Anyone out there know how to hook up an aftermarket voltage guage into an 88 F150 302 EFI. The guage in the cluster is shot, and while I can fix almost anything, I have a great fear of automotive electronics. Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Kevin

 

Attach the positive lead to one of your fuses that is always hot, and the negative side to ground (any metal in/under the dash will work). That's it.

 

OR: You can buy a LCD digital volt meter that just plugs into the cigarette lighter socket. Autozone has a decent one for just $8.00. Works with 12 0r 24 volt systems, is illuminated and has three LED's: RED, YELLOW and GREEN to indicate your battery condition prior to/and charging system after engine start up, plus digital readout. They are located back by the battery charger stuff. Ask if you don't find it. They usually only stock one at a time.

Then the other advantage is you can move it from vehicle to vehicle when needed. Most scales are so in-precise on most vehicles that I can barely tell the difference between 12 and 15 volts. With the digital you get the readout in tenth's of a volt.

 

Thanks, both ideas certainly sound easy enough.

 

I disagree, I don't think you would want the voltmeter active all the time. I would connect the + side to a "switched" 12V source.

 

can I tap into one of the wires on the ignition swith on the base of the sterring column? If so can you give me a starting point as to which wires,would be live with Key On?

 

The cigarette lighter +12V is switched, that would be a good wire to tap into. The suggestion of a voltmeter plugged into the cigarette lighter would work well!!

 

You can do it either way. The voltmeter doesn't draw a measurable load, and I like knowing what the battery voltage is without having to have the keys. I guess it's just a personal preference.



FWIW, the cigarette lighter in my F-150 is always hot. I've never seen one that was controlled by the ignition switch.