Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) FP gauge

[NicholasMiller]

I am planning on installing a set of Autometer gauges: boost, egt, fuel psi. I have combed through numorous theads regarding the install of the fp gauge looking for options. In the fuel line between the filter and the VP, there is a section of 5/16" rubber hose( I assume this is stock, can't remember if it was there prior to the VP replacement), has anyone installed the pressure sensor at this location? I have seen lots of references to using the banjo bolt locations, but wanted to avoid having to order & wait on another part... ...

 

[SKargo]

I just installed an autometer electrical gauge. Install was stupid simple. I installed the small isolator on top of my fuel filter. Your's would be different.

 

[AdamFarnham]

I just installed my Autometer FP gage two weekends ago. I used the banjo bolt location on the bottom of the fuel filter. Got a tapped fitting from Geno's. Shipping was very fast and it only took a couple of days to get across the country. I thought this was the easiest installation method to capture the VP44 inlet fuel pressure while still retaining the bleed valve on the injector pump inlet.



The hardest part of the install was looking for the appropriate wires to tap for lights and power. Could have used one more foot of wire with the Autometer kit, too.



... and now that I've measured the fuel pressure, I find it is marginal. Another thing to throw $ at. Like the fella said, don't ask the question if you don't want to know the answer!

 

[SKargo]

Adam,

did you find a place to tap into a dimming circuit? I tapped into the cigar lighter fuse, thinking that would be on the dimmer circuit, but it's on all the time.

 

[AdamFarnham]

I used the ash tray light for the power for the gage light. I'm not a fan of T-tapping, but could not figure out how to tap off of the line at the fuse panel. Apparently there is no way to run a flag tap off on the hot side of the very small Buss fuses used in the truck.



First, I got my voltage tester out and pulled the lamp connector apart behind the ash tray. You have to take a large amount of the instrument panel apart, but it's not too big a deal. Then, I turned the parking lights on and looked for the hot lead. I marked that and T-tapped it.



I took switched power for the instrument from the cigarette lighter circuit. That turns off when the ignition is off. It turns on when on accessory mode, but I don't keep that on for long.



I think I really should do it right some day and get a couple of painless wiring kits from Geno's. Hook one to switched power through its own relay and another to a dimmable circuit. That would be the neatest way to do it, and you could cover all of your accessories and gages with labeled blocks. No time to do it right, but time to do it twice Has anyone done a 'proper' installation?

 

[LLewandowski]

I just did all of this . I tapped the fuel off the schrader valve . Kinda bad setup as I just ran a big old rubber line to my guage , a leak would really suck , but I wraped it within another hose in tight spots so I'm ok for now .



As for lights , I tapped into the wire on the back of the dimmer switch . Turns on with lights and dims with console lighting . Its one of the 2 bottom wires on the back of the switch . Use a volt meter and dim the switch and you will see the voltage drop .