Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Connection to light up gagues?

[AGibson]

I installed my new gauges and everything works great. I went to connect the wire to illuminate the gauges with the lights on and did not find a easy connection point. Does anyone have a good idea where, or a color code for a wire? My truck is a 98. 5, 24 valve, automatic, 4x4.

Thanks!

Alan

 

[Piston Slapper]

Buy a "Add a Circuit" at local parts store. Tap one of the following fuses.



#5 - ILLUM. for lights - works of the interior light dimmer,

#8 - RADIO for power - works with key on only.



Good luck

Gap

 

[rfcom]

You can also tap off the ashtray or cubbyhole light. They both work with the panel dimmer.



Jim

 

[JFinke]

If you tap a wire in the dash I used the one that lights up the heater controls. On a 98 and 01 it's an orange wire, with I think a black or white tracer. It will let you dim the guages with the rest of the dash lighting. Just check that you DVOM or test light change with the guages.

 

[2ndgen2500]

i used the light from the ashtray

 

[Sixpack]

Originally posted by 2ndgen2500

i used the light from the ashtray

me too!

 

[kboettcher]

I have the same truck as you and I used the dash lite fuse in the side kick panel. Its the 3rd fuse on the top row, if you tap it on the lower side, it will still be fused. Here is a picture... . sorry about the quality but I could only get the one picture cuz the batteries were dying.

 

[isb360]

Simpler yet than all the above: Pull the headlight switch out to expose the wiring harness going into it. Using the factory service manual, locate appropriate +12v, dimmed 12v, and ground wires and tap into them there.



I tapped into the headlight harness as described above, but rather than tapping into each wire multiple times for each gauge, I tapped each (+12v, dimmed 12v, ground) only once and ran lenghts of wire up to the A-pillar, labeled appropriately. That way, each time I connected a gauge to the circuit, I only needed to tap into the now VERY easily accessible wires already running up into the A-pillar.



Tim

 

[AGibson]

Gauges are operation

Thanks guys! I used the wire off of the light switch and it took about ten minutes. My wire off the dimmer switch was tan. Works great.

Alan