Hey, I'm looking at buying this electric oil pressure gauge.

http://www.autometer.com/cat_gaugede...id=3227&sid=12

I have a few clarification questions to ask about the install process. First, I'm installing it in a 1999 Honda Prelude Base.

1) I need to connect to a 12v power source. This is the ignition switch, correct? How exactly do I tap into the ignition switch? Where? How? Honestly I'm not sure if the wire it comes with will just be a regular wire or have a metal ring on the end to connect to something.

2) I need to connect to a ground. I'm not sure where my current oil pressure switch is grounded. Would it be best to ground my after market sending unit to the negative battery terminal, or what? Can I just run the wire anywhere? The firewall? The side of the engine block?

3) I need to run a wire from the sending unit (beside the oil filter) to inside my car. I've decided to mount the gauge onto the upper pillar in my upper left-hand view. Where should I drill into the firewall? Can I use a hole already there? Should the wire come from below near the pedals? Once inside, how do I hide the wire if it comes from down below? Basically I just need to know how to route it.

Answers to any of these questions or if someone who has already installed an electric oil pressure gauge in their prelude / similar car will be very much appreciated.

 

1. It should be a regular wire and you'll need to splice the end off. You will need to find a wire that gets 12v when the ignition is on and is off when the car is off. IMO the best way to do this would be to use a voltmeter and check the wires going into your fuse box until you find one that gets a good 12v.

2. You should ground it to a chassis or engine ground. I believe grounding to the battery usually isn't recommended due to running longer wires, not sure.

3. You should have a rubber grommet in there somewhere that you can pull out. Just open your hood and look around for a spare grommet that isn't being used. You should also be able to get the wire through one of the grommets that the factory wiring uses, just push the grommet out, thread wire through, then put the grommet back on. Generally you can route the wire under your carpet, or above the pedals. Be sure that there is NO chance of the wire coming loose and getting hung up while driving though.

 

Thanks, I actually just ordered the gauge along with a brass NPT to BSPT adapter and a pillar pod. But, I do have a few other questions.

1) I'm replacing my stock pressure sender with an Autometer one. Will this cause the oil (dummy) light to be always off or always on? If on, how do I get it to stay off?

2) Thinking about it, wouldn't a sender threaded into a brass adapter which is threaded into the block already be grounded?

3) Is there any danger using a brass fitting straight to the sender instead of remotely placing the sender? I've searched online that people with tees (that retain the stock dummy light) install the sender remotely but does adding a fitting between the block and sender really reduce reliability?

4) Solder required or splice and crimp good enough?

P.S. Parts should come Wednesday and I'll post any pictures if I come up to a problem.