detailed instructions, and I had an extra hand).

First the wires that are connected to the lights of your new guages do not run to the headlights. You want to run them to the power wires that your pre-existing guages already use. If you want to be tricky you run them to work with your interior dimmmer switch.
Next the water temp sensor is on the lower intake manifold, I don't really know a good way to describe it maybe Hi-Flow can think of 1. Honestly if he goes out there and does it for you, you will kick yaself cause of how easy it is. But don't feel bad cause we all had to struggle with it once. That's how we learn.

[CB91StangGT]

Sorry lol, when I said headlights I meant the stock gauge lights. But they still won't reach. The wires are only like 6 inches long.

[HiFlow5 0]

Originally Posted by CB91StangGT

Sorry lol, when I said headlights I meant the stock gauge lights. But they still won't reach. The wires are only like 6 inches long.

That is correct. In the directions it should tell you exactly what gauge wire should be used in order to install your gauges.

On the back of the gauge there should be 2 wires, black (ground), white (12v dash lighting). You are going to have to extend these wires, and using the recomended 18 gauge wire (just looked back at my directions) you can route the wires where they need to be. The gound can be screwed into the body somewhere, I ran a wire to the base of the kick panel where I had access to a screw though a good body ground. The 12v illumination wire can be hook up to the dimmer wire off your stereo. You can wire both gauges like that.

Now there should be 3 post connectors on the back of the gauge. Ground, sender, and switched ignition. The gound again can be run to a good body ground. The sender is what will tell the gauge what the readings are, and the new gauges should have come with new senders for both. As soon as you locate where both senders are, you will have no problems there. I ran the switched ignition wire right into the fuse box.

I'll try and get some pics up, if I have any, that show where the senders are located.
If you read this tonight Chris, stop by my work and I'll show you where the senders are located.
Good Luck!

[stang_racer20]

the ignition wire is on your steering cloumn. you'll see a big group of wires going into a black box below the key switch. that is the ignition switch. there are 2 big yellow wires going in/out of the box right next to each other. just splice into one, i forgot which one though but i cant check if u need.

the sending unit fot the water temp is on the front right side of the lower intake manifold

the oil pressure sending unit is by your filter. it has a long shaft coming from the block angled up with a cylinder looking thing on the end. thats the sender.

i'd love to help you out too but, well, wisconsin is pretty far away.

[HiFlow5 0]

Here we go, lets see if this picture can shed some light for ya!

[CB91StangGT]

Thanks for all the help guys. I have located the temp sender (was so obvious). One more thing.... How many ft of wire will I need? I was thinking maybe 10-12 ft? Then its just a matter of cutting and splicing the wires together, right? Again, thanks for all the input. Things are much clearer now.

[Mendari]

Hello CB91StangGT,

Congratulations on your project working out. I hope you don't mind any more advice because I'm going to give it to you anyway. Before cutting into any wires, purchase some wiring harnesses. They shouldn't cost more that $10 and it makes the project much easier to complete and makes for a cleaner looking installation. Also, using harnesses allows you to perform at least half of the soldering (i.e. the wires from your gauges ) in a comfortable workspace. You will still have to crawl around the dash and engine compartment, but at least you won't have to contend with a half a dozen wires getting in the way of your installation.
HighFlow, those are great pictures. They really helped in illustrating this discussion.

[[SS]Disabled]

Originally Posted by Mendari

Hello CB91StangGT,

Congratulations on your project working out. I hope you don't mind any more advice because I'm going to give it to you anyway. Before cutting into any wires, purchase some wiring harnesses. They shouldn't cost more that $10 and it makes the project much easier to complete and makes for a cleaner looking installation. Also, using harnesses allows you to perform at least half of the soldering (i.e. the wires from your gauges ) in a comfortable workspace. You will still have to crawl around the dash and engine compartment, but at least you won't have to contend with a half a dozen wires getting in the way of your installation.
HighFlow, those are great pictures. They really helped in illustrating this discussion.

Do you ever make mistaks in your words? BTW we're all friends here no need to be so polite.

[Mendari]

Hello [SS]Disabled,

I'm a newbie to the forum, so I want to tread lightly. The Mustang forum is way more light hearted than the Honda forum. Geez, the people in that forum rip each other to shreds at each opportunity. That's why I like to contribute here. However, I go to the Honda forum for the same reason that I watch the television show "Maximum Exposure" ( Max-X ). Sometimes it's just fun to watch idiots stuff themselves into a hurt-box.