Guage lighting prob

[Ken55]

Installed my EGT-Boost-Trans Temp today and the guage lights don't work. I checked and the ground is good, guages light up when I connect to + on batt. Geno's said to use the OR/BR wire on my '03 which I did using a tap. My wire is OR/WH, is this the right wire? I used 14ga wire for my lights could the tap not make a good connection with the factory wire (18ga?) harness? After opening it back up it seems there should be power flowing but I get no reading at that point on a meter. The tap I used is the type that drives a piece of metal to make the connection when you close the cover. Thanks for any advice.

Ken

 

[madmax4688]

Hey ken where is Geno's telling you to get the wire? at the switch, under hood? I have an entire wiring database on my laptop that I use for alarm and remote starter installs and 03's lights are a neg trigger through a resistor. So trying to grab a positive signal is not going to work. Let me know and I will guide you to the correct location to grab power.

 

[Ken55]

Hey Madmax, geno's said to grab the (OR/BR) wire behind the headlight switch, which I did. But I'm not getting any lights. Thanks for the help.

Ken

 

[madmax4688]

Ok Ken the easiest way to get a positive trigger for your lights is first find any interior light around the cup holder or ash tray that turns on when you turn your parking lights on. Then get access to that light and test which side is triggered positive using the switch. My data base is for professional installers and on the 03 with resistance grounded lights I would have to physically do it for you to make it work so grabbing a local light source would work for your application. let me know how you make out. If you cant find a local light source I will try to grab my friends 03 and look on his truck to find where I would grab the light source.

 

[Ken55]

Thanks, I'll use a light around the ashtray and see what happens. Should work! Won't get around to it till tomorrow sometime, but I'll let you know how it turns out.

Ken

 

[Ken55]

I decided to re-check all connections again before finding another + source. Opened the tap up and gently applied pressure on the light side. Hooked things back up and there was light! Evidently it wasn't getting all the way into the wire on the light side of the tap. The OR/WH wire is correct for my '03.

Ken

 

[rbattelle]

In my opinion, those taps are the single worst invention in the history of electricity. And that includes "positive ground" electrical systems.



You should really consider making a more proper splice now that you've verified things are worked as they should.



-Ryan

 

[Ken55]

Ryan, I have to agreewith you. I had a bunch of them things lying around because I never used them. But being a Sat and everything was closed I decided to go ahead and use them to hook up my lights. I plan on removing it and a making a more secure connection.

Ken