Hi, i want to install my boost gauge onmy s5 turbo but i'm not really sure what to do... I want to have it install above the glove box. i'd like to avoid the removal of the dash as it seems quite heavy to do... do you have any idea on how i could pass my sensor cable and my power cable (that i believe should reach the instrument panel as i have a ignition switch wire and a dash lighting wire...). Any one has some advice or a tutorial ?

 

Above the glove box is not going to be very useful. If it's not in your field of vision while looking at the road, you're pretty much never going to see it. Typical install locations would be on the A-pillar, behind the steering wheel, or in the warning light location.

Is this a mechanical boost gauge, or does it use an electronic sensor?

You can pull lighting power from the light switch wiring, and you may also find a wire that is powered when the key is 'ON'. Test with a multimeter, and check wire colors from the diagrams.

 

The easiest place to pull lighting is the illumination at the cigar lighter.

The sensor wire (hopefully it's a modern electronic gauge) can be passed through the driver side harness boot under the trailing coil, or the passenger side harness boot under the wiper motor.

 

ok so my gauges are electronic (the zenki racing ones, don't know if you know).
Concerning the location, the A pillar would be nice but the car is my daily drive... not exactly though as i'm usually using the bus but i still drive it on the road and i fear to lose too much visibility by putting them on the A-pillar. Behind the wheel are not an option either as i would lose the speedo and tachimeter. I thought about the wargning light location but i'm not sure i want to lose this as well.

i've did some trials and considering that the gauges are illuminated,if i put them above the glove box i can just check them as if i would look in my mirror, no real issue. Around here lots of people put them IN the glove box in order to hide them while cops are checking (don't really get why the cops would mess with you if they see the gauges... don't really care for that) and that, i clearly doesn't understand how you can use them but they still do...

So concerning the power, a friend told me to connect it on the radio. at least + - and ignition. dash lightning is not really useful apparently ?

So i think i will use the hole in the passenger side (although i have to check if it's feasible with the oil gauges) but do you have any advices on how to route the cable behind the dashboard ?

 

To run wires through the passenger-side harness boot that Aaron mentioned, remove the glove box, and the kick panel near the carpet. Feed some rigid wire through from the engine bay, find it inside the car, then hook your wiring to it & pull it back up.

A-pillar mounts really don't block your view at all unless you have too many gauges, or you mount it too high up. 1-2 gauges in a pod at the base of the pillar doesn't interfere much at all. Here's a pic from my daily driven car with 2 gauges. The angle isn't the best to show you what I mean, but you can see the top one doesn't sit much higher than the steering wheel.

 

i don't know... I'm not really attracted by the a pillar mounting... anyway, another question concerning my boost gauge, i have a electronic block with on one side the electric connector going to the gauge and on the other side is a little plastic hose going to the vacuum line. So my question basically is should i have the electronic box in the engine bay or in the car ? is it more intelligent to have the hose or the cable passing through the firewall ?

(i warned you there would be stupid questions :p )

 

Mount the sensor in the engine bay so you can use a short vacuum hose to the intake manifold. The passenger-side shock tower would be a good location, as it is away from the exhaust.

 

well i don't think my cable is that long, about 1meter i'd say. I catch a cold so i'll report the installation to next week...

 

I am also installing a mechanical boost gauge. Where is the best spot to hook up vaccum on the manifold?

 

i took off the glove box and there is an incredible amount of sh*t behind... I can't see the hole in the firewall and i have no way to pass the cable behind the dashboard... don't know what to do...

 

There is a harness grommit on that side of the car below the wiper motor. Pass it through there.

The nipple which connects to the stock pressure/boost sensor is most convenient for a boost gauge.

 

yes i understood that, but how can i pass the wiring between the dashboard and the windshield ? if i want to remove the dashboard, is it difficult (not fully remove it though, just be able to move it 5 mm away from the windshield)

 

You can't just pull the dash back from the window. Come up the side by the A-pillar, vent or glovebox.

 

Take off the A-piller. It is held on with clips. There is one screw near the B-pillar hidden under a small cap.

But I'm not sure why you need to remove the A-pillar if you are putting the gauge in the glove box? Just drill a hole in the back of the glove box, route the wire to the harness grommit and pass it through.

 

I wanted to avoid modifying the dash. I'll try to remove the a-pillar when i come back

 

You're going to have to make holes in the dash if you want to mount it where you described. Unless you intend to velcro the gauges to the top of the dash.

 

A 1/4" hole in the glove box is too much?

 

I have Some sort of double sided tape provided with the gauges) i've rmoved the Apillar and now i can pass the wires under the dashboard ( i've to tidy up a bit still). Now i have to install

 

I have Some sort of double sided tape provided with the gauges) i've rmoved the Apillar and now i can pass the wires under the dashboard ( i've to tidy up a bit still). Now i have to install the probes and pray to have enough cable length...

 

Hi, i still have some questions. Considering the following picture (not my car, i stole it from internet):


- is gromit under the wiper motor situated close to the blue circle ?
- Can i connect the probe on the line circled in red ?

 

ok... i have absolutely no idea what to do... i can't find any usable hole in the firewall... here is what i have when i remove the glovebox :

i can't see anywhere to run the cable. i bet should remove the grey box or the white one but i don't know how... i'm starting to believe i'll simply sell the gauges to a friend and blow the engine as a vengeance...

 

I don't know how more specific I can be. Stick your head under the dash and look directly at the passenger foot well. Follow the wall up until you see the thick wiring harness. That's where you can pass your wires through. You may need to remove the kick panel.

Get a flash light and open your hood. Shine the light on the wiper motor area and observe the large wiring harness. Remove the wiper motor for clearance if you have to. Poke a hole in the grommit, thread a thick wire through (such as a coat hanger) and use it to pull your wire.

The line you have circled in red is the throttle cable, so you can't use that. T into the line at the pressure sensor, which is located on the passenger shock tower.

 

for the line cercled in red, i realized that afterward lol . i found the original boost pressure gauge T so no problem on that.
I didn't understood the carpet and the kick plate needed to be removed, i thought it was behind the glovebox.
Anyway i got bored this morning and brought it to the garage to have the gauge fitted... i know i should be ashamed (and i am) but at least i know it will be done by this afternoon (i hope)