S70 DIY: Boost Gauge Install - complete guide

[mecheng]

Those look like the factory clamps on your IAC hoses, if so you may wish to remove them to pull it out and give it a good cleaning.

They are, I sprayed a lot of TB cleaner through the vacuum tree nipples while the car was running thinking it would clean the IAC: the engine stumbled so I know it was making its way to the throttle body. I would think this works okay.

[erikv11]

Interesting idea, yes maybe it will do the job.

BTW thanks for putting together this write-up, it's great.

[mecheng]

Thanks everyone, it was a fun project. I agree, if you are a car guy/gal the gauge is great to have. It's fun watching it, especially when it climbs of course!

[matthew1]

Excellent tutorial. Scheduled for inclusion in the Repair Database.

[850 LPT]

Super write up, thanks. I always wanted a boost gauge and I think I'm going to order one now.

[mecheng]

Sweet write up. The boost numbers, when you hit the peak is it the TCV that takes over and cuts it back to 10 or so? Is the waste gate adjustment what lets the peak go a bit higher? That's a nice looking clean install. I think I'm going to try this on my 98 AWD.

I did a test with the stock waste gate setting and it had no effect on peak boost, but the car feels sluggish in the midrange, so it only affects how quick the boost builds. I changed it to one turn after the test.

[sleuth007]

Given the variety of pods and fitment issues, it would be nice if you could state the specific part number /source for the Lotek Inc part. The meter you used which was 2 1/16" in diameter was easy to find on Amazon however.
In other words you took the time to drill down and find a nice combination of gauge face /color /style which needs to fit "exactly" into the pod hole without a bracket. At this price point and given the professional manner / care of your install, I am surprised you would consider turns of tape to make the fit "right".
Or did I simply miss the details I seek somewhere else in your posting?

[mecheng]

Given the variety of pods and fitment issues, it would be nice if you could state the specific part number /source for the Lotek Inc part. The meter you used which was 2 1/16" in diameter was easy to find on Amazon however.
In other words you took the time to drill down and find a nice combination of gauge face /color /style which needs to fit "exactly" into the pod hole without a bracket. At this price point and given the professional manner / care of your install, I am surprised you would consider turns of tape to make the fit "right".
Or did I simply miss the details I seek somewhere else in your posting?

There is no Lotek part number, you just select the pod for your car. They have a pod for both the 850 and S70.

The tape is only a recommendation if your gauge fits small to the gauge pod hole. My gauge was tight, I just wrote that as a recommendation if you have a lose fit as there is not enough room behind the gauge to secure a bracket. If you buy a no name gauge (there are plenty out there) you may have a slightly smaller OD causing it to be lose.

[bmdubya1198]

Thanks for the great writeup! I did this today on my V70 GLT, and everything works! I still have to run the wires for the backlight, though. I ran the hose up the dash, and behind the weather strip, and it all looks nice and clean.
I used the Harbor Freight boost gauge, and they give you JUST enough hose to make it from the vacuum tree to the a-pillar. It took a little while for me to find the under-dash end of the pass-through, but it's fairly easy to find if you look. It's just behind the relay panel.

[bmdubya1198]

In addition to this DIY, if you have a cheap boost gauge like I do (Harbor Freight) and it has 3 wires, you cannot use the pink wire for power. The dimmer wire goes to pink, ground goes to black, and the power wire goes to one of the salmon-colored wires with the black stripe. I successfully wired it up this past weekend, and everything works great!