Installing Boost gauge

[therock2689]

I have been searching but have found nothing so here i go. How would i go about installing a boost gauge in my 202. I have a 2000 C230k. If you have a how to site, that would work or anyhting will work for that matter. i have been looking how to do it and am frustated to find nothing. Thanks for you help in advance.

[rollinrealbig]

what kind of boost gauge ? mechanical or electric ?

[therock2689]

which one is cheaper and easier to install(Id guess mechanical)

[Pagz]

mechanical would be the cheaper option,use a small tee juction avaliable from most auto parts suppliers...run a small pipe off your intake plenum to the gauge,there are a few easy spots to tap into...like the fuel pressure regulator pipe which is located at the front of your fuel rail...you can also tap into one of the pipes comming of the rear of the plenum.
it likely you will want it aluminated,you can find a feed for that at your sterio connector,or jumper off the ash tray light feed.

Paul

[therock2689]

Thanks, but Im kinda of lost in the engine with what you said, do you think you or someone can post pics because for me its easier to see it then just to read it. thank you

[therock2689]

is this a vac line.
http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j275/therock2689/jul01_001.jpg

[Nitrogenbalance]

In that picture I think I can see a vacum line. It's the small white line behind the larger black one. There should be one around the fuel pressure regulator too. My car has two FPRs up front of the engine each with accessable vacum lines.

I found a link for a boost gauge install of a SLK32. It may help a bit.

http://www.slk32.com/pages/boostgauge1/boostgauge1.html

[alphanumeric]

I have one installed..but for some odd reason im not getting a steady reading.. it fluctuates alot like their is some kind of boost leak! and the gauge makes a funny noise like a sprinkler. any ideas?

[therock2689]

leak on the gauge would be my guess, check all the joints on teh pluming, you might spot it there.

[Pagz]

Originally posted by therock2689
is this a vac line.
http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j275/therock2689/jul01_001.jpg

Weird...i dont have a pressure/vac line around the front of my engine...wonder where that goes?

therock2689,what car do you have?

the best way to feed your gauge is directly of the plenum...you can tap into other lines...as long as there is little flow in them,otherwise you will see the pressure drop and fluctuation of the pipe you tapped into,especially if that pipe feeds a pulsing solinoid etc.

you should be fine tapping into the FPR line..as this just feeds a small diaphram,so the gauge should be fairly accurate.

again,you will find this FRP on your fuel rail,the pipe usually runs up between the intake ports of the manifold.

[therock2689]

2000 C230k

[Pagz]

heres a pic of where the Fuel Pressure Regulator is,you will find a pipe atttached to the side of it,if you tap into that it should be all good.

http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/3/web/735000-735999/735658_217_full.jpg

Paul