Just about to wire in some gauges as i have the day off tomorrow. Never done this before so not sure where the best places to wire them into the loom are.

I will need a Ignition live, earth and light live as well. Assuming I will just run the light earth to the same earthing point?

These are going into a centre vent gauge pod on a mk2 orion so the same as a S2 escort.

Any advise gratefully received

 

fag lighter (if it's ignition switched) has everything you need

 

Now thats an Idea Although as you say it might well have a perminant live

 

mathewwebber hows it goin, sorted ur cold start problem?

OK, the fag lighter is permantantly live. I would probably tap it off the blower switch (which conventiently is right below ), and you will also find there is an illumination supply plug on the panel aswell for the heater control symbols (grey/yellow wire). All the earths indeed can go together

 

Hi chap,

Yeah all sorted, it was just the ECT sensor, changed that and it driven like a dream ever since Did think about asking you directly about this as you seem to be the man who is clued up about it all

The heater panel is a good idea for the light live thought im not sure if mine works as it never seems to light up. Ill have to see as it could be the bulbs or maybe this was never wired in when the efi loom was fitted as its not exactly essential.

When you say blower do u mean the switch thats on the heater panel? which wire is that? Would that also give me an earth?

The other thing that has entered my mind is fuses, will wiring to these circuits over load them?

 

Ah right so it was that sensor simple things, big problems

Feel free to ask away if ever you need to (everyone else does )

You'll probably find the bulbs are gone, the EFI loom has the plug standard all MK4's have that plug (it is an EFI XR3i loom isn't it)

Yes, the blower switch, it will be black/red (the one in the MIDDLE as there are 2). The only circuit of concern really will be the illumination wiring as its very thin but if its a few gauges it will be fine.

There isn't an earth on the heater switch, as you probably know the car body is earth, so put a ring terminal on and screw it up somewhere, you will probably see the earth for the stereo wiring screwed up, or just use the earth in the illumination wiring at last resort

 

So just tack the earths to the stereo earth then

Thats great many thanks chap, I will let you no how i got on

The sensor is the best £15 i have ever spent! Not only did it make the thing work with the chip but its now so much more resposive and my fuel economy has nearly doubled! It used to cost me £50+ to drive to Cornwall from here but i did it for £30 the other week Paid for itself just on the one trip

 

You could do that if you like, i myself am not a fan of joining wires onto wires etc, but im just a fussy cunt

How many and what gauges are you fitting anyway

Hmmmmmm, ive got a lot of spare EFI parts for my conversion, i may well buy a new sensor now though

 

My advise would be swap it for new as its so cheap really cant hurt

I am fitting oil pressure, water temp and volts. I already have a boost gauge fitted that lives where the fuel computer used to. I was thinking of tacking onto that one but then it isnt electical so would only have the illumination wiring.

I was think more that i would attach it to the same earth screw that the stereo earths to. that what you meant is it?

 

I will get a new one i think ive got to order a FRST IAT anyway

How come u removed the fuel computer? No offence but ive seen SO many boost gauges cobbled into that shocking coin tray i think it looks awful, unless you have a custom surrounds like the ones Twins does Glad to see you've bought a oil pressure gauge, best money u can spend.

Ah i see what you mean, i did mean on with the screw, but i can't remember where they screw on the MK4's ive got a feeling you wont be able to get at it.

 

I didnt fit it there, one of the previous owners did. Not where I would have fitted it personally but i suppose once the efi engine went in it wasnt going to work anyway. Its on a carbon effect sheet and doesn't look too bad although I need to sort it again as it came out to fit the alarm and hasnt been put back 100% right.

Managed to borrow a soldering iron (Cheers Alex) but its a long way from my house to the car so will need a large extension or a 12v one anyway

 

Heres a snap of the interior in its current form

 

Ahhh, you see, not a lot of people know this but you can run a fuel computer with EFI, why there are so little EFI cars with the fuel computers im not sure. I did not so long ago stumble across a genuine EFI fuel computer loom (first one ive EVER seen) and ive been looking for abour 5-6 years!!!!!!!!!!

I'd stick with the mains soldering iron, 12v ones aren't so good IMO, Gas ones are excellent

Interior is tidy, although not wanting to piss on your chips i don't like the red re-trim on the front seats

 

To be honest I am not the biggest fan either but until i get some 90 spec recaros they will have to do.

The fuel computer was available for the efi orion ghia It uses a different loom and sensors though does it?

 

Indeed it was..............the loom is completely different, it daisy chains up with the speed sensor on the gearbox the EFI uses, and connects to the main loom and gets the injector pulse duty cycle to calculate the fuel side

 

Well I didnt manage to find a portable soldering iron in town at a good price. Halfords had a gas one but no gas for it

I soldered them together though so its just a case of connecting the three wires to the loom and the fitting the senders. I have been offered the loan of a friends portable one so hopefully ill get a chance to get them done at the weekend.

 

Hang on hang are you taking the piss



You can use normal lighter fluid in the soldering irons, or if you are picky and prefer it to say butane refill for soldering irons then Maplin sell it

 

Yes slightly! My mind must have been on other things

Yeah Maplin sell them as do alot of places online but it didnt help me this afternoon Ill probably borrow my mates one or order one online and save myself some dosh

 

Ive got an Antex one, i'd say i bought it........6/7????? years ago, ive put one new tip on it, and thats it, that thing has had A LOT of use, not even a big one either and its excellent, i had another gas one before and that was FUCKINGGGGGG SHIT.

My mains soldering iron is antex too, i reckon ive had that 10+ years, never changed the tip ever, still like new and that thing has had ridiculous amounts of use including being left one for weeks at a time