boost gauge light stays on....

[justanaudi]

I tried hooking up my vdo boost gauge yesterday and decided to test the wires first. I grounded the boost gauge to that bolt right above the fuse box and connected the power wire to the 75X terminal. After doing that i found out my boost gauge led stayed on even when the instrument lights were off. Anyone have an idea to why this is happening? oh and im using 22 gauge wires...

[fikes]

Its because your hooked it up to a constant power source. Hook it up to the light switch 12v supply so it goes on when you put your lights on.

[akordboy]

Its because your hooked it up to a constant power source. Hook it up to the light switch 12v supply so it goes on when you put your lights on.

+1

[mike-2ptzero]

Parking light wire is located behind the driverside kick panel. If you have a 99.5+ you can hook it up to the vent light wire.

[Just Quaff]

Parking light wire is located behind the driverside kick panel. If you have a 99.5+ you can hook it up to the vent light wire.

Hey, I have been meaning to do this for some time now. Can you point out to me where the vent light wire is at?

[d_maniac]

it should be behind the vents use a flat head to pull em out

[Seerlah]

Just wrap the wire around the fuse for the headlights. That is what I did. I went with the AWE instructions at first also. I read stories of people having thier vent lights short out on them for splicing the gauge lights into them, the only reason I did not do that myself.

But if you do decide to go the route of tapping into the vent wire (which I don't recommend), you can't miss it. It is the only cable that does not permit you to remove the vent housing completely (meaning it is the only cable attached to the housing).

[djwimbo]

Don't forget you can also hook it up to any one of the keyed power source posts on the Relay Panel behind the lower dash panel. That is if you want it on anytime the key is on. Otherwise you can get to the light switch harness at the bottom of the steering column as well.

[Matt@JHM]

Its because your hooked it up to a constant power source.

The 75x terminal activates power when the car is on, or key in acc. mode. It's not a constant power source.

[fikes]

I meant it has constant power when the car is on. There is real limited connections that have constant power when the car is off.

[biketsai]

Tap it into a wire coming from the fuse box.
Look at the side panel to decide which line to tap.

[audinutt]

Or you can use the radio illumination wire and it will dim with your dimmer switch.
I did this and it works/looks great.

-richard

[Naudi_Mat]

The 75x terminal activates power when the car is on, or key in acc. mode. It's not a constant power source

This what I did with mine, and I'm happy with it.

[mike-2ptzero]

Hey, I have been meaning to do this for some time now. Can you point out to me where the vent light wire is at?

Pull the fuse panel off of the side of the dash and the light wires for that vent will be at the very top just behind the vent.

[justanaudi]

Tap it into a wire coming from the fuse box.
Look at the side panel to decide which line to tap.

So youre saying i can tap into any wire from the fuse box? I have an '01 quattro by the way.

Or you can use the radio illumination wire and it will dim with your dimmer switch.
I did this and it works/looks great.

-richard

Where is this wire located at?

[Seerlah]

Not any wire (fuse). If you want it to go on only when your other lights (headlights, day lights) you have to wrap the gauge wire around the fuse specified for that unit. You can warp it around the fuse for the daytime running lights and have it come on when you use that. Or wrap it around the fuse for the headlight unit, which I did.

I had this same problem couple weeks ago. Fixed it in maybe 2 min. Link.

Pic of where I hooked mine up to (pictures always makes it easier ):



It is the white wire. The red one is for something else.

[justanaudi]

Not any wire (fuse). If you want it to go on only when your other lights (headlights, day lights) you have to wrap the gauge wire around the fuse specified for that unit. You can warp it around the fuse for the daytime running lights and have it come on when you use that. Or wrap it around the fuse for the headlight unit, which I did.

I had this same problem couple weeks ago. Fixed it in maybe 2 min. Link.

Pic of where I hooked mine up to (pictures always makes it easier ):



It is the white wire. The red one is for something else.

Oh i get it :). Thanks for the pic.

[Seerlah]

No problem

[pinky]

Or you can use the radio illumination wire and it will dim with your dimmer switch.
I did this and it works/looks great.

-richard

yeah, i tapped mine off the dimmer wire going to the cluster.. iirc it was gray/blue

[Just Quaff]

Pull the fuse panel off of the side of the dash and the light wires for that vent will be at the very top just behind the vent.

Thanks Mike! Your a hero. Saw your latest thread with the battery relocation and kill switch. lookin good uber jealous

[VMRSport]

I usually just tap it into the headlight switch. Turns on when I turn the parking lights, etc on.

[chimchongdlight]

so if u wrap the wire around one of the fuses, u mean literally wrap it around the fuse then plug it in correct? and if u do that, does that mean u will have to upgrade to a bigger amp fuse?

[Seerlah]

Just make sure when you wrap the power for the boost gauge light, there is metal on metal contact. But yeah, just wrap the fuse (metal on metal) and plug the fuse back (fuse must be properly seated back in slot).

The bulb for the boost gauge is only like 3-5 watts. The total Volt Amperage for the headlight circuit is rated for more than than. Figure the bulb alone is a 55 watt bulb (OEM Halogen) for the headlights. When Audi rated the circuit, they took into consideration the power it takes to start the circuit and run the 55 watt bulb (and the high beam bulb). It would be ok as that 3 watts for the boost gauge bulb is nothing.

[mike-2ptzero]

so if u wrap the wire around one of the fuses, u mean literally wrap it around the fuse then plug it in correct? and if u do that, does that mean u will have to upgrade to a bigger amp fuse?

You wrap it over the metal tab so that the wire goes upward out of the slot where the fuse goes into. Only bad thing is that will force the tab inside the slot much larger and the fuse might pop out, this is the ghetto way of hooking up a wire and not really recommended. The best way is to just put a ground eye onto your wire and hook it up to the correct spot under the dash which is marked with a 75x or you can put a male connector on the end and pop a pacman/T-tap connector onto one of the wires that are already coming off of the 75x spot.