Hour meter

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If anyone else is interested one the mechanic for the company I work for has found a pretty simple way to hook a hour meter up. There is a solid red wire (16 gauge) in the "engine inline" wiring harness in the fuse box under the hood (sorry I don't know the pin location). This wire can be tapped directly and will only register time on the hour meter if the engine is running. An important factor if your trucks are ever used at tailgate parties or for lunchtime enertainment on the jobsite. The mechanic tells me this is an easily accessible area and doesn't skew the actual time on the engine like tapping into the ignition circuit (since tapping the ignition circuit would run time on the meter if you werejust sitting listening to the radio).

 

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Sorry.

Forgot to add - this only works on 1998. 5 and up trucks.

 

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What about the hour meter in the trip computer (over-head console)... . Does that register the time the engine is running or just the ignition is on?

 

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What perfect timing! I'm getting ready to re-wire my hourmeter. It was hooked up directly to the battery until it ran up the total (calculated) time on the engine since it was born.

I was about to lay down $50. 00 for a gigantic diode for the alternator. Plus I had to figure out (fabricate) how to hook the think up.

This sounds a ton easier -- just what I was looking for.

Can you give more details? What / where is the "engine inline wiring harness"? Is that one of those things in the underhood fuse box that looks like some sort of plug in? Any help appreciated.



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1999 24v, NV4500HD, QC, 4x4, 3. 54, 8' Bed w/ Rhino Lining, 285/75R16s on 16x8 Eagles, 2" Skyjacker front lift, Glasstite topper, Racor LFS

 

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Same question as Kyle. Can someone provide a picture or point me to an illustration in the service manual?

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99 3500 QC 4X4 5sp 3. 54 K&N air filter, DiPricol gauges, 275 hp injectors, Pacbrake, Westin nerfs, GN hitch, Tekonsha Brake controller, Mopar seat covers, Husky mats, silencer ring removed, Draw-tite front receiver

 

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Ninearrow -- I've got an E-Mail into Ghostroller about this. He hasn't responded yet (no slam intended here). Could be any number of reasons (doesn't work on Fridays, out of town, getting more info, etc. ) but I can't think of any reason why he won't -- I'm just impatient by nature.

With this new hope, I'm going to tear apart (figuratively speaking) my service manual & fuse box this weekend looking for the animal spoken of above. I'll post what I find (or don't find) as soon as I can (probably Saturday).

 

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I think total engine hours are logged on the ECM of all '98. 5 up trucks. Just can't access it unless you get that neat gizmo from Cummins and a laptop to access it.

So, hourmeter guys, how many hours do you have on your truck? How many miles total to compare (for an average MPH since new)?

 

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Scooby: So thats what that is #ad
I figured out all the other items. Just went out to my truck to look at it. I was reading 66:37, after leaving the key in the on possition for 1 minute I was at 66:38. When put the key to the AUX possition it does not change.


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2K1 3500 4x4 SLT+ QC ETH/DEE

 

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Unfortunatly the trip computer gods at DC saw fit to have the factory hour meter reset to zero every hundred hours. I cant remember how many times it's turned over anymore 5 maybe 6??
When I first noticed the hour meter I was jazzed #ad
{ very cool info } then toggled thru the functions shortly after seeing 99 on the clock,@#$%&*$@!!! zero again. #ad


Now it's just an extra button push to get to somethin' I can realy use. #ad



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99,QC,3500,Sport Black,4x4,Auto,3. 54,Anti-spin,Camper pkg,Carpet delete,all options except leather.
Silencer ring?? We don't need no stinking silencer ring!!!
Self installed goodies,
OEM Running boards,Mud flaps&Bed liner, Tinted windows,Jacobs E-Brake,BD Torque Loc. Whimpy stock class 4?? hitch fell off-replaced it with a Super Hitch(1200# tongue,15000# trailer) on the house from DC thanks for the recall!!

Installing-Trailer brake controller.

Next-BD Pressure loc and one of those really cool mag hytec transmission pans.

 

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OK I figured it out!!! WoooHOOOOOooooooo!!!!!

This description is from my 1999 model:
Take the top off the under-hood fuse box. Standing by the left fender, look in the corner of the fuse box farthest away from you on the right-hand side. Notice a black square "thang" with a screw going through the middle of it. Black on top, white plastic under that. The inside of the fuse box lid has it labeled as "Engine Inline" just like Ghostroller said earlier. In here is where the magic wire is -- but it's not red on mine.

This big square is a connector that plugs in a bundle of wires coming up from the fender and entering the fuse box through the side of the box farthest from you. The plug has a black plastic "shell" on top that keeps the wires tight and forces them down the side of the fuse box.

Here's what I did: Unscrewed the Engine Inline connector, flexed all the plastic tabs off the black cap, took off all the electrician's tape, removed the black cap, plugged the plug back in, and screwed it down. Then I could test all the conductors in the plug from the top with it plugged in.

With the connector plugged in and looking at it from the left fender, the row of conductors that's farthest from you has 4 wires that are larger than all the other wires in the connector (12-16 gauge). From left to right they're pin numbers: (6) Red w/black tracer, (5) Red w/lt green tracer, (4) Green w/orange tracer, and (3) Red w/yellow tracer.

3 is battery positive (12 volts all the time)
5 and 6 are 12 volts with key on.
4 is only hot when the engine's running.

So on my pickup it's the 14 gauge Green/orange wire.

I only tested this quickly after dark this evening so I need check it out a little more (like is this wire hot when the fuel pump is running but the engine is off, etc. ) But I'm pretty sure this is it!!!!

In the 99 service manual, it's plug C130 on page 8W-90-7. The pin outs are on page 8W-80-13 and the one I'm talking about is pin number 4 (DG/OR). Circuit number A142. I'm still trying to figure out how to read the electrical part of this service manual. Anyone know how to find a description of circuit A142?

I can't believe I'm so geeked out by a little copper wire, let alone sitting here telling anyone who'll listen about it.

This forum has twisted my brain.

Good night all.....

 

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Kyle,
Thanks for a very descriptive answer to my question. I plan to try it (hourmeter install) tonight. Where did you mount your hourmeter?

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99 3500 QC 4X4 5sp 3. 54 K&N air filter, DiPricol gauges, 275 hp injectors, Pacbrake, Westin nerfs, GN hitch, Tekonsha Brake controller, Mopar seat covers, Husky mats, silencer ring removed, Draw-tite front receiver

[This message has been edited by Ninearrow (edited 07-24-2000). ]

 

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I chose an Isspro mini hour meter. It's face is about 1. 5" x 3/4". I installed it in my dash where the gear indicator would have been if I had an automatic. A lot of work just to save some space but it turned out pretty good.

 

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Sorry for leaving you guy's hanging i have to access the forum and e-mail from my office and yes I was out of the office on a jobsite Friday. I couldn't have helped much on the installation description - our mechanic doesn't have a service manual - aaaagh! On the 2001 the wire is sure enough red he showed it to me this morning. AS a side note 197 hours and 13,992 miles on the 2001.

 

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Sorry Vaughn, I didn't notice your question earlier:

875 hours, 24,500 miles.

 

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I can get new hour meters cheap for anyone interested (email me). These are what go on new CAT gensets for service. Top notch quality.

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Always ready to help!
2000 2500 Red Sport quad cab, 4x4, K&N, DDI's, straight piped, boost, pyro and fuel pressure gages, custom built boost module, mean looking set of 33. 5" tires, Snap On diamond tool box, Marine Corps window sticker, Semper Fi!

1972 340 Cuda'. Original tripple black 340 car w/air! Good clean car, super stock springs, Weld Prostars, strong 340 with a 727/4000 stahl, 4. 56... . Bombs away!
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