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Old 19 Jul 2003, 01:32 am
Dalite Dalite is offline
Fanatic Cruiser
 
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Brunswick, Georgia, USA.
Posts: 518
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I think the orange wire should be able to handle the current for the gauge lights. The fuse would power the lights at full brightness whenever the headlights were on.

Sounds like the mounting location you found by the PCM is ideal; close to where you tap for the vacuum/boost input, as well as the pass-through grommet in the firewall.

I hate to tap into a wiring harness. However, when I do have to, for simplicity I use a "T Tap". It is like a scotch-lock, only it makes a female spade connection to accept a shrouded male spade lug. This gives you the option to daisy chain more than one connection from only 1 intrusion on the harness.

The absolute best way would be to cut out a 1/2" section of insulation, wrap the new wire around the exposed harness wire, solder and tape. However, unless you are used to making quick solder joints with high temp and heatsinking both sides of the solder joint to avoid melting insulation in close places; this can get messy. Also, unless you use a good quality electrical tape, there is always the possibility of it losing it's adhesive and sliding off the connection due to the effects of heat and vibration.

You can also cut the wire, and use butt connectors and crimper to add a new wire to the circuit. If you chose this route, I would suggest covering the crimped butt connector using a long enough piece of heat shrink tubing to extend at least 3/8" beyond each end of the crimps.

I tend to over-complicate my installations, and try to make them withstand more than normal punishment.

I would really like to see Chrysler provide tap points for switched power (RUN, ACC, ACC/RUN), constant power, 12 volts when lights are on, variable illimination power (tied to lamp dimmer on stalk), alarm output pulse, etc.

Since this is now both a tuner car, and one designed to reach the accessorizing oriented market, they should treat it as such. The more times you have to tap into the harness by piercing the insulation of one of it's wires, the bigger chance you take on creating an electrical problem down the line.
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