OR BEST/Hall of Fame Series
This thread series is intended to help you improve your work and reduce headaches. This is a collective project.
BACKGROUND - GUAGES
VW had very little to do with guages... they focused on "idiot" lights to report when it was too late. Many cars have an array of guages to "look cool." When you're out in the heat and stink --- a little advance notice can help ward off the potential buzzards.
QUESTION - GUAGES
What guages are really helpful to demonstrate the health of your car? Which ones are improvements? Which ones are to look impressive?
Last edited by MNAirHead on Wed Nov 29, 2006 10:10 am, edited 2 times in total.
Okay...this is what I personally have done...it may be a bit on the "extreme" side for some. I have your normal (and some not so normal) set of gauges. Then on the tack I set up a couple light to make me pay attention. The shift light is obviously not needed in your average rig...but the extra bright alternator light is a good idea because it tells you if you have stopped charging...Also see...your belt fell off...And, the oil light comes on at 10 psi. That will probably do nothing aside from tell you to shut down before ANYMORE damage happens. To me...light are no replacement for gauges...but they will bring my attention to the real gauges..should one light up.
Along the lines of gauges... does anyone "clock" their gauges (I think that is what it is called )
Basically, install all gauges that you will be running, then establish the "normal" readings... Then loosen the gauges and turn in the appropriate direction until all needles would be pointing straight up.
That way when you are driving a quick look at the gauges and if all needles point up, all is good. If a needle is off from the "straight up" position, more attention is needed
DesertGuy wrote:Along the lines of gauges... does anyone "clock" their gauges (I think that is what it is called )
Basically, install all gauges that you will be running, then establish the "normal" readings... Then loosen the gauges and turn in the appropriate direction until all needles would be pointing straight up.
That way when you are driving a quick look at the gauges and if all needles point up, all is good. If a needle is off from the "straight up" position, more attention is needed
How did you do it to your speedo? lmao Just kidding
If you are REALLY beating on your car or it is vibrating a whole bunch due to running at very high speeds...the needle and goodies can come loose. The oil filled dampens vibrations so it makes them hang together...I have never broken a quality gauge like atuometer myself...I have had them malfunction...but not fall apart due to my driving... I am just bumbling around in the dunes...that's a whole different deal than run at full song across the desert.
this is what i now run , had a whole boat load of vdo gauges. After 3 years of running this i don't think i will ever go back to conventional gauges, mind you this is a personal thing
and just a little off topic for those of you with late model tow rigs, i have just installed this in my new ford pickup can't see how you can get more bang for the buck and it just plugs into the ALDL port took about 15 seconds to install gives me 12 guages in one and the ability to read and clear trouble codes
2088 bob wrote:this is what i now run , had a whole boat load of vdo gauges. After 3 years of running this i don't think i will ever go back to conventional gauges, mind you this is a personal thing
)
and just a little off topic for those of you with late model tow rigs, i have just installed this in my new ford pickup can't see how you can get more bang for the buck and it just plugs into the ALDL port took about 15 seconds to install gives me 12 guages in one and the ability to read and clear trouble codes