[s-cars] Boost Guage instal correct?

[Daniel Hussey]

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OK, I just (FINALLY) finnished my overly complicated boost guage install in=
 the glovebox of my '95 S6 Avant.  I won't go into the details of all the p=
roblems I encountered along the way, but lets just say it was hectic.  My A=
utoMeter Pro kit (as most I am finding) did not come with the T-fitting, so=
 I had to make my own.  If your interested to know more about how I hooked =
it up, read below.  If not, please skip the following paragraph and continu=
e reading with the paragraph below it.

I tried several methods until I finally decided on making one using a 1/4" =
female tee with two 1/4" barbs on each side and then a male 1/4" to 1/8" pl=
ug to a 1/8" compression fitting on the top connection to the 1/8" inch vac=
cum line supplied by Autometer and then a 1/8" compression fitting to the 1=
/4" plug on the back of the boost guage.  All pieces are brass and all bras=
s to brass threaded connections were wrapped in plummer's thread tape.  I r=
eplaced the wimpy rubber hose from the fitting on the ECU to the factory (g=
reen) pressure line with good 'ol murican Gates fuel hose and hose clamps o=
n each end.  I cut this fuel hose in half and run the T-fitting (barbs) int=
o this soft hose (again, with hose clamps on each barb to make an even more=
 secure fit).  The 1/8" nylon tubing runs into the 1/8" compression fitting=
 at the top of the tee and makes the run alongside the geen factory line un=
der the carpet.  I had the line running up and over the top of the rear of =
the glovebox, but the line was getting kinked when I shut the glovebox.  I =
decided that I had to have a straight run into the back of the boost guage,=
 so I drilled a decent size hole into the back of my glovebox and put in a =
rubber grommet.  Through this I ran the vaccum/pressure line and the positi=
ve and negative wires for the illumination.  I had to reduce slack in this =
line as much as possible, so I made this run short (which made getting the =
compression fitting and nut on the back of the guage a bear, and I'm not su=
re how I can be sure I have a good secure fit.  It seems as though if the c=
lamping ring gets misaligned at all, it makes a pore compression fitting.  =
Everything is intalled and it is velcroed with the AutoMeter mounting bezel=
 to the inside of the glovebox.  Looks great!

But, I am wondering how we can tell if it is working correctly and/or if we=
 have a leak in the system somewhere?  Is there any sure test.  If mine is =
working properly, then I definately have a boost leak in the intake tract s=
omewhere (which I was suspecting anyways since I'm still running stock hose=
s)...  But, I am wondering if there is a way to test to be sure???

With the car turned off, the guage sits exactly at 0.  Once car is started,=
 at idle it sits right around 10 in Vaccum.  With TAP chip installed, I am =
only pulling 15 lbs of boost (seems low), but otherwise, I can't identify a=
nything to tell me there is a leak in my boost guage setup and as far as I =
know all those connections are air tight.

Any ideas???  Is there sure way to test whether or not the guage is working=
 correctly???

Thanks,
Dan
'95 S6 Avant (Europa/ecru)
'87 Jeep Cherokee 4x4 (aka "Ski Bitch")
Seattle, WA

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