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Old Jul 9, 2005 | 01:25 PM
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RedStroker6
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A/C and Gauge problems

well, heres the deal. recently, my pyro and A/C have been on the fritz with each other. when i have my AC on the first 2 clicks, no problems, but as soon as i hit that 3rd blower level on the AC, the Pryo needle starts bouncing and shaking, and if i go to the 4th blower....the needle is all over the place....so any ideas? i know is has to do with maybe the electrical draw. i have a subwoofer system in my truck, but it doesn't make a difference if the Amp is on or off or if the stereo is on or off. i know i wired the power wire for th pyro into an ignition-on hot wire from the lights i think. can't remember, would have to pull my dash. i could probably use some new battereys, but would have to bum money off dad for them, cause no job means no cash...the alternator is new within a year, probably 10 months. any ideas? its summer in south texas, AC is pretty nice to have, but i don't wanna screw up my Autometer Pyro.
 
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Old Jul 9, 2005 | 05:05 PM
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Originally Posted by RedStroker6
well, heres the deal. recently, my pyro and A/C have been on the fritz with each other. when i have my AC on the first 2 clicks, no problems, but as soon as i hit that 3rd blower level on the AC, the Pryo needle starts bouncing and shaking, and if i go to the 4th blower....the needle is all over the place....so any ideas? i know is has to do with maybe the electrical draw. i have a subwoofer system in my truck, but it doesn't make a difference if the Amp is on or off or if the stereo is on or off. i know i wired the power wire for th pyro into an ignition-on hot wire from the lights i think. can't remember, would have to pull my dash. i could probably use some new battereys, but would have to bum money off dad for them, cause no job means no cash...the alternator is new within a year, probably 10 months. any ideas? its summer in south texas, AC is pretty nice to have, but i don't wanna screw up my Autometer Pyro.
Tap it into the cigarette lighter wire. I think the pyro is supposed to be constant power anyway. It's a 20 amp fused line...you won't have any problems then.
 
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Old Jul 9, 2005 | 05:06 PM
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but won't it still be drawing power while the truck is off? i know it won't be much, but still....the pyro right now is on when the truck is, and off when its off.

on edit: the illumination wire (autometer Lunar Series) is tapped straight intot he ashtray light. that works out perfectly, cause the ashtray would slide out a little bit and the light would be on constantly when it was dark, bugged me, but now it works cause the pyro is lit up and the little ashtray light is gone. so that couldn't be it.
 

Last edited by RedStroker6; Jul 9, 2005 at 05:09 PM.
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Old Jul 9, 2005 | 05:17 PM
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Maybe you could power the pyro from another souce temporarily with a jumper wire. If the gauge smooths out then you will know that the problem is related to your power source.
I suspect that a poor connection somewhere causes your voltage to drop when the fan really starts drawing some amps. Maybe theres a dirty fuse or corroded/loose conection somewhere.
 
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Old Jul 9, 2005 | 05:19 PM
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hmm, good idea. what wire should i jump to? any ideas besides the cigarette lighter? i don't wanna tap into my stereo, cause i tried that first and didn't work. every time a bass note would hit the needle would bob....
 
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Old Jul 14, 2005 | 12:00 PM
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ok....an update, i tried powering the gauge from a difference power source. tried fromt he anti-lock brakes fuse under the dash. no difference. it worked fine for a few minutes, then started bounceing again witht he AC on click 3 or 4. when connecting the power wire i have just been pulling a fuse, sticking the wire in and plugging the fuse back in. maybe thats my problem? its really starting to bug me, driving around hasn't been too much fun in 105* heat and not much AC....
 
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Old Jul 14, 2005 | 04:25 PM
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did u try to leave the illumination wire disconnected then turn a/c on to see if needle jumps around !

pyro needle generates it own current ( thermopile )the illumination wire is just for lights shouldnt have any affect on needle

maybe guage is bad or shorted somhow
 
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Old Jul 14, 2005 | 05:26 PM
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this pyro (autometer Lunar series) needs cuttent to register temps. right now its unhooked and registers nothing. pegged at the bottom of the scale. when its powered, it works. the illumination wires are wired into the Ash Tray light (no light anymore, the wire solely runs the gauge light). the asjtray light is a "light swtich on" power source. so it only powers when the lights are on (how i wanted it).
 
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Old Jul 15, 2005 | 03:38 AM
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Check your grounds. They are just as important as the hot wires. Without them the circuit isn't complete and will do goofy things just as yours is doing.

Austin
 
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Old Jul 15, 2005 | 12:51 PM
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yeah, foolishly, i forgot the check the grounds to the gauge the other day. i'll be pullin the trim off again sometime this week when i feel productive and check it again. gotta work on a buddy's truck so i'll do both that day...
 
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