installing gauges

[JDMStanced]

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[chiboy002]

I have a water temp gauge that id like to install.
I was told to hook up the wires to the battery if i don't know how to hook it up to the fuse box. is this OK to do it? if so, do i hook it up to negative or positive?
Since i don't have a voltmeter or whatever to check which fuse to hook it up to, hooking it up to the battery is my only choice.
:trogdor:

look at your wiring diagrams. don't hook it up to a fuse - solder a fuse holder to it.
Splice them into a currently existing component that turns off when the car turns off and has optional lights, i.e Radio

Hooking it up to the battery will just keep it running 24/7 and if you hook up the lights then theyll also be lit up 24/7.

Solder it, not tape. its a gauge - it needs good connections. Ground it to the frame or transmission tunnel

[SLiDe_WaYz]

Man just go get a test light ( 5$) and find your hot wire to your radio or a ignition wire, splice and solder the wire into that. then run the wires need into the bay and hook it up.

What brand gauge did you get ? Because every gauge is the same but different as well.

[JDMStanced]

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[chiboy002]

never thought battery runs 24/7.. now that's out of option now lol
i'll just stick with butt connectors or something.
i have a prosport one.
How exactly do i use the test light to find which one to use if i were to hook up the wires behind the headunit?
damn dude, is this your first time working on a car? Just asking cause if so, search a lot before you do this otherwise you might get frustrated...

you ground the test light to something like a bolt that comes into contact with metal that connects to the frame. You use the prong to touch the wire ends (disconnect the sub-harness for the radio) until one lights up - that is a +

I believe it is RED for the radio and Orange for lights, ground is ground.

butt connectors wont work in this situation - since you are splicing into existing wires not making a loom.

You honestly don't need to fuse the gauges - its pretty rare for them to pull enough amps to pop a fuse, plus the radio has its own fuse already

[JDMStanced]

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