PoorCollegeKidd

iTrader: (2)

I just got in my boost gauge, water temp gauge, Tranny and Diff Oil and I am going to start all of that tomorrow. As I live in the barracks, I have to use the base's garage. So before I start, I wanted to clear some things up.

Just FYI: I am using a mechanical VDO Vision boost gauge, VDO Vision electric water temp gauge, Autometer Dual Pod A Pillar Pod, and NEO 75W90 HD Gear Oil (for both tranny and diff).

I have spent a while searching for gauges (best looking stock gauge), and oil (cannot count how many pages I have read for those two topics!). Now that I have the parts, I have been reading and rereading the install walkthroughs. I am using the guide:
http://home.ptd.net/~blouzbee/guides/boost.html
and
http://www.fd3s.net/boost_gauge_install.html

Yup, I love that FAQ sticky!

Well in the second one, it just tells me to wire it into the ash tray. The first one goes into more detail, but here is where I just want to make sure. In step 10 it says that on the male connector, the red wire with the green is ground and the red with the blue stripe is hot. Well, I was just looking and I have the red with the green stripe, but the other is a red with a black stripe.

Now I know black usually means ground, but I was thinking it could be just darkened or faded blue. It really just looks like it was supposed to be black. As I don't have a volt meter, I cannot easily check that. So now I have all the wires run, and they are just waiting to be stripped and soldered.

Just double checking before I start. I am not sure what tools the garage has to offer me and I have a limited time to complete this project. I may just do it all with my Leatherman!

Another question I had was the necessity to replace the tranny and diff filler plugs. The FSM manual says to, but I really don't want to wait for my local Mazda dealer to order them and have to pick them up. Could I just do the flush, THEN replace them later this week, or better yet, NOT replace them?

Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks again as I am sure I will add more questions to this as I have to worst luck with "simple" car projects!

PoorCollegeKidd

iTrader: (2)

Wired the gauges. The black was the hot wire.

Also, when I ordered the 1.25 gallons of Gear Oil, the gallon container said Gear Lube and was a bronze color, while the quart was labeled Gear Oil and was a green color. Same brand, weight, place of purchase. Any ideas why that would be?

Mahjik

iTrader: (1)

Could just be a marketing change. If they were both NEO 75w90 HD, then they have the same properties. They do make a RHD which is their racing version.

PoorCollegeKidd

iTrader: (2)

Yea, after I discovered the differences (after refilling the tranny and transferring the quart into the gallon container to use my pump), I checked all the writing and labels. The mechanic that was floating around the shop said it could be that one was made last year, and the other was a fresher batch...idk.