Adding guages; good idea/ boy-racer garbage?

[labman]

When you are trying to find a problem, you never have too much data.

 

[crossbow]

Before investing in alot of gauges...

Check out...

http://www.autoenginuity.com/

On any later model car, this may be a much more cost effective solution, and provide mountains of more information on your vehicle's sensors, as well as providing for the ability to diagnose trouble codes.

They also now have a wireless module to plug into the OBD-II diagnostic port, which allows for basically wireless diagnostic and sensor information to be displayed remotely...on a in car LCD for example.

 

[Jim Spahr]

Crossbow, help me understand the value of the Auto Enginuity scan tool. It looks like with this $230.00 scan tool you can read and reset codes on OBD-II cars from Ford, GM and European and Asian cars. Are you suggesting leaving it plugged in continuously to act as an engine monitor like a set of gauges would? My car is an OBD-I 1994 car.

 

[Horatio]

actually, that thing looks pretty cool! The problem is having something to display it on/interface with it and be able to look at safely while driving. They have a "guage format" (at least, I think I read that) but as I have no laptop, PDA or LCD screen to hook it to, I'm outta luck for now. You're right that it would give loads more info than a scattering of guages.

Looks like it's almost a must-have for modern day shade-tree machanics too.

Greg

 

[Bob Woods]

Heres a cheaper solution and it has a gauge display. I have it installed on a lap top. Haven't got the interface cable yet.

http://obddiagnostics.com/ProgWin.html

"Coming from the aviation industry, I'm an info junkie"

I was a flight engineer for many years, after spending my working hours looking at rows and rows of gauges, the last thing I wanted while driving was to have my attention diverted from the road and its idiots to a bunch of gauges. We FE's were on the plane so the pilots could fly the thing and we monitored the systems. bobwoods

[ April 02, 2004, 09:35 PM: Message edited by: Bob Woods ]

 

[Horatio]

OK so I finally went ahead and grabbed one of those 3-pack Aut-Gage sets because I would like to keep an eye on things and it has only set me back about $85 Canadian, so far. The reason I add the "so far" is that as the temp gauge goes as high as 280F, maybe I will use that for the oil temp. Is this as simple as drilling and tapping a hole into the pan?

Also, I think I should get a "T" fitting for the pressure sender so I can retian the factory sensor.

Thanks for all the help everyone!

Greg

 

[rg144]

My gauges have all come with instructions and a 800 number to call for support.

Also, keep you other sending units on. Idiot lights get attention for a reason. Or the sending unit may be feeding the ECU computer.