Car power lose from boost gauge?

[gsxbro13]

I got a major issue. I recently had my friend install a boost gauge for me and it worked fine for a while... My radiator fan quit workin so i brought it to a machanic who has a built dsm and does all his own work. he said he test drove my car and hr said it smelled wirey and he looked at the boost gauge and said the wiring job is wierd. So i took it home not thinkin to much about it and all the sudden my cars electric starts go n all crazy. In the day it seems fine but at night when i hit a bump or turn hard my cars lights all flicker,the boost guage goes off, and my radio shuts off... Even a few times my car actaully dies!

I got know idea what is wrong and i need some help! Tel me what you guys think because im not sure if its a small fix or what it could be forsure! Thanks in advance guys!

 

[xxNocturnalxx]

Check your battery connections and chassis grounds. check the alt. cables too.

 

[luv2rallye]

Make sure any power wire your gauge uses is on a "true" power source - not one like the dash gauges illumination lights.

 

[gsxbro13]

Alright but why would it actaully kill my car if its just powered wrong?

 

[luv2rallye]

If connected to a non-true power source like the black-yellow wire between the dash lights and the dimmer switch, the dash lights act as a in-series load and so would drop the voltage for everything connected to it. This is just a thought as many people connect their device (eg. gauges, radio, etc) power wrong like this. Just a thought to check.

 

[gsxbro13]

Alright thanks... Ill have to see if i cant rewire it here sometime this week. Hopefully it is the boost gauge and not something else

 

[luv2rallye]

You could first try disconnecting it to see if problem goes away.

A true power source wire is one that goes to the battery without going through any devices in series. Without any load applied (eg. nothing turned on) it often still measures +12v there and so it can be fooling you into thinking it's a power wire. Connecting a significant load (greater than 1 amp) to it like an incandescent light bulb (not a led) usually is a good test as it will not glow to normal intensity if it's not a true power source.