Autolamp/autodimming Mirror

[Hoppy]

The wire should be fine after you upgrade it to a thicker gauge. The reason it warms up is because it is too small. This is how people cause electrical fires in their house. They put in a 20 or 25 amp fuse into a circuit that is wired for only 15 amp service so that they can plug two or more things into the plug. In theory the fuse will not blow now because it will take the current, but the wire isn't rated for supplying that much current to the load, so the wire heats up and eventually will break down or heat up enough that the wire will cause the insulation and surrounding area of the wire to catch fire. So with that said you will have to upgrade that wire. It is also like compressed air. If you compress air and force it into a big pipe the big pipe will not get as warm as forcing compressed air into a smaller pipe. You are restricting the pressure, thus increasing the flow and the smaller pipe gets hot. The bigger one will not because the flow is not restricted. In all honesty the relays will not take much power to run, but the lights do, you figure you have the two headlights which take lots of power to run, then you have all the other parking lights on top of that. It is alot of current to run all of these lights at the same time.

 

[BIG COUNTRY]

hey, i was looking thru my cd rom for a 98 and it shows the white/ purple wire going to the parking light relay then to the dimmer relay, and then to one more relay...cant think of the name of it...but it goes thru 3 relays...and i believe that that is the relay module box behind the center dash if you look on the driver's side by the gas pedal...on the right and look above in the back center...you will see a relay box...and that is where the white/ purple wire goes to....vbruk: look under your driver's side and it will be in the back center on your left by the brake pedal...or clutch pedal if your's is a manual...

 

['96explorereddiebauer]

It's the headlamp relay. It's the same for my '96.

 

[vbtruk]

Thanks Hoppy and Big c and 96 for all your help!!!
i upgraded the wire and it doesn't heat up at all now Thanks hoppy.
Big C i have looked everywhere for that damn wire and gave up so i hooked up Hoppy relay's and it works fine but if i can be bothered geting into it again i will check, Thanks.
96 i have installed the indiglow gauges so i will post pic's and pic's of the overhead console later tonight just one question? how long do they last cos i have heard that they brake or wear out easily the indiglow gauges that is???
Thanks heaps guy's i really appreciate all your help!!!!

 

[vbtruk]

Finally got the camera and here is the overhead console, auto dim mirror and white face indi glow gauges! What do guy's think?

 

[vbtruk]

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[vbtruk]

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[vbtruk]

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[vbtruk]

As you can see i had to paint the needles red with a textre, look's good during the day but at night a little dark, when i can be bothered i'll go back in and wipe it off and put just one stroke (coat) on. It would have been quite hard to see them during a sunny day otherwise.
The gauges are great but a few prob's: they didn't exactly alighn with all the dummy light's and seeing as the outside speed is MPH and inside is KPH which is what i use not exact but close within 5kph!
The best thing was that it was quick and easy to do and even better was that i didn't have to remove the needles these gauges just slippid on right over them!
a Little trick would be to take out the globes from behind the Gauge bezel and shine a torch light up from underneath, that way all the dummy light's light upand you can alighn them properly rather than sitting in your car with the hazard's flashing and accessories on trying to alighn them.
i sat at the kitchen table at home with the flash light and it was much easier! but i was thinking of replacing the globes int he bezel with bright white led's as they would last for ages and look better, when i can be bothered of course!!!! Well was great fun and only took 3 hour's taking my time that is!
Thanks heaps guy's and chat soon!
Later.

 

['96explorereddiebauer]

Oh man...it looks awesome!!! Congrats on your mods!! How do ya like the autolamp??

 

[vbtruk]

Billy i love the Autolamp it's awesome!!! i am so glad i finnaly have it!!!!! Thanks Again to all of you guy's!

 

[vbtruk]

By the was what is the life expectancy for these gauges??? Cos i have heard that they breakdown easily and am preparing to get back in there!!!!!!!
Thanks.

 

['96explorereddiebauer]

You're welcome. I'm sorry you couldn't make it to work using my way. I need to thank Hoppy and BIG COUNTRY for explaining the electricals.

 

['96explorereddiebauer]

Originally posted by vbtruk
By the was what is the life expectancy for these gauges??? Cos i have heard that they breakdown easily and am preparing to get back in there!!!!!!!
Thanks.

I have no clue. That's what I've heard too so that's why I didn't get them.

 

[vbtruk]

Thanks DUDE! LOL.

 

[BIG COUNTRY]

looks great vbtruk...and congrats on your success...but what is that next to the steering wheel...its green with numbers on it...i like that...

 

['96explorereddiebauer]

Looks like an indoor/outdoor thermometer. Vbtruk, you'll take that off your dash now since you have your overhead console, right??

 

[vbtruk]

Spot on 96 it's an indoor/outdoor thermo but i keep it there as it tell's me the temp insde the car and the outdoor bit goes into the vent's for now as my AIR-Con has been playing up and i need to know if i should service it!!! You see when it's on AIR CON and the vent is on the winshield i get a patch of fog lower centre of the winsheild so i don't know what's wrong with the air conditioner?????
Thanks BIG C

 

[Dre]

I think it's normal to get a patch of fog there on a humid day with air blasting ...

BTW.. now I need to start playing with the autolamp on my wife's 98 Sport.... I'm still looking for the mirror for my 94 though.

 

[vbtruk]

Ok thanks for that but what if it does it all the time??? i am not sure mine does but it did happen the last few times when it wasn't even hot or humid, cold actually as i was just testing it?
Thanks.