Electrical Noob

[TtypeTony]

Hello everyone, new to posting but I have been looking at the site for a couple years now for technical advice as I have owned my 85 t type since I graduated highschool in 07. Now finishing up college and making some money im looking to make the t type nicer one upgrade at a time.

I know im probably looking like a noob with this but when it comes to wiring and electrical, not my strong point at all, and I need some help. Trying to finish up installing my oil and water gauge and dont know what to do with powering the lights on the gauge. I saw in a different thread powering it through the radio wire or light switch wire but how? If anyone can guide me or show me a picture that would be much appreciated.

 

[RegalT-type85]

You can tap into the radio power and find a ground or the brown wire in back of the dimmer switch. I tapped into the dimmer, works with lamp switch. basic E tape, soldier if you want or twist tops. Wire it up and your good to good.

 

[TtypeTony]

Thanks, im gonna try and hook it up with the dimmer wire that way able to control the lights, just did not know which color wire to tap into.

 

[TtypeTony]

So I got my everything working but when I replaced the oil sending unit with the new one for the gauge, the old plug/sensor is just hanging there and the engine light is on. Im pretty sure that is why the light is on but can anyone confirm this. Also what should I do with the plug/sensor and the three wires coming from it. I cut off the original plug/connector from the water sender on top of the intake and put the wires together to complete the circuit, should I do the same with the oil?

 

[novaderrik]

there is no need to cut or splice any stock wiring to hook up the gauges- you can just tie the gauge light wires together and plug them in to one of the open slots on the fuse box that says "lamps". while you are down by the fuse box, you can tie the power leads together and plug them into and open "IGN" slot on the fuse box.

 

[novaderrik]

So I got my everything working but when I replaced the oil sending unit with the new one for the gauge, the old plug/sensor is just hanging there and the engine light is on. Im pretty sure that is why the light is on but can anyone confirm this. Also what should I do with the plug/sensor and the three wires coming from it. I cut off the original plug/connector from the water sender on top of the intake and put the wires together to complete the circuit, should I do the same with the oil?

why did you even touch the temps sender on top of the intake? that is the one that tells the computer how warm the engine is- with the two wires tied together like you did, the computer will now think the engine is either dead cold or running way hot (i forget how that works). either way is far from optimal. you need that sensor hooked back up.
put the gauge sender into the hole on the front of the intake that has a sender with a single green wire.
the oil light shouldn't come on with the wire unplugged- mine was unhooked for the first 4 years i had the car until i unhooked the mechanical gauge and put a stock replacement sending unit back in.

ok, re-reading you post again- you engine light is on because of the way you bypassed the stock temp sending unit.

 

[TtypeTony]

Thanks for the reply guys, I got everything working now just nuclear hot out here on the east coast. Dont really want to drive the car at all. Thanks again.

 

[O SO LO]

I put a Tee fitting in mine intake manifold and run both temp senders-- one for the gauge and the original for the ECM... my .02

 

[UncleDave]

I did what novaderrik said, and also attached the ground to an existing ground screw in the center console under the ash tray. Dunno if that's optima,l but it was easy and seems to work.