Boost Gauge

[SLYNE]

I hooked up my boost gauge a while back in my car and had it in there for about 2 weeks, when i first bought it it was sitting on "0" like all gauges..

When i hooked it up the first time after a night of driving the gauge was sitting on 5psi on idle, even if i turned the car off the gauge would still sit on 5psi.. So i took it out.

Today an Uncle of mine and myself decided to put in my oil pressure gauge and the infamous BOOST gauge, was hoping for the boost gauge to somewhat "re-map" itself and sit on "0"

But.. Insted the boost gauge still sits on 5 psi doesnt matter if the car is idling or off.

If i give it some gas whilst driving it would vacuum down from 5psi to -7 and change gears.. if gives me a reading of 10psi.. BUT my car is running stock boost of 6 - 7 psi whatever it is..

Would anyone know what the problem is? and yes the gauge is hooked up properly, thats why i called my uncle to give me a hand.

The gauge is a Autometer Pro comp ultra light series

Edited December 27, 2006 by SLYNE

[sky017]

where have you got it connected off , which vacumme hose? maybe the connections are over tightened or part of the vacume house could be melted someone , same scenario happened to me , when it wasnt properly fixed and tied - found it melted and had similar reading.

[blind_elk]

If i give it some gas whilst driving it would vacuum down from 5psi to -7 and change gears.. if gives me a reading of 10psi.. BUT my car is running stock boost of 6 - 7 psi whatever it is..

Can we get this translated, please.

I can only suggest that the gauge is faulty, and has lost its baseline setting. They are mechanical devices, after all, and mechanical things break.

[Wheezy]

Thats what you get for buyin a POS autometer.....

IMHO get a decent Jap guage like a sexy Blitz one, or an american Stuart Warner (alot more guage for your buck).

Hell ive seen better performance out of Speco guages. I only know one person with a working autometer boost guage and it was a Cobolt one $$$$$

jez

[NYTSKY]

Thats what you get for buyin a POS autometer.....

IMHO get a decent Jap guage like a sexy Blitz one, or an american Stuart Warner (alot more guage for your buck).

Hell ive seen better performance out of Speco guages. I only know one person with a working autometer boost guage and it was a Cobolt one $$$$$

jez

I have a speco one.Bloody good gauge for the price.

[Baz]

If it's sitting on 5psi with the car turned off there is obviously only a problem with just the gauge. My apexi ELII gauge is mechanical and sits just above the 0. If you want an acurate gauge get an electronic gauge rather than a mechanical one.

[SLYNE]

sky017 - i dont think anything is melted because the same problem has occured as the last time i did the boost gauge.

Hm seems the only way i can get out of this situation is to get an electric boost gauge, i would have to remove the vacuum hose, boost line, t piece etc from the engine bay?

where can i find jap electric gauges? blitz apexi etc..

would it look stupid if i had a jap boost gauge and a autometer gauge in the same a-pillar?

[Baz]

Buy one of the defi style autogauge gauges. They are electronic and are of good quality. No you dont need to remove the vacuum line and t-piece from the engine bay. The vacuum hose will need to go to the sender for the electronic gauge and then the wiring run to the back of the gauge.

[GeeTR]

If it helps at all, i have a mate who's VDO would always sit 1/2PSI above 0. The error amount would change as well.

careful with speculation scouts, just as a physical copper tube winding in a mech gauge can change over time, so can the mechanical pressure sender in a electronic gauge

Its sad to think a gauge.. with has only one real function can leave a factory, not working correctly.

- M

Edited December 28, 2006 by GeeTR

[heller44]

Buy one of the defi style autogauge gauges. They are electronic and are of good quality. No you dont need to remove the vacuum line and t-piece from the engine bay. The vacuum hose will need to go to the sender for the electronic gauge and then the wiring run to the back of the gauge.

Ah, no. They are not. Had one do a funky +5psi shift. Pay cheap, get cheap. Using apexi el mechanical now, very happy lad.

[SLYNE]

i dnt think the defi gauge fits in the pillar..

anyone know where the best place to go for gauges or www?

[gazza750]

ebay

[heller44]

Or, nengun. which is where I bought mine from.

[GeeTR]

Perfect Run

Defi - x4 gauges & controller - $1200 (requires postage)

-M

[SLYNE]

if i was to get one of the following boost controllers..

- Greddy PROFEC B-SPEC II

- Blitz SBC I-Colour

-Blitz SBC-ID III

All of the above ALSO display air/fuel ratio's oil temp/pressure. volts etc..

I wouldnt need a boost gauge correct? if i had one of the following?

[Munkyb0y]

this is like the 10th time i've read about dodgy autometer gauges. i always thought they were good gauges. i guess not.

why dont you just change the gauge? i'm using a splitfire gauge, it's very consistent.

i doubt you have to spend big $$$ just to get a decent boost reading. even try a speco gauge. they're only about $40. most ppl seem happy with those.

[mad082]

i had an autometer sports comp boost gauge in my old 180sx and it still running strong after about 3 years. my mate is using the same autometer boost gauge that his brother used in his sr20 powered 1600 about 5 years ago (and been used all this time). i'm yet to hear of anyone i know with autometer gauges that have stuffed up.

but then skyline owners are the first people with turbo cars i know to have issues with atmo bovs. and it only seems to be people on this forum. out of all my mates with skylines and other turbo cars i'm the only 1 with a plumback, and none of them have had any issues. i had a stalling issue with my stock bov, and a new set of plugs fixed that.

[SLYNE]

mad082 - So true, none of my mates complain about autometer, bov's etc..

I will prob buy another pro comp ultra lite boost gauge. Someone said something along the lines "pay cheap, get cheap"

Yes autometer is probably cheaper compared to all HKS, BLITZ, APEXI, DEFI etc gauges..

BUT the gauge that i have isnt the cheapest of all autometer products.. its up there with lunar series, c2, cobalt etc..

So i think in my case it doesnt come down to pay cheap, get cheap it could of been just a lemon of a gauge?

[ricsvtr]

I agree with Wheezy, Autometer are crap. I have an Autometer Sportcomp and it doesnt sit on zero when my car is turned off. Ive contacted Autometer through their website and they've told me that it is out of calibration (NOT due to atmospheric pressure or vacuum left in the engine). Also if you search on google you will find numerous complaints about Autometer guages. Ive ordered a Defi guage to replace it but im still waiting to receive it. Just a heads up- do not order from Istoreparts.com, they are a bunch of wankers. Once they have your money they are extremely hard to contact and three months after sending my payment im yet to see my guage.

[mad082]

i know of a few other brand gauges that i have seen that don't sit dead on 0 when turned off.

maybe all the faulty gauges were out of the 1 batch.