I bought a voltmeter. I know what to do, I just don't know how to do it or where to look.

Car: 1995 Honda Civic EX 5 speed (originally automatic)
voltmeter: 2 wires (black/red)

So it says to put the red wire to the ignition switch, and the black wire to the battery. I know how to get the black wire to the battery, there's a hole in the firewall under the steering wheel where I can thread it through. Now, as for the ignition switch, I don't know WHAT that looks like, WHERE it is, or HOW to do it without ******* **** up. Thanks you guys.

 

Everyone is experienced in this forum.

Why do you want to do this voltage test? What's the problem and purpose?

 

Are you interested in the voltage from the battery or the alternator?

 

No no no... I want a voltmeter in my CAR. I already have one under the hood, attached to the battery. But I can't see it in the car. And I like gauges.... a lot. Just help me out here. I already tried to remove the cover under the steering wheel, but damn! It get's loose but won't slide off because the steering wheel is in the way! Dafuq?

 

Just the voltage of the electrical system both on and off. Just a gauge, not an instrument.

 

Run these^ same two battery voltmeter wires into the cabin and connect to the cabin voltmeter.

 

no no no you got me wrong, it turns off after one minute, and isnt hooked to the ignition. so basically start the car, then imediately turn it off, and it will run for a minute, then shut off. turn it on, leave it on, and it still turns off after one minute... and it isnt' connected to the ignition. not trying to be rude or anything, i really do appreciate your help, but just tell me how to do what i described. ive already thought through all other routes. Thanks.

 

So no matter which wires the voltmeter is connected to, it will only stay on for 1 minute, right? So what's the need for connecting it to the ignition wires?

 

No you said to connect the new one to the existing one. I just described the EXISTING one. It turns off after a minute. So hooking to that won't work. I'm just asking how I would go about wiring a wire into the ignition switch, where to find it, and how to get there. Thanks.

 

Connect the ignition switch wire of the voltmeter to the C917/IG2 option slot in the dash fuse box.

 

I ran mine to the empty slot on the fuse panel and u can use a female connector and it slides right on no jimmy riggin or splicing wires..... there are like 4 and one comes on with the key... my voltmeter had 3 wires white/red and black.... and the white wire was the one it uses for signal.. red (+) Battery and black(-) ground anywhere under the dash that's metal and has a bolt. it does not have to go all the way to the battery. the red and blk is for the lights in the gauge....mines an autometer cobalt series

 

Can you show me what that looks like? How would i go about attaching that?

 

See diagram.

See apexi's instructions below.

 

Can you explain to me what you mean when you say "female connector"? What are you talking about? I'm guessing that you hooked up the power wire to the fuse panel since the fuse box recieves power when the ignition is engaged. I WILL have to extend the black wire to the battery by buying some electrical wire and extend it by splicing it.

 

THANKS BUDDY. WHEN I GET IT IN THE MAIL I WILL WIRE IT UP LIKE A PRO.

 

I just wired mine into my cig lighter fuse.

 

Google man, use some google.
You arent building a nuclear submarine.... its a voltage gauge.

 

sO EVERY TIME YOU ENGAGE THE CIG LIGHTER THE GAUGE COMES ON?

 

Constructive information only. And yes, I have been using google.

 

No. The voltmeter turns on with key in ON(I) or ON(II).

If you use the C917 slot, your voltmeter will only turn on with the key in ON(II).

 

RonJ, HOW DO YOU KNOW ERRETHING?

 

Okay so i touched the red wire to the metal piece that is sticking out on the c197 slot or whatever that code was, and then touched the black wire to the metal door jamb, and had the key in the ON position, but the gauge didn't light up. or do anything. Am i doing this right? or do i need some kind of something or other to hold the wire to the terminal? And where is the cig lighter fuse just so i can try that?

 

Okay. So I saw that even with a direct connection to the positive terminal on the battery and grounding the wire in the engine bay, it still wouldn't turn on. So i directly connected teh **** to both terminals and it activated. It seems this guy likes a strong connection. So I will (as stated before) attach the negative wire to the battery by extending it with more electrical wire. Then the problem comes in, how do i keep the wire to the fuse box held in the c917 slot? is there some kind of dummy fuse i can slide over the wire/terminal to keep them held together?

 

No, so every time you turn the car on it comes on with the cig lighter hot wire.

 

Which one is the cig fuse? And how do i wire it up? Sorry for all the questions lad.