Dodge 2001 Ram 2500 cummins

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aiiadict@gmail.com - 28 Mar 2005 03:43 GMT

Hello group!

This place is great! So many knowledgable people
willing to help!

I have a few questions you may be able to help with:

1) Where do I tap in to turbo to get BOOST pressure
for gauge? I bought the gauge kit and cannot find
any information. I am guessing on output from
turbo unit?

2) I am looking for dimmable dash light power source
(+12v which dims with dash light switch, for the above
gauges internal lamp) wiring harness, location, color
of wire appreciated

3) Where can I grab +12v (ignition) To power gauges?
only on when engine is running. Wiring harness,
location, color of wire appreciated!

4)I bought a new drivers side "pillar mount" plastic
piece. My research on the net has revealed the
following information: You can remove the old
plastic, and replace with new. Or you can just
put new plastic over the old. Anyone with experience
in these methods? Which is better?

Bob

for later google searchers:

KEYWORDS:

I am installing BD exhaust brake,
"power puck" computer,
pyrometer, boost pressure gauge,
pyrometer gauge, 2001 dodge ram truck
cummins diesel 2500
dash wiring
pillar

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Tom Lawrence - 28 Mar 2005 04:17 GMT

> 1) Where do I tap in to turbo to get BOOST pressure
> for gauge? I bought the gauge kit and cannot find
> any information. I am guessing on output from
> turbo unit?

You can remove the intake horn from the left (driver's side) of the engine,
and drill/tap it for a fitting (11/32" drill bit, and an 1/8-27 tap, for an
1/8"-NPT fitting). Or, you can get what's called a "boost bolt". This is a
hollow bolt with a large head, already tapped for the 1/8" fitting. You
remove one of your intake manifold bolts, and replace it with this boost
bolt, then just hook your fitting and tubing up to it. You can get one of
these here, among several other places:

http://www.piersdiesel.com/DodgeProducts.htm (it's the 11th item down in the
list).

> 2) I am looking for dimmable dash light power source
> (+12v which dims with dash light switch, for the above
> gauges internal lamp) wiring harness, location, color
> of wire appreciated

Well, you can tap the wire right off the back of the headlight switch. In
my '99 FSM, it shows a tan wire. That may have changed in '01. The easiest
thing to do is take a multimeter or a test light (safe to use in this
instance, because you're probing +12V lighting circuitry), and find the wire
that varies voltage/brightness when you operate the dimmer. The dash bezel
is easy enough to remove (it just pulls off), and the headlight switch is
only held in place with three screws.

An alternative spot is right at the fuse panel. Fuse #5 is a 5A fuse that
gets it's power from the dimmer output of the headlamp switch. You could
tap here as well (although I recommend tapping the headlamp switch wire -
that way, all the external wiring is nice and hidden behind the dash). I
also highly recommend the Swenco Posi-Tap connectors for this type of work
(http://www.posi-lock.com). I just installed three more gauges in my truck
this weekend, and all my taps are made with these connectors. Really fast,
really secure, and (best of all) easy to disassemble and add more wires (for
future gauges). Most auto parts stores (NAPA, AutoZone, etc) carry these
connectors.

> 3) Where can I grab +12v (ignition) To power gauges?
> only on when engine is running. Wiring harness,
> location, color of wire appreciated!

I like using the cigarette lighter power wire for this - it's got it's own
20A fuse, and at least in my truck, goes completely unused. You can tap
this when you have the dash bezel removed, as well. The red wire to the
connector is the hot side (verify with meter/test-light to be sure).

> 4)I bought a new drivers side "pillar mount" plastic
> piece. My research on the net has revealed the
> following information: You can remove the old
> plastic, and replace with new. Or you can just
> put new plastic over the old. Anyone with experience
> in these methods? Which is better?

It depends on what you bought... the full replacement pillar is just that -
a complete pillar with molded-in gauges. It would have a solid back, and
spring clips to fit into the steel A-pillar. The other type is a shell with
an open back, that's meant to fit over the existing plastic pillar.

On my truck, I didn't use the pillar, mainly because I didn't want to have
to hack off my grab handle ('03 and up trucks have a driver's side grab
handle, just like in the passenger side).

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