dancet
29-04-2007, 01:14 PM
I know there are already a bunch of DIY's on boost gauge installs, but most of them are for:
a) Left hand drive model or;
b) A-pillar installs or;
c) A combination of a) and b)
So I thought I'd take some photos (albeit grainy) for anyone considering a steering column boost gauge setup on a right hand drive model Mk4 GTi. I did this install a few weekends ago.
Ok so first, you need to get your hands on a boost gauge, some kind of pod or mounting device and the associated wiring/tubeing. Thanks to fellow VWW members who pointed me in the direction of this site: http://www.amtuning.com.au/newsouth.htm . I talked to Walter @ AMTuning and he was very helpful. My new columnpod arrived a few days after making the bank deposit, so multiple thumbs up there.
Pop your bonet and remove the black engine covers. There is the main one, but also remove the smaller one towards the front of the engine. 7 large phillips head screws all up to remove these. You will be presented with the following:
http://users.tpg.com.au/dancet/GTi/Boost_Gauge/BoostGauge_1.jpg
Now you need a flathead screw driver or equivalent to pry the covers off the nuts holding the windscreen wipers on. Use a 13mm socket and remove the nuts. The wipers need to come off, and they can be a real pain to remove! I managed to wiggle the left wiper off, but the right wiper wouldn't budge. I suggest a small spray of WD40 and 5 mins for the WD to work its magic.
After you muscle the wipers off, unscrew the four phillips head screws covering the pollen filter on the right side. Pull the cover up and out to remove. Now is a good time to inspect your pollen filter. Clip it out and give it a clean if needed.
Next you can remove the weather stripping that runs along the top between the winscreen wiper cowling and the engine bay. It should just lift off no worries. Now you need to lift the wiper cowling off. This is all one piece and is held in place by a tongue and groove type setup. You should be able to get your fingers in between the top lip and the bottom of the windscreen just enough to pop it up. Once you get one section up, work your way along until it's free. Move it up out of the way.
Now you should be able to see the ECU in the centre of the car and some other goodies. Now locate the fuel pressure regulator hose on the bottomish right side of the engine. I found there wasn't much slack in this hose and snipped it about half way along in a straight section. Insert the T connector provided (or purchased) and position so it's facing to the left. You can connect the boost gauge line to the 3rd end of the T connector and find good place to run the hose.
http://users.tpg.com.au/dancet/GTi/Boost_Gauge/BoostGauge_2.jpg
I covered it with some plastic insulation for protection and ran it along the fuel line and onto some other cables, securing it with cable ties.
http://users.tpg.com.au/dancet/GTi/Boost_Gauge/BoostGauge_3.jpg
The large, square plastic gromit above the hose in this next photo can be lifted up so the hose can simply run below it. I had read multiple DIY's for a boost gauge install and most of them talked about running the cable through a gromet that comes out just above the accelerator pedal or through the wiring loom just next to the windscreen wiper motor. I did some poking around and couldn't find the gromet in the footwell (on either side) and the wiring loom looked a lot different to pictures. It didn't look very inviting, or removable. So I pulled out the gromit that houses the boot release cable and drilled a small hole in the side of it. A little bit of vaseline and the hose was now running through the gromit and back into the inside of the car.
http://users.tpg.com.au/dancet/GTi/Boost_Gauge/BoostGauge_4.jpg
a) Left hand drive model or;
b) A-pillar installs or;
c) A combination of a) and b)
So I thought I'd take some photos (albeit grainy) for anyone considering a steering column boost gauge setup on a right hand drive model Mk4 GTi. I did this install a few weekends ago.
Ok so first, you need to get your hands on a boost gauge, some kind of pod or mounting device and the associated wiring/tubeing. Thanks to fellow VWW members who pointed me in the direction of this site: http://www.amtuning.com.au/newsouth.htm . I talked to Walter @ AMTuning and he was very helpful. My new columnpod arrived a few days after making the bank deposit, so multiple thumbs up there.
Pop your bonet and remove the black engine covers. There is the main one, but also remove the smaller one towards the front of the engine. 7 large phillips head screws all up to remove these. You will be presented with the following:
http://users.tpg.com.au/dancet/GTi/Boost_Gauge/BoostGauge_1.jpg
Now you need a flathead screw driver or equivalent to pry the covers off the nuts holding the windscreen wipers on. Use a 13mm socket and remove the nuts. The wipers need to come off, and they can be a real pain to remove! I managed to wiggle the left wiper off, but the right wiper wouldn't budge. I suggest a small spray of WD40 and 5 mins for the WD to work its magic.
After you muscle the wipers off, unscrew the four phillips head screws covering the pollen filter on the right side. Pull the cover up and out to remove. Now is a good time to inspect your pollen filter. Clip it out and give it a clean if needed.
Next you can remove the weather stripping that runs along the top between the winscreen wiper cowling and the engine bay. It should just lift off no worries. Now you need to lift the wiper cowling off. This is all one piece and is held in place by a tongue and groove type setup. You should be able to get your fingers in between the top lip and the bottom of the windscreen just enough to pop it up. Once you get one section up, work your way along until it's free. Move it up out of the way.
Now you should be able to see the ECU in the centre of the car and some other goodies. Now locate the fuel pressure regulator hose on the bottomish right side of the engine. I found there wasn't much slack in this hose and snipped it about half way along in a straight section. Insert the T connector provided (or purchased) and position so it's facing to the left. You can connect the boost gauge line to the 3rd end of the T connector and find good place to run the hose.
http://users.tpg.com.au/dancet/GTi/Boost_Gauge/BoostGauge_2.jpg
I covered it with some plastic insulation for protection and ran it along the fuel line and onto some other cables, securing it with cable ties.
http://users.tpg.com.au/dancet/GTi/Boost_Gauge/BoostGauge_3.jpg
The large, square plastic gromit above the hose in this next photo can be lifted up so the hose can simply run below it. I had read multiple DIY's for a boost gauge install and most of them talked about running the cable through a gromet that comes out just above the accelerator pedal or through the wiring loom just next to the windscreen wiper motor. I did some poking around and couldn't find the gromet in the footwell (on either side) and the wiring loom looked a lot different to pictures. It didn't look very inviting, or removable. So I pulled out the gromit that houses the boot release cable and drilled a small hole in the side of it. A little bit of vaseline and the hose was now running through the gromit and back into the inside of the car.
http://users.tpg.com.au/dancet/GTi/Boost_Gauge/BoostGauge_4.jpg