RPM Tech Installation
 

Hey, I just bought a RPM tech... lunar series w/shift light. And I know I needed the adapter so I bought that too... my only problem is, how do I exactly install it? I know where the wires should go, but I don't know where those wires are... for example the dash lighting and ignition switch, im not sure where and which wire is which... So i was looking for good instructions or websites with great detailed instructions..

When i install my gauges, i alway look at the back of my haynes manual at the wiring diagrams and that tells me which wire is the dash lightning or an ignition source. some people wire to their fuse box under the driverside dash. Good luck with the TACH install.

Same here i go by the wiring diagrams in the haynes manuals as well. thats how i did my white faced guages. and every other thing i add like nitrous etc..

You can tap into the dimmer on your dash lights by pulling the dimmer out and splicing into (IIRC check the haynes manual to be sure) the black wire w/ purple stripe. That'll give you the ability to dim your guage lights along with your dash lights. Kinda a neat touch.

For main power consult your haynes manual. I run mine off the #1 lighter which isn't a lighter anymore anyway (it's a power source for guages and radar detector and GPS, and I set it up with a toggle switch so I can turn off my guages while driving if it becomes appropriate.

Thats pretty kool and a good idea, well to be honest, I have never heard of the word haynes before. But I did check my manual for the car and I found the fuse box and which fuse goes to what. If I wanted to go through the fuse box, how would I do that? Which would be better, splice it through the wires or the fuse box, I know people who have done both *not technically for a tach but other accessories.* I know one for a tach that went through the fuse box.

if there's an unused slot, it's fine but kinda a PITA. I would not tap power from other systems if you don't know what all they interact with. If you have an aftermarket amplifier, you can tap off of that as those usually have an ignition switched line drawn for them when you have it professionally installed.

I've seen replacement fuses just for that, autozone or maybe another part store might have them. but yeah, know what you tap into first, you don't want to draw power from something important. do you know of a chilton manual, almost the same has haynes, i have both. In my 95 GT, i tapped into the cd player hot wire and ground. make sure you wire it correctly and not in the way of your feet, pedals or anything else that my tug on it, you don't want anything going in and out while you are driving.

one more note... if you're going to tap off a system that runs high draw items, make sure you up the fuse rating by 5amps. If you draw too much current with the stock amp setting it'll blow constantly and you'll really hate life while you try to figure out the problem.

okay what if I use an unused slot? that's not tapping off something else...

then pick a fuse of appropriate amperage rating. Find out if you have to run a hot line to the fuse box or if it's a powered fuse box, make +12v appear there if needed, and run your wires.

im new to wiring things to the fuse box... so how can I find out if the fuse box is powered or not and when you say make +12V appear, you mean just write it there or do you mean add another battery to it. Because I thought if its in the fuse box then its going to use the main car battery....

hate to do this to you but since you don't know, you shouldn't attempt it. You can seriously damage sensitive electrical components if you don't know what you're doing so I'm not going to type up a tutorial. Instead, I'm going to advise you to go to your local stereo shop and have them install it or have a mustang geek around your neck of the woods help you out.

Yeah, it sucks but if you don't know, you can mess alot of crap up, or even short our your EEC and that won't be cheap to replace or other things. Best thing is to have some one do it and watch them for future knowlege.

yea that sucks lol but i still would like to know how its done... I'm curious to know....