I took my engine out of my 95 and put a new 393ci stroker in there, YAY!. So I've got the motor in, and I've started to hook everything back up. I've sorta got to a spot where I have nothing else to do on the project until I get some parts that I am waiting for. I'm trying to scramble around and find any other tasks that need to be done (trying to get this in quick). As far as electrical, I'm trying to wire in some gauges and I need to tap off the light switch for a power source. I need the battery in the truck so I can use my test light and find what wire to use off the headlight switch for the gauge's lights. I was thinking about it and I think I'm safe to put my battery in and test for the wires. My concern is that I have disconnected the engine wiring harness...


You know how on the 95's, the engine wiring harness is it's own harness, and plugs into a connector on the drivers side fenderwell, and from that connector it goes to the firewall for the computer etc etc. All I have done is remove/unplug that engine harness from the main truck's harness. There shouldn't be any shorts or wiring issues that I need to be worried about. My only concern is if there is going to be a problem with me connecting the battery when the engine harness is unpluged. That means the computer will have power (I think) with no sensors connected. My thought is that connecting the battery won't cause a problem, since unplugging the engine wiring harness, is ultimately unpluging all the engine's sensors, and I won't even be turning the key on. I figure it will be ok but I thought I'd try to double check if anyone else can concur on this, otherwise I won't do it on my own and I'll wait til later to finish the gauge/dash install.

 

If you don't turn the key on, you should be fine (probably be ok even if you did). If you are worried about it, just unplug the 60 pin connector from the computer to ease your mind.

 

I'm officially a dumb.....ahh....well, i'm stupid.

The gauges need a 12v keyed power source, I can't find that w/o turning the key on, and I don't really want to turn the key on w/o the engine wired up, so I guess that'll have to wait til last. I didn't take much of a look, only a quick look, but it doesn't seem like it's all that easy to find a 12v postive wire that's only on when the key is on. I am guessing it'll be something I'll have to probe around on w/ the test light....unless anyone else knows how to get a 12v keyed only positive wire.

 

Why not grab an accesory line right from the fuse block. I beleive in my 94 there are two or 3 unused fuse locations that are listed as hot w/key on. I'm not at home to verify this but i'm 90% sure thats what I read in my book.

Cheers,
Popa Tim