Installing my water temp gauge on the A-pillar... need a power source. Is the single black wire under the a-pillar the power to the dome light, and good to splice into?

I'd also consider using the sunroof power out from the fuse box (it's an R2), but I have no idea how to find the positive lead. Any suggestions?

Also, is it safe to ground the water temp gauge to the dash, or should I ground all the way to the engine block for better accuracy?

Dave

 

Any good ground will work.
A good power source is in the fuse block near your left foot. Inside it are (2) 12v power taps (female spade type connector, you'll need the male type to connect with). (1) of those is switched with the ignition, the other is constant, so use a test light or multi meter to figure out which is which.

Regards,
Frank

 

I like the fuse box idea better at this point, but when I poked around in there I didn't see anything but the tops of fuses. (course it is pretty cramped to get at)

Are they near the top, bottom?

Dave

 

Right in the center I believe. They don't look like much, just slots (vertical, if I recall). If you look closer you'll see the brass female slot inside, probe it with your tool to check voltage (no, your multi-tester )

Frank

 

I have tapped in to the cig lighter.. Also my greddy gauge has ilumination.. so, its tied to the cig lighter light.. hmm. I hope you understood that... so at night when I turn the lights on, the greddy gauge lights up..

PHIL

 

The left fuse box is where my mechanic goes , but you may check the cig lighter hot wire in the dash board . You can get to it from under the dash if you lay on the floor . His turns off with the key off , 1994 , so check that yours does to

 

Yeah, I got the dimmer setup working fine since I had a boost gauge installed when I bought it. So I simply spliced out of that line to illuminate the water temp gauge.

Thanks all. I may take some pics tonight for the benefit of people like me who missed electrical wiring 101.

Dave

 

the one on the right is the 12V ignition, just as said, put a spade connector in it.