ARB High Output On-Board Air Compressor
Under the Hood JK Installation Write-Up

August 30th, 2009 | Category: Jeep JK Write-Ups, Tools & Accessories

Airing down your tires for the trail is an essential part of off-roading and one that will give you significantly better traction on the rocks and will also offer a much more comfortable ride. However, getting your tires aired back up at the end of the day can be somewhat of a problem especially if you’re still a ways off from a gas station with a working air compressor. Of course, the best solution to this problem is to bring your own source of air but a good hard mounted compressor or CO2 air tank can take up a lot of space inside your Jeep and most of the basic portable units simply don’t have what it takes to fill up four over sized tires in a reasonable amount of time. And, that’s why I decided to get an ARB High Output On-Board Air Compressor.Compact and powerful, the ARB High Output On-Board Air Compressor is affordable and can be installed with ease under the hood of your Jeep JK Wrangler. With this setup, you’ll have a reliable source of air with you at all times and without taking up any space inside your Jeep.

To find out how easy it really is to install the ARB High Output On-Board Air Compressor on your Jeep JK Wrangler, simply follow the instructions below.

What you will need

• 12,13,19mm
Socket & Wrench
• 10mm Deep Socket
• Ratchet
• Wire Cutters
• Needle Nose Pliers
• Solderless Terminal Pilers
• Small Flathead Screwdriver
• Teflon Tape
• Electrical Tape
• Zip Ties
• Wire Coat Hanger
• Utility Knife
• Panel Trim Remover Tool 

What you will
need to get

• ARB High Output On-Board Air Compressor
•ARB Air Compressor Hose Kit
• Brake Booster Mounting Bracket
• Daystar JK Switch Panel

Where you can get
your ARB Compressor

You can purchase your ARB Compressor Kit from:Northridge4×4
   

Instructions
Here’s a shot of all the components you will need including the ARB High Output On-Board Air Compressor, Hose Kit and under the hood mounting bracket.
1. Using a 13mm wrench, remove the 2 nuts securing your Jeep JK Wrangler’s master cylinder to the brake booster. 2. Slip the ARB compressor mounting bracket over the studs as shown in this pic. 3. Reinstall your Jeep JK Wrangler’s master cylinder onto the mounting studs on the brake booster and secure it in place using the factory nuts. A 13mm wrench will be needed for this job.
4. Take the 4 carriage bolts that come with the kit and insert them into the mounting holes on the ARB air compressor as shown this pic. 5. Carefully place the ARB air compressor on top of the mounting bracket making sure that all 4 carriage bolts go through. Then, loosely install the nuts provided onto the bolts. 6. Using a 10mm deep socket, secure the ARB air compressor to the mounting bracket by tightening up the 4 nuts.
7. Firmly grab the plastic red plug on the front of your ARB air compressor and remove it as shown. 8. Install the round ARB air filter onto the threaded hole where the plastic red plug was attached to. 9. Take the pressure sensor that came with your ARB air compressor and remove the plastic red plug.
10. Apply some teflon tape to the threads of your ARB air compressor pressure sensor. 11. Using a pair of needle nose pliers, remove the plastic red plug from the side of your ARB air compressor as shown. 12. Using a 10mm wrench, loosen the nut on the back of your ARB air compressor so that you can rotate the small tank up or down as needed to provide enough room for the pressure sensor and valve connector.
13. Apply some teflon tape to the threads of your ARB air compressor 3-way splitter as shown. 14. Attach the ARB air compressor pressure sensor to the 3-way splitter provided. 15. Attach the ARB air compressor valve connector to the 3-way splitter and secure it in place using a 19mm wrench.
16. Install the assembled 3-way splitter onto the side port on your ARB air compressor as shown. 17. Rotate the small tank on your ARB compressor until the valve is properly positioned and then secure it in place by tightening the mounting nut using a 10mm wrench. 18. Lay the long wiring harness that comes with the ARB air compressor along the firewall of your Jeep JK Wrangler so that it extends from the battery to the brake booster. Then, attach the two plugs onto the pressure switch as shown in this pic.
19. Plug the power connector of your ARB air compressor into the receiving end of the wiring harness. 20. Position the weather protected fuse terminal so that it’s easily accessible and then zip tie it to the wiring harness attached to your Jeep JK Wrangler’s fire wall. 21. Install the relay that comes with your ARB air compressor kit into the wiring harness plug.
22. Making sure that the relay is positioned vertically, zip tie it in place to the wiring harness attached to your Jeep JK Wrangler’s firewall as shown in this pic. 23. Secure the rest of your ARB air compressor wiring harness by zip tying it to the wiring harness attached to your Jeep JK Wrangler’s firewall. 24. Over on the passenger side of your Jeep JK Wrangler, attach the provided solderless ring terminal to the red power lead extending from the ARB air compressor wiring harness.
25. Attach the provided solderless ring terminal to the black ground lead extending from the ARB air compressor wiring harness. 26. Using a 10mm wrench, remove the nut attached to the body of your Jeep JK Wrangler right next to the fuse box, attach the ARB air compressor ground wire to the stud and then reinstall the nut securing everything in place. 27. Using a 12mm wrench, remove the nut on top of your Jeep JK Wrangler’s negative battery clamp.
28. Using a 10mm wrench, remove the nut on top of your Jeep JK Wrangler’s positive battery clamp. 29. Attach the ARB air compressor red power lead to your Jeep JK Wrangler’s positive battery clamp and secure it in place using the factory nut. A 10mm wrench will be needed for this job. 30. Attach the ARB air compressor black ground lead to your Jeep JK Wrangler’s negative battery clamp and secure it in place using the factory nut. A 12mm wrench will be needed for this job.
31. Open up the passenger side door of your Jeep JK Wrangler and pry off the dashboard side panel. Then, push a straightened out wire coat hanger through the small foam filled hole on the firewall as shown in this pic. 32. Back under the hood, tape the multiple colored switch wires extending from the ARB air compressor wiring harness to the end of the wire coat hanger. 33. Back inside your Jeep JK Wrangler, pull the wire coat hanger back out through the hole. You should now have the multiple colored switch wires inside the cab of your Jeep.
34. Using a trim panel tool or flathead screwdriver, pry off the bottom panel of your Jeep JK Wrangler’s dash as shown. 35. Take your new Daystar switch panel and carefully cut out one of the knockouts using a utility knife. 36. Take the remaining wiring harness that comes with the ARB air compressor kit, locate the white plug ends, connect the two together.
37. Carefully color match and insert the loose wires that you just brought in through the firewall into the slots of the blank plug end as shown in this pic. 38. Assemble the rocker plate onto the switch provided with the ARB air compressor kit. 39. Install the ARB air compressor rocker switch into the opening you made in the Daystar switch panel.
40. Take the wires tagged with the label ISOLATION SWITCH and connect the pre-terminated wire ends to the back of the switch. Please refer to this photo or the wiring diagram that comes with the ARB air compressor kit for proper placement.
41. Using a small flathead screwdriver, remove the metal trim tab clips attached to your factory dash panel and attach them to your new Daystar switch panel. Then, install your Daystar switch panel to the dash on your Jeep JK Wrangler.
42. Last but not least, install the head shield onto the quick release chuck on your ARB air compressor. This shield will make it easier for you to release the air hose when everything is hot under your hood.
43. Turn on the switch inside your Jeep JK Wrangler and then check under the hood to make sure everything is working properly.
Using the ARB High Output On-Board Air Compressor is as simple as plugging in one end of the air up hose to the quick release chuck on the compressor and then the other end to your tire using the valve stem chuck provided with the kit. Turn on the switch and check the pressure in your tires from time to time with an air pressure gauge. It really is as simple as that.Please let me know if you have any questions.
 

25 Comments so far

  1. lacmprs August 30th, 2009 10:25 pm

    Eddie,

    You make everything seem so easy with your write ups. Thanks for taking the time to put them together. I have learned so much from them.

    This is a cool addition and hopefully I will be able to add one in the future. This would also be good for airing up tubes for boating and stuff.

  2. lacmprs August 30th, 2009 11:24 pm

    Also, can you give any stats on perfomrance yet?

  3. wayoflife August 31st, 2009 12:13 am

    glad to know that my write-ups have been helping you out. regarding performance, i have to say that i’m very impressed with it. certainly, it performs just as well as the powerplant i have on my white jk if not a little better. i’d say that i can bring my 35″ tire from 14psi up to 28 psi in about 3 minutes or less. hope that helps.

  4. Spetz September 1st, 2009 1:19 pm

    Looks great ! I think that’s my next project, but where did you get the brake booster mounting bracket ?

  5. wayoflife September 2nd, 2009 12:51 am

    i got the bracket from northridge4×4 as part of a package

  6. JeepSynergy 1 September 7th, 2009 8:48 pm

    Great write up.
    I’m in the middle of this install right now and am wondering if you have advice about the rocker switch light installation. The instructions say to “splice the red wire with yellow stripe to the positive wire of the outlet pair.”
    Then splice the blue wire with a white stripe onto an active illumination supply wire.”
    Did you just not connect the switch light, or could you help me out with which wires would be best to splice into?

  7. Terry Vu September 8th, 2009 11:03 pm

    HI Eddie,

    This is very good project. It is very clear including pix. Would you mind letting me know the size of the bracket. I could not find it in Australia.
    I have spoken to ARB, they have no idea.
    I would like to custom make one for myself

    Thanks in advanced.

    TV

  8. Mike September 11th, 2009 10:43 pm

    It’s pretty easy to make your own out. I copied another guy on the forum and created one from 4″ aluminum angle stock. Some discussion is here:

    http://jk-forum.com/showthread.php?t=73129

  9. Rich Brody September 12th, 2009 9:49 pm

    Nice write up. What are your thoughts about adding a remote two or two and a half gallon air tank to this set up?
    Do you think the compressor and small tank would provide enough air to run an air tool such as a drill or rachet?
    Thanks for this forum, it has really helped me to get the most out of my JK.

  10. Terry September 26th, 2009 4:37 am

    Thanks Mike,

    I have a friend make one for me after I have measure and draw it on a cardboard.
    I have it install now under the hood.

    One more problem, this device have 2 cables that ARB said to connect to Ignition cable and one to Dash illunition. I have connect the second one to car body. I do not know what color is Ignition cable (RED?)

    Please help

    Thanks in advanced

  11. Mike Snyder September 29th, 2009 9:18 am

    Hey Eddie, you installed the mounting bracket in front of the m/c right? Not between the m/c and the booster…

    Nice write up!

  12. Mike October 14th, 2009 7:13 am

    Will this set up run lockers also? Or do I need to install a tank?

  13. csmichaelson October 20th, 2009 5:26 pm

    I have the same question re: lockers. Will this system power the ARB lockers?

  14. Ryan Gowan October 26th, 2009 8:36 pm

    Quadratecs site indicates that it will run air lockers. Hope it will run air tools, I just ordered a kit from Northridge. If you can plumb a line and run a seperate tank you should be able to use air tools. I mean if warns powerplant says it can run airtools of its small tank than so should this set up.

  15. Max January 7th, 2010 2:44 am

    Very interested in the ability/difficulty of a tank set up with this, and wether or not its needed (air tools) TIA. JEEP ON

  16. Joe March 21st, 2010 5:45 pm

    Hey, thanks for the great writeup! Helped me so much, never would have done it myself without this. I have the same question as terry though, I’m stuck on the last two wires…. one goes to the ignition (its a red/yel wire) and one goes to the dash lights.

    Anyone have any luck with those? Everything I think is in the right places but I assume its not working (it doesnt) till I get those two in place.

    Thanks again!

    Joe

  17. Mike March 30th, 2010 8:06 pm

    I’m having the same problem with the last two wires that need to be spliced into the ignition…

    ANYONE? HELP? PLEASE :)

  18. gary March 30th, 2010 10:16 pm

    make sure your ignition is on or it wont work.also does anyone know how to rewire the switches so you can run the front locker independantly without the rear locker on?thanks in advance.

  19. Robert April 28th, 2010 8:22 am

    I have the same questions about the ignition and light wires. Have everything hooked up just like you write-up but still no go (yeah I have the ignition switch on lol)
    thanks

  20. Brett May 23rd, 2010 10:16 am

    I had the same issues about the ignition and light wires, so I grabbed my handy dandy Fluke multimeter and took myself to school.

    Here’s the answer:

    First remove the center console bezel to gain access to the wiring loom.

    Switched Power:
    Use the included scotch lock connector to connect the red-yellow wire into the blue-violet accessory power lead that runs to the cigarette lighter connector. Note: do not tap into the aux power port on the passenger side. it is always on.

    Illumination Dimmer Lead:
    Use the included scotch lock connector to connect the blue-white wire into the orange-beige ilumination power lead that runs to the square multi wire connector that attaches to the AC/Heat controls.

    Straighten up all the wires so they are neat and out of the way, button it up and be prepared for a bit of compressor noise.

    This worked for me on a 2010 Rubi…I’m not making any guarantees. Splice into your shiney new JK’s wiring at your own risk.

    Brett

  21. JT May 24th, 2010 12:49 pm

    Brett,

    Worked perfectly in my 2010 Rubi. Thanks for doing the school work! :)

  22. Voodoo11 June 6th, 2010 8:32 pm

    You definitely recommend this over portables?

  23. wayoflife June 7th, 2010 2:14 am

    sure i do. you always have it with you and it doesn’t take up any additional room inside. works great too.

  24. Voodoo11 June 7th, 2010 11:39 am

    Thanks WOL. My last question is, how durable is this setup? Is it relatively water proof for those of us who do some stream crossings/deep puddles?

  25. bobby June 20th, 2010 8:27 pm

    just finished my installation. writeup was excellent.

    thank you very much.

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