Gauge installation disaster

[AC]

The old axiom, " if force doesn't work, you're not using enough force" may not have been the best attitude tonight..... I was attempting to run the wires for my three gauge dash pod when, nearing completion, I discovered that neither the 3/8 " split loom conduit or the hole I drilled in the back of my dash pod were quite big enough for the fist full of wire that I had just painstakingly threaded under the windshield and down the A-pillar and through the fire wall. Not one to give up easily I began jamming the whole works through the hole in the hope that the last two hours had not been a waste of time. Not only did it look like a garden snake that had just swallowed a house cat but I also managed to poke a hole in the liquid filled line that feeds the fuel gauge :{ The good news is that I think I know what I'm doing now Fortunately, tomorrow is a new day...





AC

 

[Todd T]

Originally posted by AC

I think I know what I'm doing now

would that be..... cleaning up diesel fuel from inside your A pillar and out of your carpet?



keep your chin up

 

[AC]

It's now that " new day "I mentioned but my luck has yet to change. It seems that replacing that little tube that I broke will be more trouble than I thought. Geno's will sell me one but only with the Isolator attatched. ( I thought that was just a dealer ploy). So now its off to the hardware store to see about splicing the thing back together. It's just a little piece of plastic tube, how hard can it be.....



AC

 

[Briar Hopper]

Total bummer on the broken tube, AC... . hope you find a splice fitting. Most likely place to find one is at a ParkerStore (Parker Hydraulics) but NAPA and some tractor parts places often have small fittings. If no luck, you can mail me a piece of the tube, no longer than an inch, and I'll try to find one to fit. I have access to many different kinds of fittings. I'll mail it to you free of charge.

I have some leftover line for a Hewitt fuel pressure gauge at the shop, it's probably the same size as your line, but not long enough to do any good. I'll use that line for a size guide and start looking for a fitting. You can email me at -- email address removed --

 

[AC]

Brian,



Thanks for the offer, I just might do that if I can't solve this locally. My plan yesterday was to get some 4mm hose from the hardware store and splice it together but after much frustration I gave up on that idea. Everyone has 1/8 inch hose but no 4mm.

My next plan was to mount the isolator as close to the fire wall as possible and see if I could still reach the gauge with the undamaged section of hose. But as I went out to try this I noticed fluid was leaking from the isolator. I'm not sure if this is normal but it doesn't seem right. I know it wasn't leaking there until I put a hole in the end of the hose but it still seems wrong. How am I supposed to replace the fluid I lost if the thing is leaking from both ends?

I am hoping Andy at Geno's can help me when he gets in this morning. AC

 

[AC]

I just got off the phone with Andy at Geno's Garage and he is sending me a new isolator and hose as a warranty replacement.

I'm sure I didn't damage the isolator but I am not sure it's defective either. All I know is that the thing leaked after the hose was perferated. Maybe this is normal. What is not normal or ordinary is the support I got from Andy. He is very helpfull and seems willing to stay with you until all your questions are answered.

This forum continues to be a life line for me. I have'nt needed it often but It's sure comforting to know I can hop on the internet and find some folks who know what I'm talking about!



Thanks, AC

 

[mgonske]

Lost Fluid

Through clumsiness on my part, I managed to crack my tube at the isolator end the other day as well. I only lost about an inch off the end, and had enough slack to reconnect it. However, I lost all the antifreeze out of the tube. For now, I just reconnected it with air in the line, and the gauge seems to work OK. How important is the antifreeze? Do I really need to open up both ends again and refill it?



Thanks in advance for any help,

Mark

 

[AC]

Mark,



I assume that the fluid is necessary for proper operation of the gauge. Why else would they go to all the trouble? As for refilling it, I would definitely add antifreeze to the water and try and force feed it with an eye dropper or syringe of some sort. There must be some place out there that sells liquid filled lines in various lengths. We can't be the only people with this problem. Good Luck, AC