a/f guage hookup

[DavidT]

I'm awaiting my guage pod from spmotorsports (on backorder)
I ordered an a/f guage from Summit for like $25. I have researched this and I know its NOT useful according to most people. However, $ is the most contributing factor here (I know... why then, in the world, did I buy a blown sho? )
Anywho,
I understand it doesn't splice into the actual 02 sensor. So, how do I get to the wire that I splice into? Through the glovebox? I need details please

 

[CheckerSHO]

My car came with one already in a 3-gauge pod....but it stayed on rich so i started investigating and found out noone ever bothered to hook it up to the signal wire (doh). so what i did on my car...is unplugged the rear 02 sensor and brought the harness up so i could work on it....looked at a wiring diagram and found out which one was the signal. Then i cut the wire and used a heat-shrinking butt connector to put the orignal wires back together + an extra wire out one end then crimped and heat shrinked it. Then i hooked the extra wire to the lead to the a/f meter. This may not be the best way....there are other ways. Including, the wire tap connectors that clamp over the wire(worst solution) or soldering and heat-shrinking (best way). Soldering and heat shrinking requires taking the connector end apart....which can be tricky and risky given the brittle nature of the connectors on vehicles this old. Hope this helps, makes sense, and didn't run on too bad

 

[Camarok]

linky


I had a post on the old forum with a bunch of info on a/f gauges, but I can't find it now.... hope that works!

 

[DavidT]

ok, so where do you tap into the 02 sensor if NOT at the sensor itself? (where does the wire lead to? the computer in the glovebox?)
Why is it NOT adviseable to splice into the wire at the 02 sensor wire connector?

 

[CheckerSHO]

ok, so where do you tap into the 02 sensor if NOT at the sensor itself? (where does the wire lead to? the computer in the glovebox?)
Why is it NOT adviseable to splice into the wire at the 02 sensor wire connector?

well you dont want to mess with the wires between the sensor and the connector, because 1)if you change the sensor, you have to re-wire it and 2)tampering with those wires can mean a malfunctioning 02 sensor, because some sensors get their oxygen sample thru the wires themselves. So, its best to tap into the wiring in the car's harness. The wire you are tapping into does indeed go to the PCM....but the PCM connector is outside behind the rear valve cover on passenger side, and is a pain in the **** to get to, so its easier to just do all the tapping down where the 02 sensor plugs in IMO.