im trying to find the wire/wires one taps into to power gauges and other such items. where is it? or where do i tap?

im sorry if its such a simple question, im a total noob in car work...

thanks

 

for the dash lights?

Need more info cheif. Saying you need the suff for the thingy isn't enough.

 

i need power for the gauges. where do i tap to power gauges and such?

 

The easiest is to tap it off the cigarette lighter for both the lighting and power.

 

yup...cig lighter! ...you can adjust the brightness of them.

 

thats a good idea.

now if i remember my shop class days, i just connect my gauges to the cig lighter wires right?

now if i want to keep my cig lighter still lighting up (but not actually working anymore - i dont smoke), i just connect all 3 wires together right?

 

This all depends on WHERE you want to put the gauges.

If locating them down in that area:

Use the lighting for the cig lighter for the gauge lighting, and the lighter power for the gauge power- two different circuits. Consult the FSM wiring manual for the wire colors so you don't fry anything...You can also run the ground wires for each into a gang ground directly on the chassis metal (after verifying that it is in fact a chassis ground with a meter), or use the existing OEM ground wires from the above circuits.

 

haynes manual should work just as well if you don't wanna mess around downloading the factory service manual. installed a pillar boost guage on my friend's cobra and haynes manual wiring diagrams worked just fine.

yes, use some wire crimps and crimper (from radio shack) and stick all 3 wires into them (both ends of the wire that you're tapping in to and the wire that you're running power to). i haven't done this on an fc, but i'm sure if you want to tap into the wires for the instrument panel, you remove the panel and the harnesses are right there behind it. that's what i would go for if i were mounting pillar or upper dash guage.

 

i assume gauges have 4 wires?.....power, lighting, ground and the sensor wire.