Attention Guage Installers!

[BigDaddyMC]

Installed my guages today, and came across something that you need to know. If you are working on an "04" and looking for an illumination light, you're probably not going to find an orange wire with a white tracer!



What you will find is a two different (but look exactly the same) orange wires with black tracers. You'll have to find the one that completes the circuit when the lights are turned on. It works great when tapped, but the wrong wire will give you NO power and could leave you scratching your head.



Just thought you guys might need the info.







Cheers!

 

[Elite1]

How is everyone tapping into this wire? Is there a special type connection you use, or is there enough slack to cut, splice and wirenut ?

 

[BigDaddyMC]

DON'T use a wire nut. Simply use a wire tap (blue) and a male spade connector. Very simple project once you find the right wire. You'll actually be able to pull the wires a little bit that will give you enough room to use the wire tap. The nice thing about wire taps is that when you want them off (say you take your guages off) you simply unsnap them and badda-bing - done!

 

[Floor It]

Some call it a scotch-lock.



John

 

[rbattelle]

My method

My method of making wire taps might be a bit excessive for most, but I want nothing but the best for my baby! I cut the wire to be tapped and strip the 2 ends about 1/4 inch. Then I use a watertight crimp-and-seal butt connector to crimp together the 2 ends of the tapped wire with a length of new wire crammed into each end of the butt connector too. To finish the job, just heat the shrink tubing on the butt connector. Makes a watertight bombproof connection.

 

[BigDaddyMC]

But what happens when that circuit is no longer needed? For example taking guages out, removing your favorite CB, taking out the switches used to turn on an accessory . I just hate cutting into the stock harness. I'm gladd it works for you, I just don't like doing it. My boys aren't that BIG...

 

[rbattelle]

Yeah, my method is permanent. But with any luck, I'll never sell this truck!

 

[sdbelt]

You might be careful the type of luck you wish for... it just may come true ;-)



Personally, I wouldn't worry about these 2 methods. They both work. You can still cut the tap wire from the butt connector to pull the gauges, so it's really a case of 6 in one, half a dozen in the other.

 

[rbattelle]

Let me rephrase that:



With any luck, this truck will be in perfect mint condition forever and I'll never want to get rid of it.