Gauges

[Mr Funk]

Does anyone understand the wiring for additional gauges (oil temp, pressure and volt). I'm okay with electrics but would rather have someone guide me than hack wires apart.

Also, any advise about the sender parts would be most appreciated.

[Funky Diver]

Any particular make of guage or just a general set?

In my experience... there would be 3 (or four if there's illumination) connections on the guage.

12v live - comes on from a ignition live source
Earth - self explanatory
Source - generally from a sender that you have installed - so for Oil, it'd be an oil pressure sender, water again a water temperature sender. Voltage is usually the only one that is just a connection that is made as close to the battery positive as possible to get a decent reading. For the voltage one, I've always run a seperate earth from the battery terminals also, as the car (ie from where the earth is connected to the battery) ends up incidentally being a component in the circuit.
Lights - added into the dash lamps if you have them available.

The rest is down to how OCD you are about wiring, I tend to rewrap the loom, but I'm a fussy bugger when it comes to wiring, had too many incidents in the past where the wiring has caused a LOT of damage just by not being protected enough. Plus, I'm a sad sack and like it to be neat and tidy

[Mr Funk]

Hmmmm. It's a set from an S2 so I reckon I'm going to end up stripping the wiring as I'll take out the stuff that isn't needed.
Oil temp/pressure wise I'll order a sender today I think, where's best? Was wondering if it was possible to splice into the oil temp wiring that goes to the mfa.

[Nate]

Was wondering if it was possible to splice into the oil temp wiring that goes to the mfa.

oil temp and pressure will require senders matched to the gauge. you may be able to remove a blank from the top of the oil filter head, or you'll have to get an adaptor to stick more than 1 sensor in 1 hole

[Mr Funk]

Like one of these?
http://www.etbinstruments.com/Sensors_ancillaries.htm

[Funky Diver]

Pretty much, but make sure you get hte right one (5 bar and 10 bar matches to the guages)

You can also get TBar fittings to make existing connections double, I forget where I saw them, but they weren't expensive. Will drop the link in here if I find it.

[Joe87]

I found these links helpful when I was doing mine:
http://66.102.9.132/search?q=cache:http ... auges.html
http://forum.performancevwmag.com/viewtopic.php?t=37974

They tell you the correct colour coding and things as well.
As for splicing the oil temp gauge into the MFA, if you mean having them both connected to the same sender, I was told that you can't do that. Something to do with the MFA seeing the resistance of the gauge and giving an incorrect reading. So it would be either/or unless you got a t-piece adapter.

[jbo]

I found these links helpful when I was doing mine:
http://66.102.9.132/search?q=cache:http ... auges.html
http://forum.performancevwmag.com/viewtopic.php?t=37974

They tell you the correct colour coding and things as well.
As for splicing the oil temp gauge into the MFA, if you mean having them both connected to the same sender, I was told that you can't do that. Something to do with the MFA seeing the resistance of the gauge and giving an incorrect reading. So it would be either/or unless you got a t-piece adapter.

I had the same problem, either or. I just ran the gauge one, not the mfa.

They are really easy to install. You just need to get the vdo sender with the twin pole. Mine were also from an s2 and were 5 bar.

I got mine with the whole loom but scrapped it and made my own up.

Jason