problem with wiring in autometer gauges.

Hello I'm new to the forum thank you for accepting me. My names aj I have a 2012 double cab tacoma 2.7L turd. I bought autometer gauges a oil temp and pressure gauge. Carbon fiber to match the factory face gauges, I installed a sandwich plate between the oil filter and engine. I then used the sensor ports in the sandwich adapter plate for the temp sensor and oil pressure sending unit. Ran a 14g wire to the gauges through firewall grommet with both sending unit and temperature sensor in the S location on my gauges. I used the ground next to the battery for both gauges and ran through firewall. I used a fuse tap on the interior fuse panel, (ignition) fuse 15 amp and the (gauge) fuse I believe 10 Amp for my 12v power source. They won't work for some odd reason am I missing something or doing step wrong? Any insight appreciated. Can post pics tomorrow if need be. Thanks in advanced

 

Recheck your power and ground connections. The senders are powered through the 12v to the gauge. You need 12v to the gauge with the engine running. (test light grounded at the gauge ground)

 

Ok I belive my problem was i used too much teflon Cause I was worried about it leaking more then working. So I ran another 14g wire from both sending units oil (pressure) and (temp) to the engine ground near the starter. I hooked up the gauges and they both pegged automatically with engine off but key is on. I'm baffled at this point is it because I have them both on the same ground? Thanks guys for all your help.

 

Are these electric gauges or mechanical? If electric, is it possible you have the signal wires crossed between the two gauges?

 

Yes they are electric air core short sweep gauges I believe. Oil pressure and temp. I have both wires labeled with tape so I didn't get them confused when I ran them and put through the firewall. The ground wire and sensor wire are touching if that matters cause I have 2 wires coming from each sending unit. I was assuming my original problem was that, from overlapping the threads with teflon to thick on my sending units they weren't grounded.

 

Too much teflon tape could insulate the sender from your adapter. The senders "ground" through the adapter.

The following is from AutoMeters installation instructions:
"CAUTION: Do not touch ignition wire to the sender (S) terminal on back of gauge or the sender may be damaged.) That would also apply to touching the ground wires and sender wires together at the senders.

If I read this correctly, your ground and sensor wire are touching. If so, and the gauges "pegged" when 12v was applied, you may have damaged the sender(s).

If I were you, I would totally remove the teflon tape from one of the senders (oil pressure). Insure that the sender wire is attached to the "S" terminal on the back of the gauge. Apply 12v to the "I" terminal on the back of the gauge. Run separate ground from gauge (confirm 12v and ground with a test lamp). With power, the gauge should "zero", if it does, start truck and confirm oil pressure. If not, you may have damaged the sender(s).

 

Ok I'll do that and let you all know how it goes thanks Jbrnigan. So to be clear I don't need a ground on the senders should I remove the teflon and use maybe some gasket maker like ultra black So it doesn't leak. Thanks again man it's all so much appreciated I'm pretty mechanically inclined but I hate wiring.

 

The sender's can still be grounded while also using tape. Put tape on just top of threads and leave some threads bare for good contact.

 

Thanks guys and BTW all ground and power connections are checked with a power probe 3 I'll do that and report back

 

Keep going, OP. You'll find it. Great info so far.

 

The senders "ground" through contact with your adaptor. Grounding at the gauge, completes the ground circuit. My suggestion to reinstall them without the teflon tape, was to eliminate the possibility of them being insulated from "grounding" by the tape...... If, after removing the teflon tape the gauge "works", then you can either re-tape the sender, or, not. The senders on my VDO gauges are 1/8NPT threaded and not sealed with teflon tape, because they have a slight taper, they don't leak or even seep FWIW.

 

Make sure the center bolt is tight, holding the sandwich plate.

I've got one, and if the bolt is even slightly loose, my gauge won't read.

Everything must be tight to make a proper/secure ground connection.

 

It will probably leak.....I used thread locker on the attaching adapter (years ago) and it has never loosened.

 

Alright guys j got it working the dam teflon tape was stopping the ground from working crazy something that little stopped the gauges from working. Thanks for all the help guys now I just got to get them mounted in my cravenspeed gauge pods the connectors stick out to far and hit the dash. Anybody got any pics of their electrical connection set ups in the back with a cravenspeed dual pod

 

Are you able to solder the sending units on these gauges? My gauges are grounded and such, reason I ask is cause I don't want any problems again with the ground later. they're working fine now but every now and then gauges get a little jumpy assuming the ground is the cause, it's been my problem this whole time. sort of a perfectionist so my idea is to solder a connector to each of the sending units with low heat and run a wire to a ground. Just curious if anybody has done it or anyting I will leave well enough alone if need be lol. I just couldn't help but think of that being a better way for the ground. Thanks guys

 

Your gauge works with a variable ground from the sender. A "ground wire" would just bypass the sender, and peg the needle on your gauge.

 

If you removed the teflon tape from the sending units and determined that was the issue. Do not "re-tape" the sending units and watch them for a few weeks for seepage or leaking (make sure they are "snug" in the adapter). If you continue to have what you call "jumpy" gauges, it's not likely the ground at the sender, but at the gauge. My VDO senders have "never" been taped or sealed with any thread "sealer" for "years", with out a leak.
Also, soldering anything to sender will likely "void" any warranty from AutoMeter, if that matters to you.

 

Makes sense that's exactly what happened when I ran a extra wire from gauge originally.