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[Barkfin]

I am installing some aftermarket gauges, and one wire is to tap into a dash light that is run off the dimmer switch.
I read somewhere else that the orange wire off the bulb illuminating the rear defroster is a good place to tap, except when I test it, it's at 11.85 volts! This is the voltage when every single thing in the car is turned off. Also on. The battery is at 12.4 volts. Which makes me wonder if this bulb is working anymore, I don't really remember ever noticing it, ha ha.


Another suggestion I read is off the car stereo loom, except that's already an aftermarket deck and I don't think it has such wire (it is backlit with keyed power, and is not dimmed).


Any other ideas?


Also: how do I go about replacing dash bulbs, I guess I may as well since the dash is open.
How many are there, where are they all? I'm just hopeful someone has this info and is in a mood to share.


Much appreciate it guys!

[Dippy.org]

[MarkM]

Dimmer wire coming off the headlight switch.  Easy to get to and tap.  I use one tap to feed three aftermarket gauges.

[Barkfin]

Thanks Mark,
Do you remember which one you spliced into?

[Derekb]

The lights are in plastic clips that turn on the back of the gauges i can't tell you how many there are (don't have stock gauges) but they are 194 if there to dim there is a plastic lens that covers the light on the inside that can be removed

[Ice Cold]

Holy Fark
Did I miss the thread on digital gauge up grade?

[Derekb]

Holy Fark
Did I miss the thread on digital gauge up grade?

Ya did that when I put the 390 in

[Barkfin]

I figured it out ha ha 


The orange wire from the defroster was the right one. No idea why it was reading hot on the voltmeter.
In the end, I wound up using the tan wire (front, left corner) off the headlight switch. It's the same as that orange one, except my dimmer isn't dimming anymore (for some reason), which is why it didn't look right to me.

[Darth-Car]

Another nifty place to crab for a dash lamp connection is the wire that feeds the bulb in the ash tray.