New gauge problems

[tireman74]

I replaced my voltmeter and oil pressure gauge. The replacements don't have the push in lights. They have the 2 prong style and my wiring is just one wire. I am assuming my one wire is hot, so here is my question. Can I just make a dedicated ground wire and screw it into the body for one and jump off it to the other gauge. Basically wire would go from screw in body to gauge and then to other gauge for grounds.

 

[Torxhead]

The negative battery terminal has a connection or should have to the firewall just under the hood line. You could tie into that connection from the back side, while you are at it add a ground wire to a gauge cluster mounting bolt to get a good electrical connection there also.

 

[tireman74]

The negative battery terminal has a connection or should have to the firewall just under the hood line. You could tie into that connection from the back side, while you are at it add a ground wire to a gauge cluster mounting bolt to get a good electrical connection there also.

I know the exact wire off the battery you are talking about
When you say gauge cluster are you talking about the speedo?

 

[Torxhead]

Yup, there are a few circuts in the gauge cluster assembly that could use a good return to the battery. That wire off the battery supplies a ground connection for quite a few circuts, it could use some help.

 

[jdcaples]

I ran an 8 awg (or was it 6?) wire from the negative post, through the firewall, to a bus bar mounted at about 1 o'clock from the accelerator pedal, just to the left of the heater box.

I found that to be a handy place to ground things and it won't interfere with my next removing of the heater box.

My fuel gauge is currently on vacation with the temp gauge. I'll ground the cluster to that bus bar this weekend when I install the new gauges.

-Jon

 

[Torxhead]

Oh yeah, I forgot about a heater. I ditched mine sometime in the mid nineties. Anyway with a grounded firewall, you could pretty much use anywhere on it for a ground. Steel sheetmetal does lose some conductivity over a distance, but its quite a ways.