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Gauges Upgrade and EL Highlighting We install an A-pillar gauge pod and discover a new use for cup-holders. From "Tricked Out" episode DTRK-213

(Continued from page 2)

Send Units and Connections

The next phase of the project is to install the send units in their appropriate locations under the hood and establish their connections.

Use a utility knife to cut a hole in the grommet in the firewall and push a grabber tool through to the interior of the car. It helps to have a friend to hook the wires on the end of the tool and guide them through the grommet as you pull them into the engine bay (figure A).With the wires under the hood, it's time to start hooking things up.

Air-Temperature Sensor

The first thing to hook up is the air-temperature sensor (figure B). In the Accord, it's best to put this right before the throttle body.

Figure A

Figure B

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• Mount the air-temperature sensor on the backside of the short-ram intake pipe. First, mark the location where the air-temperature sensor will fit, and then remove the air intake by loosening the band clamp at the filter end (figure C) and remove the air filter.

• Pull off the vacuum line and then loosen the clamp on the other side, and take the pipe to a workbench for drilling.

• Clamp it to the workbench and use a punch or a large nail to mark the hole (figure D).

  Figure C

  Figure D

  
  

• Drill a 3/8-inch hole for the center grommet.

• Once the hole is drilled, unclamp the pipe (figure E) and clean it thoroughly to remove all of the metal shavings.

  Important: Metal shavings left at this location could get sucked inside the engine where they could damage cylinder walls and bearings. Be sure to clean the pipe thoroughly, inside and out.

• Pop the rubber grommet into the hole, and then go back to the car and reinstall the pipe (figure F).

  Figure E

  Figure F

  
  

• Solder the blue, red, and black wires to the wires coming from the gauge and then seal the connections with heat-shrink tubing (figure G) and wrap them with split-loom tubing for protection.

• Finish up by inserting the temperature sensor into the new grommet (figure H) and securing any loose wires.

  Figure G

  Figure H

  
  

  	Figure I
  	Figure J
  	Figure K

Tricked Out Factoid: Measuring air/fuel ratio helps tuners find a perfect mixture of 14 parts air to 1 part fuel.

• The wires for this gauge should be dropped through the back of the engine, and the car will need to be lifted up on jack stands. In the V6 Accord, the air sensor is located right in front of the catalytic converter.

• Cut the protective sleeve that covers the sensor wires (figure I) and isolate the oxygen sensor output lead. A service manual will tell you which wire to look for.

• Carefully remove about one-quarter-inch of insulation from the wire (figure J) and wrap the new sensor lead wire around it.

• Solder the connection carefully and then wrap it with electrical tape and replace the protective sleeve.

• Connect the long black ground wire from the air fuel gauge to a good solid ground point on the engine block near the sensor (figure K).
  

The new oil pressure gauge comes with its own sending unit, which needs to be T'd off the factory oil-pressure port so as not to disturb the original systems. The port is located right next to the oil filter behind the front passenger side wheel.

• First, remove the factory sending unit. Use a 7mm socket to remove the factory sending unit wire located just above the oil filter (figure L). Remove the stock sender (figure M), and use a rag at the opening to slow down any leaking oil.

  Figure L

  Figure M

  
  

  Figure N

• Remove the rag and install a male-to-male NPT adapter to the sender fitting.

• Add a T-fitting to the male adapter (figure N).
  

• Screw the new sender onto the end of the T-fitting (figure O) and tighten it from behind with an adjustable wrench leaving the remaining T opening facing the rear of the car (figure P).

  Figure O

  Figure P

  
  

• Thread the factory sender into the remaining opening on the T-fitting and tighten it securely (figure Q).

• Reattach the factory sending unit wire and replace the dust cover (figure R).

  Figure Q

  Figure R

  
  

  Figure S

• Finally, cut and strip the end of the orange wire from the new gauge and attach it to the new oil pressure sending unit with an eyelet connector (figure S).

• When all your connections are made it's a good idea to start the car and check for any leaks. When everything checks out, put the wheel back on and lower the car off the jack stands.
  

  	Figure T
  	Figure U
  	Figure V
  	Figure W

  Power Supply to Gauges

  The last phase of the project is to hook up the power supply to the newly installed gauges. In terms of wiring, each gauge requires three things: a switch-power lead that only supplies power when the ignition key is on, a connection point that only supplies power when the dash lights are on and a ground. The Accord's fuse panel has extra terminals to supply all the power you'll need for the gauges (figure T).

  • Start by adding a spade connector to one of the power leads, which will run to the terminal in the fuse box. The other power leads will branch off of this main, so cut away the excess length and strip the ends.

  • Expose one-quarter inch of the wire by stripping back the insulation in three places and wrap the incoming wires around it.

  • Solder these for a secure connection (figure U), and then let them cool and tape each one tightly.

  • If you're installing fewer gauges or there are only two wires to combine just twist them together and attach a spade connector to the end.

  • The ground wires are last. They tie together and get an eyelet connector (figure V) that will attach to a solid ground point in the car.

  • To finish up, attach all of the connections to the fuse panel (figure W) and secure the ground to a nearby bolt.

  The Bottom Line:

  $320 gauges and sensors
  $25 A-pillar pod
  $35 casting resin
  $20 EL wire
  $50 wiring supplies

  Total = $450
  
  
  

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  RESOURCES :
  

  Racing Innovations, Inc.
  We apologize no contact information is available.
  

  Streetglow Inc.
  www.streetglow.com
  

  Nordskog Performance Products
  www.nordskogperformance.com
  

  
  Sport Compact Bolt-On Performance Guide: Import Cars (Sport Compact Bolt-On Performance Guides)
  Author: Joe Pettitt
  Order this book from Amazon.com.
  Voyageur Press (October 2000)
  ISBN: 1884089526
  

  
  Honda & Acura Performance Handbook (Performance Handbooks)
  Author: Mike Ancas
  Order this title from Amazon.com.
  June, 1999
  Publisher: Motorbooks International
  ISBN: 0760306699
  

  
  Honda/Acura Engine Performance: How to Modify D, B and H Series Honda/Acura Engines for Street and Drag Racing Performance
  Author: Mike Kojima
  Order this title from Amazon.com.
  April 2002
  Publisher: HP Books
  ISBN: 155788384X
  

  
  Honda/Acura Performance Handbook: High Performance Modifications for Street and Drag Racing Applications
  by the editors of Sport Compact Car Magazine
  Order this title from Amazon.com.
  November 1999
  Publisher: HP Books
  ISBN: 1557883246
  

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  ALSO IN THIS EPISODE:
  	Gauges Upgrade and EL Highlighting