Installing A/F Gauge

[Mike's89AccordLX]

Alright I think I have a pretty good idea on how to do this, but I just want to make sure I have it right. I have the Autometer Air/Fuel Gauge #4375. It has a purple wire (goes to O2 sensor), red wire (positive wire), and a black wire (ground). I'm going to buy some wire loom and a 5amp fuse holder to have a fuse on the red wire. I'm going to hook the red wire up to a yello wire under the dash. Is any yellow wire sufficient? (I was also told a black wire w/white stripe would work). I'm going to follow the O2 sensor wires to a place that would be easy to tap into with the purple wire. I guess I will just tap the ground wire into any ground wire that's easy to get to.

[A20A1]

Tapping the O2 sensor wire doesn't work too well... I'm sorry if I mentioned to do that.
Just unplug the O2 sensor and use bullet connectors... near to the lower front motor mount. That way you can swap between using the guage and letting the car use the sensor.
If you have them both connected the drop in the voltage signal is significan't enough that you'll get funny readings.

I would wait to double check before connecting the red wire to a suspected On with ignition wire. I never used one from under the dash thats why.

[A20A1]

Another option is hook the red wire to a seperate on/off switch and connect the red wire to the battery. then put the fuse as close to the positive terminal as you can. maybe like 3" is good.

[Elijah]

I got the air/fuel by autometer part#3375 but mine has the same color wires I was wondering how to hook it up just never had time to check it out yet.

[Mike's89AccordLX]

I have no idea what bullet connectors are Mike. I like the idea of having an on/off switch. I'll talk to some shops tomorrow for advice. I want to install this tomorrow.

[Elijah]

Mike's89 is yours the same as mine just with difforent part #

[Mike's89AccordLX]

yeah I think so.

[Mike's89AccordLX]

Where would a good ground connection be? I was thinking maybe I could hook it up to the valvecover. I'm confused now on the O2 sensor now. Bullet connectors?

[Elijah]

You could ground it to almost anything find something nere where ur mounting it.

[A20A1]

I grounded my wire to the intake manifold close to the fire wall. there were plenty of holes for a bolt after i removed all the vacuum crap.

the valve cover may be a better choice. you'll just need a longer wire.
anywho a bullet connector is sort of like a spark plug wire and a spark plug, in the way that they connect together.

[Mike's89AccordLX]

Is there these bullet connectors at the other end of the O2 sensor? Like in this picture there was the O2 sensor then on the other end there were 3 little things. Are those bullet connectors? Or do I have to buy them? Should I just find the same size wires if I need to extend them? I still don't really understand where you want me to hook up the purple wire. Thanks for all your help.

[A20A1]

wait never mind it uses a regular plastic clip connector.
what you should do it cut off the plastic connector, leave about 1" of wire with the connector. then strip the wire on the O2 sensor side and add one side of the bullet connector... go to radio shack and tell them you want one and they will point it out.

the other side of the bullet connector you add to the purple wire. then you just plug the O2 wire into the Purple wire.

You'll need a crimping tool or a pair of pliers to crimp the bullet connectors to the wire. You'll also need a wire stripper or a knife to strip the insulation off the wire from the area you instert into the connector.



If you want to be simple just strip the ends and splice the wires together, but the other way is much cleaner and has less chances for the wire to break apart later on.

[A20A1]

Anyways this is what a bulletconnector is.
2 metal connectors one female the other is male
and they have a plastic casing.
on the other end they each have a crimping part that you stick your striped wire end thru so you can crimp the connector on.

[2old_honda]

you might want to get a new o2 sensor for a more accurate reading. (assuming the one on your car is the original, or several years old)

[2old_honda]

Do not run a wire all the way into the engine bay for the ground. that is completely unnecessary. If you did that you will run the risk of picking up outside "noise" that could affect your gauges accuracy. Find a bolt under the dash that is connected to the fire wall, sand off the paint underneath it to expose the bare metal and crimp on a connector that you can bolt down under the bolt.

For the o2 sensor wire use a shielded wire directly from the o2 sensor all the way up to the gauge for the best possible accuracy. Keep the wire away from the cap and spark plug wires.

[Mike's89AccordLX]

Alright, I have some of those bullet connectors. Just didn't know they were called that. Ok lets see if I understand it all now... I cut that plastic connector off (I know what that is ) And then I splice one of the wires. (which one is the O2 wire? When I put my headers on it looked like 2 wires together) And then put a bullet connector on the wire closest to the O2 sensor. Then put the other side of the bullet connector on the purple wire and connect them. I plan to get some wire loom probably 1/16" or 1/8" (I'll have to see them first) What I don't understand still is what do you do with the other wire (O2 wire). Do I just leave it or tap it up and leave it. And about 2 years ago I did have a new O2 sensor installed as well. I plan to do the switch idea A20A1 suggested b/c then I won't have to mess with wires under the dash. When I was messing around in the engine I did see that there was a place on the manifold for me to put the ground wire. Would that be ok or is that too hot? I'm custom making a gauge holder. PVC pipe (not like in the how-to's though) It has a 90 degree bend and has a little extension that fits the gauge perfectly. I used my heatgun and heated up one end and made a lip big enough to put screws in it. Now all I will have to do is mould it to the A-pillar and paint it. Oh and put some Autometer stickers on the PVC pipe so it doesn't look weird.

[A20A1]

Having the wire on the engine would put less distance between the sensor and the guage, but do keep it away from the battery coil and spark plug wires, and don't use the same ground location as other wires.

As for sticking it on the manifold
The heat will add resistance... but there wasn't any difference when I connected it near the drivers side strut tower

[89accordlxi]

Where are you guys getting the A/F guages at? I'm looking to buy one but don't know where.

Peace

[Mike's89AccordLX]

I got the part # from autometer site and went to a local shop and bought it there. I bought 10' of wire loom, 5 amp fuse holder w/fuse, switch with little led, 25ft of 22 gauge wire. What my question is, I will have to extend the purple wire to go to the O2 sensor, what wire will I use to extend that? Can I just use the same type of power wire that I'm using to go to the battery? I looked in the haynes manual for info on the O2 sensor and I still need to know which wire I have to use ( I think there are two wires ) Thanks again.

[Mike's89AccordLX]

Alright I looked at the sensor and there is one wire. So that answers one of my questions. I think I have everything I would need to install this now. I think I have one more question inaddition to the purple wire extension, do you drill into the A-pillar or what? How do you hide the wires inside the car.

[Mike's89AccordLX]

Alright I just got done with sanding the PVC pipe that I have. I just realized that I need to get some self-taping screws. What length of screws do you guys suggest?

[skaterjunky8]

What O2 censor do you tap into? Is it the one on the header? If so which one is it if you have two?

[Mike's89AccordLX]

You don't tap into it I guess. Your supposed to cut it and hook the A/F gauge wire up to the wire that goes to the O2 sensor. I think the FI models have two sensors and I don't think it matters what sensor you use but I would ask someone that has a gauge that has a FI model accord. And yes it is the one on the header.

[2old_honda]

I dont understand why you guys are grounding stuff to your engine. The ground wire should be as short as possible for the least resistance (close to the gauge). Ground the gauge inside the car, not in the engine bay! It is the same principal as installing audio amplifiers, a short ground connected directly to the chassis.

[Mike's89AccordLX]

Well I have to ground the gauge and my led switch. I'm going to look for places under the dash.