installing gauges, need help/advice wiring oil temp and pressure gauges Options

[Dave_Darling]

Looks like the black part should pull out the back of the gauge housing; the bulb will be held in that.

Check to make sure that you have +12V on your lighting circuit when the headlights are on. Do the other instruments light up? The instrument light wires are mostly black with a blue stripe, except in 74+ cars (maybe also the earlier ones, not sure!) a gray wire connects in basically at the center console location.

Where is the oil pressure gauge signal wire hooked to? If you hooked it up to the stock sender, you'll get either full-deflection right or full-deflection left, I forget which. The stock sender is just an on/off switch for the light; you need the correct sender for the gauge.

--DD

[zambezi]

I'll add to Dave that if you are using the correct dual terminal sender, then you obviously have it remotely mounted and you must be sure it is getting a good ground to the sending unit housing or it will do what you are seeing.

[914 RZ-1]

I got the gauges to work!

I'm getting readings of about 220 F on the temp (running at 3-4K RPM on mixed roads-up, down, straight, etc) and about 50 psi on the pressure (at 3-4K RPM). It goes down a bit when the temp is higher and at idle.

The instructions that came with them are not entirely correct. Here's my wiring diagram:

[914 RZ-1]

Looks like the black part should pull out the back of the gauge housing; the bulb will be held in that.

Check to make sure that you have +12V on your lighting circuit when the headlights are on. Do the other instruments light up? The instrument light wires are mostly black with a blue stripe, except in 74+ cars (maybe also the earlier ones, not sure!) a gray wire connects in basically at the center console location.

Where is the oil pressure gauge signal wire hooked to? If you hooked it up to the stock sender, you'll get either full-deflection right or full-deflection left, I forget which. The stock sender is just an on/off switch for the light; you need the correct sender for the gauge.

--DD

The other instruments do light up, but not very well. Do they have more than one light bulb and wire? Maybe I picked a bad one. I'll have to double check the wires I picked. I also thought maybe the taps I used didn't puncture the wire casing.

I have a black wire that has a bunch of black wires with a blue strip coming off it. I picked 2 of the blk/blu wires.

That's what I thought, but I must not be pulling hard enough. Are they press fit or some sort of snap?

[advman89]

One other question: how do I pull out the bulbs on these gauges?

Goooood question

[advman89]

I'm starting my own gauge journey today.


Here is the hose.

The fittings I picked up local at ChicagoConnection.

So far, have it everything snugged in there and will be starting the wiring, installing the temp sensor, etc.


(BTW--Those bulbs do just pull out...just need to apply a little leverage when your pulling).

[emerygt350]

Just be careful you don't end up with GAS. Gauge accumulation syndrome..

[advman89]

HA! I'm trying to keep it classy!

[advman89]

Tackling the oil temp sensor. 1971 with a 1975 2.0L

I am replacing the Taco Plate with 914Werks' billet cover, aftermarket VDO sender.

The factory wire on there currently is black. and the bracket is attached to the taco plate (the tab / guard / crimped tail)...hoping that comes down easy.

In the meantime, I pulled the carpet on the tunnel and there isn't any connectors under there for a center console...so now what?

Just when I think I'm getting momentum...

[advman89]

I have everything operating..except the pressure gauge pegs to the right every time. I've tried several grounds:
1-gauge grounded under the dash (to the bolt holding the climate control unit).

2-I've tried several scenerios to ground the sender:
it's mounted to the location on the fan housing using a metal capacitor bracket....that should do it!
I've tried running a wire to the primary ground next to the battery to the sender housing (and tried the oil line bolt.

The other night on one of my shake down laps, when the car was warmed up, when I would come to a stop-the OIL light came on. As soon as I started rolling, it went off. Was slightly dimmed at one point.
Checked the oil...she's full.

I didn't need to run a ground wire from the sender to the gauge, did I?

Stumped!

I got the gauges to work!

I'm getting readings of about 220 F on the temp (running at 3-4K RPM on mixed roads-up, down, straight, etc) and about 50 psi on the pressure (at 3-4K RPM). It goes down a bit when the temp is higher and at idle.

The instructions that came with them are not entirely correct. Here's my wiring diagram:

[930cabman]

Are you using the factory oil pressure sender?

[advman89]

No. I'm using a VDO dual pole sending unit...it's in a post just before my last one.

[FlacaProductions]

The dual pole senders trip the oil light “early” at a higher point than the oem sender so the fact you see the light coming on isn’t unexpected.

[advman89]

Good to know on tripping the light early.

...now to get this gauge from Pinning immediately when I turn the key.

[Retroracer]

On the oil pressure gauge pinning issue, suggest the following:

1) disconnect the sender at the GAUGE end. Does the gauge still go to full scale?
- if YES, then somethings wrong with the gauge or your connections to it; make sure the gauge case is connected to chassis
- if NO, then go ahead and connect the sender wire again

next:

2) Gauge should still be indicating full scale (incorrectly). Disconnect the sender at the SENDER end. Does the gauge still go to full scale?
- If YES, then you have a wiring issue, possibly sender wire is short to chassis
- if NO, then you have a dodgy sender OR wrong sensor / gauge combo

You might want to double check the connections at the sender end; swapping the switch and sender connections won't harm things but will exhibit funky behavior..

Hope this helps / makes sense

- Tony