glow gauges install..

[ALTRNTV]

damn, i've spent over 3 days trying to install my indiglo reverse gauges on my s13, i grounded the ground wire to a screw in the dash and i tried splicing the red wire from the gauges to the purple wire of the dimmer switch (my dad used a multimeter and he said that the purple one had power running through it), so i spliced it and my gauges still don't light up, i'm getting really frustrated now.... for you s13 owners who installed it, is it the purple wire from the dimmer switch? or is it another color? or is there an easier wire to splice it to.... help me

[hookedup240]

sorry but what are reverse gauges? I have white faced ones but what are reverse gauges, do they light up when you go in reverse or something?

sorry for the newbie question but never heard that term b4.

[andrave]

I wired my ingiglos off the parking light wire at the fusebox. That way they are only on when my headlights are on.
Also, you can't ground to a screw in the dash. The dash isn't grounded well. Find a good chassis ground. I used the fusebox ground in the driver's side kick panel.

[ALTRNTV]

Originally posted by andrave
I wired my ingiglos off the parking light wire at the fusebox. That way they are only on when my headlights are on.
Also, you can't ground to a screw in the dash. The dash isn't grounded well. Find a good chassis ground. I used the fusebox ground in the driver's side kick panel.

so what color wire did u attach the red wire to? and your talking about the fusebox located in the drivers side kick panel right?



these are reverse glow gauges, to the person who asked

[andrave]

I don't remember off the top of my head. Check the fuse box with MM and just find one that lights up with the headlights. I *think* that you can use one of the wires for the stereo, which illuminates the stereo when the lights are turned on. But I don't remember when one that is.

[ALTRNTV]

Originally posted by andrave
I don't remember off the top of my head. Check the fuse box with MM and just find one that lights up with the headlights. I *think* that you can use one of the wires for the stereo, which illuminates the stereo when the lights are turned on. But I don't remember when one that is.

MM? what exactly is that? haha, i dunno.. im sorry.. but i'm out of it... lol

[FRpilot]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by hookedup240
[B]sorry but what are reverse gauges? I have white faced ones but what are reverse gauges, do they light up when you go in reverse or something?

basically the numbers and little speedometer lines light up instead of the whole gauge cluster..

[andrave]

MM- multimeter
DMM (even better) digital multi meter.
One of the best tools you could get if you ever wire anything, anywhere, period.
20 bucks at walmart and it even comes with instructions!

[uiuc240]

Originally posted by simounj
damn, i've spent over 3 days trying to install my indiglo reverse gauges on my s13, i grounded the ground wire to a screw in the dash and i tried splicing the red wire from the gauges to the purple wire of the dimmer switch (my dad used a multimeter and he said that the purple one had power running through it), so i spliced it and my gauges still don't light up, i'm getting really frustrated now.... for you s13 owners who installed it, is it the purple wire from the dimmer switch? or is it another color? or is there an easier wire to splice it to.... help me

wiring to the dimmer could be the problem. most dimmers adjust brightness by lowering output voltage by way of a resistor. if the gauges are LEDs, they might need a full 12v source to actually turn on (meaning you can't dim them this way). i'm not sure though. just offering a possibility.

Eric

[ALTRNTV]

i hooked it up to the purple wire of the dimmer switch and nothing happened, but when i pressed the dimmer to dim the stock gauge lights, it wouldn't dim, it stayed the same, and when i unhooked the wire from the purple wire and pressed the dimmer, it worked? is that kinda weird? i still need help on connecting it...

[andrave]

yes, you are correct about the dimmer switch, Indiglos need 12 volts to light up. Mine came with their own dimmer switch, and it works independant of the dashboard switch.
USE A MULTIMETER to find the illumination lead for the stereo. and USE A MULTIMETER to find a solid chassis ground.