I have just fitted a new Nomad A pillar pod and new Autogauge Boost and AFR clear blue stepper motor gauges.

The "How To" guide on the Nomad was very useful- only took 1/2 an hour to get the old out and the new one in. Two observations though.
1. The Allen bolts on my plus are 4mm not 6mm.
2. Screwing in the lower bolt is a right "pita", as it obscured by the lower pod. Although I did it by using the smallest 4mm Allen key I had, a long flexible drive with 4mm head would be the best.

Concerning the gauges:
I had a mechanical boost gauge before which was always underreading and not reliable so I decided to change to a Autogauge stepper motor electrcial gauge plus a AFR gauge. I have followed all the instructions (although they are minimal!!). They require four connections for power- Earth, Battery +, Ignition + and Dimmer + from headlights/side lights. I had all those previously available from mechanical gauge and other installations so it was relatively easy. The boost gauge connects up the vacuum hose to an electronic sensor and that is connected seperately to the gauge.

I switched on the ignition and started the engine- NOTHING!
Then I switched on the sidelights and then the gauges came into life- starting 'ceremony', lights on and gauges working. However, the dashlight dimmer does not dim the gauges but does on the original gauges to the dashboard. On the old mechanical gauge the simple bulb holder worked on the dimmer circuit.

Does anyone know how to solve the problem. It would seem to be an issue with the Fiat electrical design where the head and sidelights circuit is fed from the ignition side rather than the battery side, as in most other car makes. Therefore the gauges cannot work unless the headlight circuit is live and then there is no potential difference between that and the battery + connection in the gauge to dim against.
Whilst I can drive around with my sidelights on all the time the lack of ability to dim will be an issue since they are much, much brighter than the other instrumentation- although I have often thought that it was rather dim!

The gauges are very clear and the boost gauge in particular has a smoothe action and seemingly accurate readings; once I have sorted the dimming issue I would readily recommend.

Is it possible you have connected the dimmer an ignition ones the wrong way round? As it seems you are not getting dimming an ignition isn't activating the power to the unit?

I.e. dimmer circuit is acting as live feed to turn unit on, and ignition feed - as not variable - full brightness?

Ross

I'd say you have wired it up incorrectly. The dimmer wire is meant to connect to your side/headlights switch, so when you turn the lights on, the back lighting of the gauge dims down.

Ross,
Good thought I'll give it a go! Although I have checked all the connections against the instruction sheet, but as I said, that is very poor and doesn't inspire confidence.

Let us know how you get on!!

Ross

Well!, Just come in from trying out the suggested wiring options.
I cut and exposed wires for dimmer+ and ignition+ and swapped them over- no action whatsoever- completely inoperative.
I then wired them up as original but seperately, one at a time, also with sidelight stalk switch turned off and ignition turned off; Connecting up dimmer+ and turn on igntion - again no action whatsoever.Turn on sidelight stalk switch- again nothing!
Connecting up ignition+ worked as before- as long as the sidelight stalk switch is on (with ignition on)so are the gauges BUT so are the backlights. This also indicates that the dimmer+ wireway isn't doing anything!!

So I am now more confused than ever!! Maybe because the lighting is by LED it cannot be dimmed? Maybe they only work when they are backlit? But why is the dimmer+ circuit mentioned if it doesn't do anything?
By the way- if Battery+ is not connected (but the other two are) nothing works either.

Any other brainwaves?

Where are you taking your battery and ignition feeds from? The battery feed will be what powers the gauge, whereas the ignition will be used just to turn the gauge on & off

Battery feed directly from battery, ignition feed from the back of the radio (and checked for operation), dimmer feed off the the instrumentation lighting feed (again checked for operation)and earth from adjacent to fuseboard (by the end of the dashboard where the removable panel is). I have checked the feeds with a test lamp and the battery+ is always on, ignition+ comes on with the ignition switch and the dimmer+ comes on with the turning of the lighting stalk and is dimmable from the rheostat on the dash.

Whilst completely flummoxed as to why this may be occurring,why does the dimmer+ wire not make any difference to the operation. There are only four wires and earth and battery+ are obviously needed (as you have said)- the problem is either of the two remaining wires or I have two faulty gauges or they are designed to only work with the panel lighting on and not dimmable.

I might try sending an email to China for the definative answer!!

What cable at back of radio??

Have u tried connecting both battery and ignition to the battery feed? Cause that will test whether or not the gauge is faulty as it should turn on regardless of the dimmer option.

Would also try earth directly to the battery, again to check operation.

Ross

Ross,
There is a ignition switched cable (Red/black) in the back of the Clarion unit and just Scotchlocked off that!

I have tried the earth feed from the battery and the results are just the same! On that basis I need to just solve the issue of needing to switch on the stalk switch for lighting in order to get the things into life!- That should be as suggested earlier and join dimmer and ignition wires together.

Also been on YouTube and it would appear all Autogauge stepper motor series gauges have to be backlit if they are working!! Also yet to see any on there any which are dimmable (their mechanical gauges are because they use good old fashioned bulb holders). Do anyone else have these gauges and can contradict that last statement?

Begbie,
I was reading your response to the thread re. AutoItalia photo shoot just now and then went onto You Tube to see your "30-100"- very impressed and then noticed it's not the first time you have uploaded onto YouTube- what a library!!!
Whilst looking through the many entries I noticed one of your dash when you were 'breathing life into the new beast' and saw what looked like three Autgauge stepper motor gauges??

If that's so can you confirm that these gauges only work with the dials illuminated? And also that they cannot be dimmed? Or if (as per usual, I'm talking out the bottom of my trousers)- where you connected up the red,black, white and orange wires from the gauges to?

Explored all avenues and combinations, checked for good earth, good switched and perminant 12V supplies and also the illuminated 12V supplywire (which worked fine on the old mechanical gauge backlight, with full dimming)and ended up at the position of only having working gauges if the ignition AND the lighting switch are on, and also no dimming!!