Is this a good wire to tap for guage (pic)

[silver96]

I found this wire under the steering column. It is switchable and looks like it would work well, but I read that you shouldn't tap into a wire that gets used alot for other power. I can't tell exactly where it goes. Looks like either the insturment cluster or the ignition. Anybody have opinions? BTW, the grey plastic in the upper right hand side is the steering column, just to give you an idea where the wire is at.

 

[jimbo74]

i wouldnt use that... just run a dedicated power wire...

 

[Soundguy01tx]

I agree... jsut run a dedicated line.
--Bryan

 

[jimbo74]

well, there is a possiblity you could use it... but to be safe i wouldnt.. at least until you know what it actually powers.... with some car electronics, if you divert some of their power away when it needs a said voltage amount to run properly, doing so could make the component that it powers fail or somehting along htose lines... @ the very least if you are set on running it off of that, findout what it powers and decide if that circuit can handle the extra load or draw.. it may be minimal, but electronics can be very particular to the way they are supposed to run

 

[dogfriend]

I looked up the schematics - I'm about 90% sure that it is the power to the turn signal/hazard switch. It should be an orange wire with a yellow stripe. It is powered by fuse #22 in the interior fuse box (10A hot in run). Pull the fuse and test to verify.

 

[silver96]

Wow thanks dogfriend! It is an orange wire with a yellow stripe. I went ahead and tapped into the wire anyway a little bit after I posted, but Im glad it turned out to be the kind of wire I wanted. Everything seems to work ok, but I haven't driven it yet to test it out. I just let it ilde in park since its on jack stands at the moment.

I mounted my guage in one of the console pockets and it looks much better than I thought it would since the guage matches my interior and everything.

I'll post up pics tomarrow

 

[silver96]

well here's where I mounted my trans temp guage. The pic isn't very good but it looks nice in person. It needs to have another guage beside it though. I'll probably put an oil temp or something in there once I get some cash.

 

[MONMIX]

Dogfriend you are a wealth of knowledge aren't you?

 

[Billy177]

i awalys thought that the orange lines were airbag related

 

[dogfriend]

For 97 Explorer

The wires going to the driver airbag clock spring assy are GY/O (grey w/ orange stripe) and R (red).

On the pass side airbag, the wires are LB/O (light blue w/ orange stripe) and PK/BK (pink w/ black stripe)