GAUGE PROBLEM !!! PLZ HELP !!!!

[gnaw_divad]

I finally put in my boost gauge and air fuel ratio gauges, i had them done professionally earlier today but NOTHING WORKS. I'm suppose to return friday so they can take another look at it but i wanted some SOLARAGUY advice first.

For the air/fuel ratio gauge he said that i needed another O2 sensor in order to connect the gauge and he said it would cost me another 80 bucks on top of the 100 bucks i already paid him. I would need to take it to a exhuast shop and have them weld one on?? He said that i needed another O2 sensor because my O2 sensor's wires didnt match the stock ones or smthing like that (the colors) but i've never touched that stuff. DOES THAT MAKE SENSE or is he just Bsing me?? I've read all the previous posts on this subject but im still pretty igornant when it comes to wiring these gauges.

For the boost gauge, i left thinking that it was working because the needle was moving. It idles around -20 vaccum and when i press the gas lightly or drive normally it goes to -10 and when i floor it the gauge goes up to 0 but never past it. (For this, i really hope that the gauge was installed wrong and its not my charger.) But has anyone encountered this problem before and if it is the charger would it be possible to fix?

THank you in advance for helping me out... the more i know the more i can inform the installer so he can rip me.

By the way i went to TECH 3 in San Jo, and he mentioned that there were a lot of solara owners that went there so he knew what he was doing. Just wondering if any SOLARAGUY members went there also.

THANKS
-DAVID

[Mole]

wow. $100 for installation?! plus another 80???!!!! good god there has to be a HUGE bull around that ate a lot of whatever they eat.


that a/f gauge is useless however i've heard people connecting it to a diff wire other than white on hte 02 sensor (which worked) the method your mech is talking about is true... but not necessary. that route does require a new bung and 02 sensor strictly for the a/f. it's not needed since the autometer gauge(which i assume you have) for a/f is useless.

the boost gauge is working, however is not hooked up in the correct area. i'm sure he just tapped into a vac line instead of the s/c port on top of the s/c itself.

that mech dude is ripping you a new one man. stay away from him

[JoeB]

David, TRDMole is right on as usual. That autometer a/f gauge is worthless connected up to the sensor. I didn't do it so I don't know about the installation but I've heard from other people that did the installation that it just bounces all over the place making it impossible to get meaningful data. I have a wide-band O2 sensor screwed into a bung welded into my exhaust. It provides very good reliable data. This is the same kind of sensor they use to do wide-band tuning. It was quite a bit more than $80 though, $300 from Bosch.

As for the boost gauge, I know EXACTLY where you're at, been there. Again TRDMole is right on, trace the vacuum connection back. They most likely tapped it into a vacuum line near the intake which is typical. To get it to read right you have to tap it into the port on the top of the s/c under the strut bar. Check this site, there are posts about doing this and getting a low profile fitting. This will use the very thin, clear, hard vacuum line for the connection. Even with a VERY low profile fitting and washers under the strut bar, mine was hitting the strut bar and I thought I lost reverse in my auto tranny it made such an aweful noise. I have mine tapped into the side of the s/c housing, works great! -JoeB

[Mole]

into the side?!

in other words did you drill a hole on the side of the s/c??

[JoeB]

into the side?!

in other words did you drill a hole on the side of the s/c??

Yes, drilled into the side, scarry huh? Works great. -JoeB

[Guest]

GREAT.. haha, thanks a lot guys... id rather be ripped a new hole by the mechanic than have my charger be BUSTEDD !!! hahaha...

But i dont think he would go through the trouble of tapping the other wire like you guys said so it looks like IM JACKED, cause i want that air/fuel to work !!! it just sits there now with a green light on... I probably have to do the new O2 sensor thing. Is it really that usless even if i plan to get a AFC and i already have the 5.5 psi pulley, does it at least tell me the correct air/fuel rate??

I read some other posts about which wire to tap but there was no ACTUAL color that was stated, just possible ones. Do u guys know which color is suppose to be tapped??? Maybe i can bring it up at least??

THANKS A LOT !!!!
-David

[Mole]

not sure which wire it is b/c i tried all four.

i have also heard that you need to tap the O2 wire that goes into the mid pipping bung.

[guest - josh]

Im not to sure about the boost gauge however, im sure of how to install the airfuel gauge. All you have o do is run the purple wire(if i remeber correctly) to you air fuel sensor. Then splice the black wire in the cluster. When tapping the wire go to radioshack n ppick up a t-splice. It gives a nice clean connection and its reliable. Mine has been in over 6 months. If the wiring doesnt work at first just check all the connections.

I would be really pissed with that place that couldnt install those gauges. I put mine in when i was 16, and it only took about 3 hours. I didnt need any extra parts exept wire, no new senors or anything. My readings are accurate and legible. You should complain. Pending on their reason for not getting the gauges to work, you should try contacting the BBB, BEtter Business Bureau, they maybe able to help you get money b ack or sumthin. Hope my rambling helps....just member to splice the black wire

[Yanks0114]

Im not to sure about the boost gauge however, im sure of how to install the airfuel gauge. All you have o do is run the purple wire(if i remeber correctly) to you air fuel sensor. Then splice the black wire in the cluster. When tapping the wire go to radioshack n ppick up a t-splice. It gives a nice clean connection and its reliable. Mine has been in over 6 months. If the wiring doesnt work at first just check all the

What wire on the o2 sensor. And yes it is the purple wire from the gauge

What do you mean splice the black wire in the cluster?

[Mole]

i'd assume black for ground wire.

[gnaw_divad]

GREAT, so actually i dont have to splice the black wire ?? I just have to connect the purple wire right?

Also im curious as to where this wire is located. Because i have a PSII under the glove box and he said that he couldnt reach the wire area and therefore couldnt do anything.

THANKS A LOT GUYS, im not sure if the guy will give me a break but i least i know wat I'm talking about now.

-David

[Mole]

GREAT, so actually i dont have to splice the black wire ?? I just have to connect the purple wire right?

Also im curious as to where this wire is located. Because i have a PSII under the glove box and he said that he couldnt reach the wire area and therefore couldnt do anything.

THANKS A LOT GUYS, im not sure if the guy will give me a break but i least i know wat I'm talking about now.

-David

no splicing, but there is a need for a tap or a share line

which wire are you talking about?

[venom]

Just curios, what brand is your boost gauge?

[Mole]

autometer

[Guest]

welp, i got everything put in, and i did get ripped a new HOLE but... at least its done. Cost me 180... !!! but anyways, i got another question.

For some reason the boost gauge only reads about 3 when the car is boosting, is there a reason that i could be losing boost. (I'm currently running the 4PSI stock) or is it that the gauge is still put in incorrectly. It reads about -20 at idle and when i drive hard it reads about 3, so im not too sure ??

Also, the air/fuel seems to be working but it just keeps jumping around. When i coast it even turns completely red and actually shuts off.. ?? and when i floor the gas its completely green ?? How do your air/fuels act?

THANKS FOR YOUR HELP AGAIN
=David