I recently purchased a very nice DEFI gauge pod from Mini Madness. Very nice setup. The Boost gauge install was very straight forward and it functions nicely with illumination when activated by the normal secondary lighting at the wheel. One problem though, I can't get the Oil Pressure gauge to function or read at all. Does anyone have any experience with the following:

1) Where to tie-in the white illumination wire as I used the same tie-in clamp as used to tie-in the functional boost gauge;
2) Tie-in the orange ignition wire as I grouped it with the white wire and nothing;
3) Tie-in the red 12V power wire as I tried to tap it off the cigarette lighter?

These may seem like silly questions but when I tried to tie them into a common wire down in the wiring bundle near the driver's left foot, I got now response either.

The gauge functionality was in question so I got an new sent out and the same thing is occurring. It is installer error at this point. Any good advise would be helpful.

 

Which Defi gauges do you have? I have the BF 60mm series in my STi. Are you not using the controller?

 

There is no controller. They exist seperately on the two sides of the gauge pod. One is working great (boost gauge). However, this one relies on a mechanical feed along with a ground (black) and illumintion (white) wire.

The Oil Pressure gauge has three - red, white, and black. there is a sender unit that has been attached to the oil filter housing but that is not the problem here. I'm not able to get the gauge to respond even when apparently powered under illumination.

I think my problem is specific to the Mini. Where the ideal places are to make the three connections.

 

OIL PRESSURE 1) Disconnect negative(-) battery cable.2) Connect the power supply wire.3) Connect the pressure sensor. Use 1/8NPT adapter if needed. 4) Connect the sensor wire.5) Reconnect negative(-) battery cable.
To avoid oil leak, use Teflon tape. Before driving, inspect oil leak. Leak could cause a fire or damage of the engine.

use the wiring loom at the radio to connect your Gauges
red is ign on
black is ground
orange is illumination
I think white is permanent 12v but check this with a test lamp or mulitmeter

 

Note that most senders, and all single wire senders, rely on making a ground connection via the threaded mount. When applying Teflon tape, limit yourself to a single wrap. The threads will cut through it and make that essential ground connection.

Neil
05 MCS