sharingan 19

iTrader: (16)

I am attempting to install some gauges (boost, A/F, etc)

S4 TII btw

First, I have searched, but all the threads just say "tap into the cigarette lighter power wire and light bulb"

I figured that be simple enough, so I got to work, but I soon found that there's only about an inch, maybe two of the cigarette lighter harness accessable and that's down in the corner of the console.

Is there another place I can tap into the harness? or better yet, is there a place closer to the steering column? (since the harness for this gauge is rather short)

Could I just get power and illumination from the CD player harness? (its a lot easier to access) If so what wires do I tap (haynes is non too helpful on speaker wires)

Also, I'm suppose to hook the illumination wire up to "ACC" which I figured I could tap into from the cd player harness (no cd player installed) but I can't seem to find "ACC" in the wiring diagrams. It's been orange in most of the cars I've installed stereos on so I figured that'd probably be it, but there are two orange wires, which one is it.

clokker

iTrader: (2)

There are all sorts of useful power sources in the CD harness connectors...especially if you have no players installed.
A few minutes with a voltmeter will uncover +12 v leads- switched and always hot- as well as illumination.
Ground I ran myself.

Can't remember wire colors, sorry but it's been a while since I was in there, but it really is easy to find them.

sharingan 19

iTrader: (16)

I tried checking the wires in the cruise control connector plug (since I took out cruise control) and it appears I've blown my gauge cluster fuse. So prodding around looking for voltage isn't exactly my idea of a good time lol.

Would having the gauges hooked to the CD player harness become a problem if I installed a CD player later on?

PLEASE, I'd really like some wire colors so I can but my interior back together

arghx

iTrader: (3)

See page 50-50 of the factory service manual wiring diagram. You are looking for a Red/Green wire. You can tap it off the harness for the headlight switch--this is the same wire that powers the illumination for the cigarette lighter.. You may also consider wiring in a relay for the red/black wire as well, as these switches tend to burn out. See icemark's website for a prewired relay with instructions.

sharingan 19

iTrader: (16)

is the red/blk wire you talk about for power? or is that nother option for illumination?

Also, does that green/red wire count as "ACC"

What about the green/red wire in the cruise control switch? is that also the same?

arghx

iTrader: (3)

the red/black wire powers the taillights. the red/green powers interior lights.

the red/green wire on the cruise switch will work, yes. that is, red with a green stripe. not green with a red stripe.

Download the FSM wiring diagrams though. They are available in the link on the FAQ. I know they are really hard to read at first, but read through ALL of the introduction in the first few pages. It helps a lot. Print out the key of what each symbol means. Try to trace through a few things circuits and understand how they work with the help of the introduction's explanation. That's how I did it.

Page 50-92 shows the cruise control switch (plug CR-04 on the right side of the page) and what each wire color is coming out of the back of the connector. All the connector diagrams are from the back side of the connector.

For a regular ignition switched +12V source to power the gauge itself, you can tap off the big blue wire on the ignition switch.

imloggedin

if you blew a fuse using your voltmeter youre using it wrong. put the negative on a chasis ground and poke around the stereo harness with the positive till you find a 12v thats on with accessory. its not rocket science.

sharingan 19

iTrader: (16)

You're right.

I was testing the pins in the cruise control connector, and I had the red poker in and the black poker resting on another pin and I turned it on before I put it on a ground.

I'll pull out my fsm when I get home, hopefully it will be better than Haynes, cuz their diagrams suck!

I'll replace my fuse and tap accordingly

Power = blue ignition wire
Acc = red/green cruise control wire
Ground = cruise control ground

As for the A/F
Power = CD player (once I find it)
O2 = wire from turbo timer going to ecu
Illumination = cruise control wire

arghx

iTrader: (3)

dude tap the A/F gauge into the blue ignition wire as well if it is convenient. the ignition harness is like a 12 gauge wire... it can pull a decent amount of amps

sharingan 19

iTrader: (16)

OK, will do.
*runs off to buy larger quick connects*

imloggedin

or if u wanna make things more confusing, you could use a fuse and relay and wire a 12v accessory to turn on the relay, then put it behind the stereo or something and run all your accessories to it that you add. so you wouldnt have to worry about tapping into that wire for everything. all just runs back to the relay.

thats how i would do it. takes a little time but it would be easier to diagnose if something stops working.

sharingan 19

iTrader: (16)

And what that relay provide just power? just illumination? or both?

And what gauge wire would you recommend ?

imloggedin

you could use it for both unless it has some sort of memory. u could just run a 12 or 14, doesnt have to be very big.

arghx

iTrader: (3)

you could run a relay but it's not necessary for the milliamps of current we are probably talking about here. and you would need a relay for illumination and relay for ignition switched +12V. all you are doing in essence is adding more complication to what i just suggested.

blue wire for switched +12V
red/green for illumination. that's all you need

imloggedin

i just said it would be cleaner and easier to troubleshoot. its wouldnt be for everyone. you could run any gauge or other accessory to it from then on and not have to worry about tapping into lines.