dash illumination wire
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Teching In
Joined: Sep 2011
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From: League City, TX
dash illumination wire Does anyone know which color wire is the dash illumination wire? I am installing three autometer gauges and just want to make sure I wire them up correctly.
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 11,328
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From: Jacksonville, FL (originally from Toronto Canada)
No. The use of the orange wire (or orange/white wire) is specific to the harness adapter used to connect aftermarket head units to the factory wiring. It has nothing to do with the factory illumination wires in the dash. In fact, orange is generally used by GM for battery constant power.
Depending on whether you want simple on/off power with the lights or you want variable power to dim with the instrument cluster, you will use brown (on/off) or grey (dimmer) wires from the factory wiring. Both colors are used for other functions in some areas so always check with a test light or multimeter or make sure you locate the wire where you're sure it is connected to lighting (e.g. back of the headlight switch).
Depending on whether you want simple on/off power with the lights or you want variable power to dim with the instrument cluster, you will use brown (on/off) or grey (dimmer) wires from the factory wiring. Both colors are used for other functions in some areas so always check with a test light or multimeter or make sure you locate the wire where you're sure it is connected to lighting (e.g. back of the headlight switch).
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 11
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From: League City, TX
So, I got all three gauges wired up, started her up and after a minute or so, I lost illumination in one of the gauges. I only lost illumination as the voltmeter gauge still works. I am thinking that I overloaded the circuit and it is drawing too many amps for that third gauge. I hooked up all three to the brown wire on the parking lights. Anyone have suggestions on how to get the illumination back? All fuses are good, all grounds are good. I can't be rolling around with two of three gauges that light up hahaha!! I mean it, I really can't, someone give me a suggestion, please!
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Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 11,328
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From: Jacksonville, FL (originally from Toronto Canada)
I doubt your diagnosis is correct. If all three gauges have their illumination wired to the same parking light wire, it is not possible that two would work and the third wouldn't because of too much current draw. An overload would either blow a fuse or cause all of the lights on that circuit to dim depending on whether you wired in parallel or series.
Since only one light is affected, you should check the things that are unique to that light. Check both the power and ground wires for loose or broken connections. Check that the bulb hasn't burned out - you can swap a bulb from one of the other gauges to test that.
Since only one light is affected, you should check the things that are unique to that light. Check both the power and ground wires for loose or broken connections. Check that the bulb hasn't burned out - you can swap a bulb from one of the other gauges to test that.
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Verdad Gallardo Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 11
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From: League City, TX
I have checked those things with that one gauge and everything is good. It does have illumination when I hooked it into the grey wire but it is much dimmer and yes, the dim is all the way up and it just is not as bright. When I turn the parking lights on, the illumination quickly comes on and then off so not really sure now as far as what to do.......
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 11,328
Likes: 345
From: Jacksonville, FL (originally from Toronto Canada)
It wouldn't matter - all the parking/running lights and fog lights are on the same circuit so the available power is the same whether it's going to a side marker light, the tail lights or the fog lights.
The problem is with that one gauge not the power source.
The problem is with that one gauge not the power source.
