how to install a aftermarket shift light!!!

rekedevoate · 02-11-2007, 04:18 AM

hello again everyone, i finally installed my shift light on my 06 sti. i used the instructions found on nasioc written by OKR S06 for a wrx seen below.

(WARNING) I AM NOT RESPONSIBLE IF YOU DAMAGE YOUR CAR! YOU WILL DO THIS AT YOUR OWN RISK!

Hey everyone,

Well I was tired of all the research I was doing and going nowhere with this. So, tonite with help from my friend Chris we got this figured out with a little trial and error. I purchased a shift light from raptor performance...this shift light is great but, kinda expensive and worth it. I know a lot of us had been looking around for this and I hope this write-up helps.

First,

Start by removing your gauge cluster and exposing all three plugs from the instrument cluster. Sorry I didn't take pics of this part. You can look this up on NASIOC for removal of gauge cluster. once exposed it will look like this.

Then grab the farthest right 10 pin connector. This is where the tach lead wire is located.

Second,
You are now looking for the solid blue wire going into this plug. That is your tach lead wire. Looking straight at the plug as it would hook into the instrument cluster...you will count from right to left once you get to 5 this should be the solid blue wire right next to the black wire...(SOLID BLUE=TACH LEAD). Sorry about the blurry pic but, you get the point

Third,
I just followed this wire back and used a vampire clip on that wire. I connected the tach lead of the car to the tach lead of the shift light.

Fourth,
Just wire your ground and power and you are done. I tapped the power into the A/C control so it come on when everything is powered up. You can choose where you want to power it up from. Now carefully put your cluster back in and screw everthing back in place. Here is a pic of the final result.

ur2s2pid · 02-15-2007, 12:49 PM

I know that you said that it is the signal wire for the tach but does that shoot power when the stock shift light goes on. I have a shift light but no way to control it I was looking to take some kind of signal from the stock light but couldn't figure out what wire it was

got the dash apart and the cluster out for nothing. If that is the wire I will be amazed. Thank you for the info.

DuckStu · 02-17-2007, 01:41 PM

Exactly,...are you using a pill to control the shift point,..or is this a digitally adjustable shift light?

If this blue wire activated with the stock shift light,...it would be sweet.

DuckStu · 02-17-2007, 01:54 PM

Ahhh,..I found the answer.

The Raptor Performance shift light is adjustable for rpm by setting some dip switches aqnd setting 2 rotary dials located behind a pannel on the side.

Here is a lonk to a close-up of the adjustments.
http://www.raptorperformance.com/switches.JPG

$85. Which is less than the $120 I paid for the MSD version. The MSD can activate the shift light at a different rpm for each of the first 4 gears. However, it blinks a dozen times every time you start the car (which is very annoying at night),...and mine stopped working after a while. I haven't yet replaced it. I was reading these threads to find the best replacement. I was hoping to tie it into the stock shift light,...but this Raptor unit might do nicely.

rekedevoate · 02-19-2007, 03:37 AM

here it is installed. i realy like the end results. what do you all think?

***fullerton*** · 02-19-2007, 04:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rekedevoate

here it is installed. i realy like the end results. what do you all think?

i think it looks annoying...

can't even see the tach much anymore.

rekedevoate · 02-19-2007, 11:06 AM

dont need to now. you can still see the main numbers that you need to see. 1k-7k. the shift light also has launch control, and also if you look in the center of the light, theirs a digital rpm gauge. i like it. i dont have to look any more to see when i have to shift, also i can have my music up, and i dont have to hear the engine for the shift point. no mater which way i am looking, i will always know when to shift. i think its a great mod.

***fullerton*** · 02-19-2007, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rekedevoate

dont need to now. you can still see the main numbers that you need to see. 1k-7k. the shift light also has launch control, and also if you look in the center of the light, theirs a digital rpm gauge. i like it. i dont have to look any more to see when i have to shift, also i can have my music up, and i dont have to hear the engine for the shift point. no mater which way i am looking, i will always know when to shift. i think its a great mod.

each to their own i guess.

it's too loud for me, but i am boring.

DuckStu · 02-20-2007, 11:52 AM

Hmmm, I'm confused. The shift light and car in the last set of pictures are different than the ones in the OP.

The OP was showed an $85 Raptor 3/4" diameter shift light, and in the last post you made, you show a 2 1/8" diameter, $160.00 AutoMeter Digital Pro shift light.

Two very different lights with two very different dimensions. The Raptor being only 1.5 - 2" off the guage surround base and only 3/4" diameter, doesn't block the tach at all. The 3" high, 2 and 1/8" diameter AutoMeter unit does block a lot of the tach.

I think I'll go for the Raptor one.

**tyler_sti** · 02-20-2007, 12:03 PM

^ What he said! wtf??

La Mer · 02-20-2007, 12:06 PM

that is ridiculous.

**tyler_sti** · 02-23-2007, 10:47 PM

I still dont get the two different models. That other little gauge is being installed in an impreza, not even an sti??

Pitcherman · 04-05-2007, 02:25 PM

Anybody ever checked out the Gizmo shiftlight with launch controle? That's the one I'll be getting soon.

The autometer shift light is just in a stupid place. Why the heck would you want to block half of your gauge cluster? Why not bolt it up next to the a-pillar? Atlest then you wouldn't have to look down the see the tach reading on it.

DuckStu · 04-05-2007, 03:45 PM

I had the small MSD digital programable shift light. It died in a week. I returned it.

I replaced it with the one at the top of this thread,...the Raptor one. It works great,....$80 and I wired it the way REDEDEVOATE outlined above. Very helpfull.

I have been eying the Gizzmo units. You need to have the Tach Recall Shift Light to be able to run the launch control unit. The 2 units together run $365 - $375 plus shipping. That's a chunk,...but I'm definately considering it. Sure would be cool to flat shift at the strip and street. Big flames out the tail pipe too I'd bet, and the launches would be even more consistant

DuckStu · 04-05-2007, 04:02 PM

Well,...I guess I'll be the IWSTI guinnea-pig. I just oprdered up the Gizzmo shift light and launch control interface.

Got it for $355.98 shipped from these guys. I'll post back here in a few weeks on the install and how well it works.
https://www.momentumgt.com/gizzmoelectronics-m-99.html

02-11-2007, 04:18 AM	#1
rekedevoate Professional STI Racer Car: 2006 Siliver STi Fav Mod: Recaro's Location: HD Germany Posts: 610 Join Date: Jul 2006 Trader Rating: (0)	how to install a aftermarket shift light!!! hello again everyone, i finally installed my shift light on my 06 sti. i used the instructions found on nasioc written by OKR S06 for a wrx seen below. (WARNING) I AM NOT RESPONSIBLE IF YOU DAMAGE YOUR CAR! YOU WILL DO THIS AT YOUR OWN RISK! Hey everyone, Well I was tired of all the research I was doing and going nowhere with this. So, tonite with help from my friend Chris we got this figured out with a little trial and error. I purchased a shift light from raptor performance...this shift light is great but, kinda expensive and worth it. I know a lot of us had been looking around for this and I hope this write-up helps. First, Start by removing your gauge cluster and exposing all three plugs from the instrument cluster. Sorry I didn't take pics of this part. You can look this up on NASIOC for removal of gauge cluster. once exposed it will look like this. Then grab the farthest right 10 pin connector. This is where the tach lead wire is located. Second, You are now looking for the solid blue wire going into this plug. That is your tach lead wire. Looking straight at the plug as it would hook into the instrument cluster...you will count from right to left once you get to 5 this should be the solid blue wire right next to the black wire...(SOLID BLUE=TACH LEAD). Sorry about the blurry pic but, you get the point Third, I just followed this wire back and used a vampire clip on that wire. I connected the tach lead of the car to the tach lead of the shift light. Fourth, Just wire your ground and power and you are done. I tapped the power into the A/C control so it come on when everything is powered up. You can choose where you want to power it up from. Now carefully put your cluster back in and screw everthing back in place. Here is a pic of the final result. This ad is not endorsed by this member. Please register or login to hide this ad.

02-19-2007, 03:37 AM	#5
rekedevoate Professional STI Racer Car: 2006 Siliver STi Fav Mod: Recaro's Location: HD Germany Posts: 610 Join Date: Jul 2006 Trader Rating: (0)	autometer shift light installed here it is installed. i realy like the end results. what do you all think?

02-19-2007, 11:06 AM	#7
rekedevoate Professional STI Racer Car: 2006 Siliver STi Fav Mod: Recaro's Location: HD Germany Posts: 610 Join Date: Jul 2006 Trader Rating: (0)	dont need to now. you can still see the main numbers that you need to see. 1k-7k. the shift light also has launch control, and also if you look in the center of the light, theirs a digital rpm gauge. i like it. i dont have to look any more to see when i have to shift, also i can have my music up, and i dont have to hear the engine for the shift point. no mater which way i am looking, i will always know when to shift. i think its a great mod. Last edited by rekedevoate : 02-19-2007 at 11:12 AM. Reason: left out a few things

04-05-2007, 04:02 PM	#15
DuckStu HowTo Contributor Car: 04 Subaru STI Fav Mod: More power Location: Detroit, Michigan Posts: 232 Join Date: Sep 2006 Trader Rating: (0)	Well,...I guess I'll be the IWSTI guinnea-pig. I just oprdered up the Gizzmo shift light and launch control interface. Got it for $355.98 shipped from these guys. I'll post back here in a few weeks on the install and how well it works. https://www.momentumgt.com/gizzmoelectronics-m-99.html This ad is not endorsed by this member. Please register or login to hide this ad.

02-15-2007, 12:49 PM	#2
ur2s2pid Amateur STI Driver Car: Blue 04 Subaru WRX Fav Mod: I love my TBE because the sound of the STi engine is like nothing I have ever heard. Posts: 48 Join Date: Nov 2006 Trader Rating: (1)	I know that you said that it is the signal wire for the tach but does that shoot power when the stock shift light goes on. I have a shift light but no way to control it I was looking to take some kind of signal from the stock light but couldn't figure out what wire it was got the dash apart and the cluster out for nothing. If that is the wire I will be amazed. Thank you for the info.

02-17-2007, 01:41 PM	#3
DuckStu HowTo Contributor Car: 04 Subaru STI Fav Mod: More power Location: Detroit, Michigan Posts: 232 Join Date: Sep 2006 Trader Rating: (0)	Exactly,...are you using a pill to control the shift point,..or is this a digitally adjustable shift light? If this blue wire activated with the stock shift light,...it would be sweet.

02-17-2007, 01:54 PM	#4
DuckStu HowTo Contributor Car: 04 Subaru STI Fav Mod: More power Location: Detroit, Michigan Posts: 232 Join Date: Sep 2006 Trader Rating: (0)	Ahhh,..I found the answer. The Raptor Performance shift light is adjustable for rpm by setting some dip switches aqnd setting 2 rotary dials located behind a pannel on the side. Here is a lonk to a close-up of the adjustments. http://www.raptorperformance.com/switches.JPG $85. Which is less than the $120 I paid for the MSD version. The MSD can activate the shift light at a different rpm for each of the first 4 gears. However, it blinks a dozen times every time you start the car (which is very annoying at night),...and mine stopped working after a while. I haven't yet replaced it. I was reading these threads to find the best replacement. I was hoping to tie it into the stock shift light,...but this Raptor unit might do nicely.

02-20-2007, 11:52 AM	#9
DuckStu HowTo Contributor Car: 04 Subaru STI Fav Mod: More power Location: Detroit, Michigan Posts: 232 Join Date: Sep 2006 Trader Rating: (0)	Hmmm, I'm confused. The shift light and car in the last set of pictures are different than the ones in the OP. The OP was showed an $85 Raptor 3/4" diameter shift light, and in the last post you made, you show a 2 1/8" diameter, $160.00 AutoMeter Digital Pro shift light. Two very different lights with two very different dimensions. The Raptor being only 1.5 - 2" off the guage surround base and only 3/4" diameter, doesn't block the tach at all. The 3" high, 2 and 1/8" diameter AutoMeter unit does block a lot of the tach. I think I'll go for the Raptor one.

02-20-2007, 12:03 PM	#10
tyler_sti Gold Member Car: '07 CMG STI Fav Mod: carbing subframe, driving experience:) Location: los angeles Posts: 3,481 Join Date: Aug 2006 Trader Rating: (11)	^ What he said! wtf??

02-20-2007, 12:06 PM	#11
La Mer NIИja Car: 2006 STI (SGM) Location: US - Southern California Posts: 38,188 Join Date: Jan 2006 Trader Rating: (5)	that is ridiculous.

02-23-2007, 10:47 PM	#12
tyler_sti Gold Member Car: '07 CMG STI Fav Mod: carbing subframe, driving experience:) Location: los angeles Posts: 3,481 Join Date: Aug 2006 Trader Rating: (11)	I still dont get the two different models. That other little gauge is being installed in an impreza, not even an sti??

04-05-2007, 02:25 PM	#13
Pitcherman Village Idiot Car: 04 JVP STi Fav Mod: Blitz NUR Spec R Location: B.F.E, Texas Posts: 7,908 Join Date: Apr 2004 Trader Rating: (3)	Anybody ever checked out the Gizmo shiftlight with launch controle? That's the one I'll be getting soon. The autometer shift light is just in a stupid place. Why the heck would you want to block half of your gauge cluster? Why not bolt it up next to the a-pillar? Atlest then you wouldn't have to look down the see the tach reading on it.

04-05-2007, 03:45 PM	#14
DuckStu HowTo Contributor Car: 04 Subaru STI Fav Mod: More power Location: Detroit, Michigan Posts: 232 Join Date: Sep 2006 Trader Rating: (0)	I had the small MSD digital programable shift light. It died in a week. I returned it. I replaced it with the one at the top of this thread,...the Raptor one. It works great,....$80 and I wired it the way REDEDEVOATE outlined above. Very helpfull. I have been eying the Gizzmo units. You need to have the Tach Recall Shift Light to be able to run the launch control unit. The 2 units together run $365 - $375 plus shipping. That's a chunk,...but I'm definately considering it. Sure would be cool to flat shift at the strip and street. Big flames out the tail pipe too I'd bet, and the launches would be even more consistant