5.0MX5

Short history, I bought my car as a owner build for cheap. Over the past 3 years I've spent considerable time and some money making it better. The original owner had converted the car to mechanical water/oil gauges and cut a lot of wires out of the harness. Recently I've bought original Miata sending units (water/oil) so I can go back electric.

Now the question, as I stand in front looking at the engine, can anyone tell me the approximate wire bundles to tear into looking for the appropriate wires?

I'm assuming I need to use same gauge wire and solder the splices so as not to mess with resistance, contributing to wrong readings on the factory gauges.

Thanks in advance.

RR

charchri4

It's the bundle running down the drivers side fender but I wouldn't go back to the factory gauges if you are a 93 or newer. They are not actual gauges they are idiot lights that look like gauges. Maybe use them both but for sure keep the real gauges working.

MRM331

The oil pressure gauge is still a real gauge if your car is a 1994. The water temp gauge is non-linear from the beginning (1990) on. It's designed with a dead spot in the middle that represents something like 150 to 210 degrees or something like that. There is a way of soldering a few resistors in it to make it work correctly though.

I use my original oil pressure gauge but have replaced the temp gauge with a autometer one mounted in my center stack. The area where the temp gauge is now a set of idiot warning lights.

-Jason

charchri4

^^ Like to hear more about those idiot warning lights. Water temp and oil pressure? Anything else warning the idiot?

MRM331

Here's my gauge cluster idling on my dining room table:



I still have not hooked them up yet but they are low oil pressure, high oil temp and high coolant (Evans) temp. I'm planning on using some OEM senders to trigger the oil ones at under 5 psi and over 220 degress respectivly. The coolant one I just have to run a lead from my megasquirt and have it triggered at whatever I want (over 250 degrees most likely). Having a second child has cut my time to fiddle with such things to zero hours a month.

-Jason

charchri4

As it should empty nest stinks!!!

Nice work thanks for the pic.

5.0MX5

Jason, that is absolutely "Too Cool". I do remember the zero time days. Both my boys are out'ta college and gainfully employed. And one is a teacher.