Gauge wiring 12v illumination

[gqneon]

I am trying to find a suitable wire that will only power my aftermarket gauge lighting in the dash. I'm replacing my stock ICM gauges with autometer mechanical gauges that have LED lighting.

I'm looking for wires to tap into that will provide lighting power only when the headlights come on. I think I can run a wire from behind the dimmer switch (parking light wire I suppose) but I would love for the gauges to dim with the rest of the dash lights like stock.

There is a plug that used to plug into the factory PP gauges in the center dash area between the vents. It has a black (assumed to be ground ) and a violet wire (assumed to be lighting) but I cannot find a wiring diagram to confirm and if it's canbus signal stuff I don't want to be sticking a test light or voltmeter to it and screwing something up.

Where can I tap into a power source that will give me power only when the lights are on? Can I use that little 4-pin plug that went into the original PP oil pressure and vaccum gauge?

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[Stevenjasmin]

I am to looking for a 12v wire when the lights are on. Did you have any luck?

 

[zackmd1]

You are not going to be able to tap into dash lighting.... The lighting is handled via CAN bus. You will have to tap into another source such as a gear shift lighting (if automatic) or an exterior light.

 

[gqneon]

You are not going to be able to tap into dash lighting.... The lighting is handled via CAN bus. You will have to tap into another source such as a gear shift lighting (if automatic) or an exterior light.

Reviving my old thread to say I now have an automatic car and checked the gear shift lever lighting plug by the shifter boot and it only metered about 2.8v, so it doesn't look like that's going to work. I thought that may little bit of info I found might be helpful to someone down the line.

 

[wildcatgoal]

When installing my new gauges, I tapped the passenger side running light as a trigger for when my headlights were on (well, when the running lights were on, which is typically anytime the headlights are on). (I'm talking about the amber running lights.) I used this to trigger a dimmer in my gauges, but you could use it (probably I'd recommend a relay) to trigger/power your backlighting. Otherwise, you'll have to find an actual light bulb inside of the car that illuminates only with headlights and tap into its + feed. I just did it my way because I had the bumper off already and didn't want to add to my work by taking apart even more interior panels. Gauge install is in my build log.

 

[gqneon]

Yeah j was walking around the car thinking that lamp or the red marker in the rear side bumper would work. I guess if the current behavior annoys me I’ll do just what you mentioned either front or back. Thanks for the input !

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