Reverse Glow Gauge Face Install Help

[Cheapdog]

Hey guys, I bought some reverse glow gauge faces, and went out to install them today. I connected the ground wire to the chassis frame, and spliced the positive wire into one of the lights that was already behind the gauges. When I start to turn the headlights on, the gauge faces light up. Then, when that light turns on, the gauges turn back off. Does anyone see what I'm doing wrong, or can anyone tell me how they did theirs differently?

Thanks in advance.

 

[efren3]

go to any parts shop and pick up repair manuel of your car and check the back shows you were to wire are supose to go
thats how i did it lights turn off and on with light switch

 

[mugen_tuned]

make sure your ground point is free of any paint or just find another power source such as the fuse box.

 

[Cheapdog]

I've got a Chilton guide, but couldn't find where things were. It's got wiring diagrams, but only in the abstrace sense; I can't find the wires in the car.

 

[Cheapdog]

Would it matter which side of the light bulb I spliced into? The wires are both black, and I couldn't find any marking on the bulb itself telling me which was postitive and which was negative.

 

[Cheapdog]

Originally posted by mugen_tuned
make sure your ground point is free of any paint or just find another power source such as the fuse box.

That was the first thing I did; the screw and the metal it screws into are both clean.

 

[mugen_tuned]

try putting a larger fuse for the gauge cluster and see what happens.

 

[Cheapdog]

I've got the gauges lit up correctly now (spliced into a different wire). There's a new problem however. Whenever I'm at a stop, the speedometer needle stays put until I get going about 20mph or so, then jumps up to display the correct speed. Anyone have a similar problem?

 

[edhgreatone]

there might be a shortage in the wire....

 

[mugen_tuned]

which wire did you use as a new power source?

 

[2kstreetcivic]

I would get a volt meter and check all your connections...also, make sure you connected then good enough and they arent lose

 

[Cheapdog]

which wire did you use as a new power source?

I used the other wire coming from the light bulb on the back of the panel. I'm going back down to my car shortly (I'm working in a parking lot at my college, as I live in the dorms). I'm going to take the gauges completely off, and see if the speedo works. If not, I've f**ked up something royally. I'm hoping it's just a bad connection as several of you have mentioned. I'll be back to post what happens.

 

[EK9]

i spliced mine... the two lights above the cluster spliced taht and re-wired it and ground the other wire.. works fine...
about your needle, make sure your gauge face is "on there" i had mine little loose and the needle got stuck and stuff, but that was my problem might be same or what not .. just trying to help

 

[Redbone]

do a search on the site for installing gauges, believe me, I already went through this and these guys helped me with the install and pics on how/what to wire.

 

[Mr. EeeKaY]

All I know is, my friend hooked up mine by putting the wire with the fuse for the taillamps/cluster, so when I turn on my sidemarkers, it comes on, and when it's off, they turn off. Good enough for me. = )

 

[Cheapdog]

about your needle, make sure your gauge face is "on there" i had mine little loose and the needle got stuck and stuff, but that was my problem might be same or what not .. just trying to help

That's what was wrong; she works like a champ now. Thanks for all your help guys.

On a side note, how would I go about making sure the speed readings are accurate. Is that something I can take to a shop and have them test? I don't happen to know any cops w/ radar equipment.

Thanks again.

 

[freekaingjon]

how do i wire it? i dont no anything about wiring