I just bought an autometer Cobalt Tach. for my 98 Prelude and I am planning on installing it soon... I looked over everything and think that this is going to be really easy, except for the wiring... it has 4 wires that need to be connected...
1. WHITE-to-12v dash lighting, which wire do I use, and how do I get to it? I installed some aftermarket guage faces, so the factory dimmer is now bypassed... where should I look?

2. RED-to-12v igniton switch, once again, which wire do I use, and how do I get to it? Do I just pull off the steering collumn cover and spllice this into the wire that goes to the ignition switch? Also, if I get one of those Ignited push-button ignitions, do I just splice in those wires to the ignition switch also? And most importantly, will it all work with the immobilizer system? (Im pretty shure it should...)

3. BLACK-to-"good engine ground", can I use any ground under the hood or does it have to be on the engine? ... how about my batter to chasis ground spot?

4. GREEN-to-ignition coil (- lead), I got that one covered... heh...

Alright... thanks in advance for your help!!
Travis.

 

Let's see if I can remember...it's been a few months since I've done one of these!

I'll tell you the way I've done it before, which doesn't mean this is the only way, but it worked well!

1. White - I actually spliced this one into the headlight fuse. That way it switches on when you turn your headlights on...

2. Red - I spliced into the cigarette liter circuit... It's on when your keys are turned!

3. Black - groud, pretty much anywhere you want as long as it's a good ground...doesn't have to be on the engine!

4. Green - On the back of the cluster there should be a solid blue wire, that's the one you want! Don't bother with going through the firewall, it's much easier this way...

Good luck!!

 

alright.... but if I use the factory tach wire I would be defeating the purpose of getting an ACCURATE aftrmkt tach right??? I want it to work properly... and it wont be hard to run 1 wire out to the engine bay...

 

There's a few male terminals in the fusebox under the dash, I just spliced in about 4 low-draw accessories running off of those terminals. There's one for accessory voltage, and one for when you turn your headlights on.

 

ok... where is the factory coil located? Also, which terminal is negative?

 

also, I spliced my new Blue Glow guages into the guage light power wire on the back of the cluster... this wire only powers 2 3watt bulbs... am I getting less brightness than I should bcz the wire is only getting so much power? also, If I spliced the tach lighting wire into this one, would it dim it further?