POLL: Battery Age (Yrs) / Gauges malfunction
- Thread starter Kayvan
- Start date
Xcentric
GT Owner
Voltage of battery: 11.8; 12.0; 12.2; 12.4; 12.6; 12.8
Number of days since last start: 1-3; 4-7; 8-14; 15-30; >30.
Number of days since ground cable cleaned:
Garage temperature and humidity:
Starting procedure:
Ancillary electronic devices:
Build date:
Planetary alignment:
Karma:
Number of days since last start: 1-3; 4-7; 8-14; 15-30; >30.
Number of days since ground cable cleaned:
Garage temperature and humidity:
Starting procedure:
Ancillary electronic devices:
Build date:
Planetary alignment:
Karma:
Hope I don't jinx myself. I have never had an issue with any of my gauges. Below is my quick answers the questions:
Replaced the battery once about 4 years ago;
Number of days since last start: start at least once a month;
Number of days since ground cable cleaned: for more than a decade ownership, probably cleaned it less than 5 times;
Temp and Humidity: I'm in California
Start procedures: Like Kendall has always said- 1. turn key on; 2. wait until the systems cycle thru and all the blinking and beeping stop; then, 3. push the red botton;
Device: when parked, connected to trickle charger religiously; when driving, only plug in iPhone or V-1;
Karma: don't ask don't tell....
Replaced the battery once about 4 years ago;
Number of days since last start: start at least once a month;
Number of days since ground cable cleaned: for more than a decade ownership, probably cleaned it less than 5 times;
Temp and Humidity: I'm in California
Start procedures: Like Kendall has always said- 1. turn key on; 2. wait until the systems cycle thru and all the blinking and beeping stop; then, 3. push the red botton;
Device: when parked, connected to trickle charger religiously; when driving, only plug in iPhone or V-1;
Karma: don't ask don't tell....
TO AWSUM
Ford GT Owner
Sorry, but this is a bad poll. It assumes the battery is causing the gauge failures which is an unsubstantiated assumption. I doubt very much the battery is the cause. My original battery discharged to the point the gauges did not operate several times when I first purchased my GT. I finally bought a battery maintainer to keep the battery from discharging when the car was not being driven. Then at about the 10 year point the original OEM battery caused my car to go into limp mode due to the amperage being too low. I have not experienced any OEM gauge failures.
Since this poll made a huge unsubstantiated assumption, I'll make one of my own. I believe the problem is due to poor quality control during the manufacture of the OEM gauges and or poor quality control of the individual components in the gauges. Some owners were lucky to get good units that are not failing and others got poor units which are failing. I think it is that simple. That being said, I'm not taking any chances. As I was taught during my flying career, always let the system boot up and accomplish all the computer handshakes before you start the engines to protect the equipment, this is what I do with the GT. I always wait, on every start-up, until the computer handshakes are done and the odometer displays before pushing the red button. It's possible the power surge caused by starting the engine during the computer handshakes is causing the failures or it's just plain bad quality control during the gauge manufacturing. Who really knows?
Since this poll made a huge unsubstantiated assumption, I'll make one of my own. I believe the problem is due to poor quality control during the manufacture of the OEM gauges and or poor quality control of the individual components in the gauges. Some owners were lucky to get good units that are not failing and others got poor units which are failing. I think it is that simple. That being said, I'm not taking any chances. As I was taught during my flying career, always let the system boot up and accomplish all the computer handshakes before you start the engines to protect the equipment, this is what I do with the GT. I always wait, on every start-up, until the computer handshakes are done and the odometer displays before pushing the red button. It's possible the power surge caused by starting the engine during the computer handshakes is causing the failures or it's just plain bad quality control during the gauge manufacturing. Who really knows?
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KMCBOSS
RED GT owner
1. I always keep the battery charged
2. After turning ignition on, I always wait for the numbers to show in the odometer before pressing the start button.
11+ years and no gauge problems so far......knock on wood
2. After turning ignition on, I always wait for the numbers to show in the odometer before pressing the start button.
11+ years and no gauge problems so far......knock on wood
AJB
GT
I hope this does not cause me bad luck but .: 2006 FGT
--My gauges are all original and all working
--Always use OEM battery tender
--for the past 2 years have been following the 'wait till all units cycle on before hitting the red button to start" once folks recommended it.
--My original battery has been fully discharged in my trailer heading to VIR from Michigan with the Key left 'on'. Jump started car with my 'battery box'- no issues with starting or gauges.
--New battery is a Sears Platinum/ installed several years ago to 'be safe'. Optima was still fine.
--never a gauge issue.....fingers crossed.
ajb (andy)
--My gauges are all original and all working
--Always use OEM battery tender
--for the past 2 years have been following the 'wait till all units cycle on before hitting the red button to start" once folks recommended it.
--My original battery has been fully discharged in my trailer heading to VIR from Michigan with the Key left 'on'. Jump started car with my 'battery box'- no issues with starting or gauges.
--New battery is a Sears Platinum/ installed several years ago to 'be safe'. Optima was still fine.
--never a gauge issue.....fingers crossed.
ajb (andy)
Xcentric
GT Owner
What is the voltage issue? I don't recall anything beyond speculation about the mode of gauge failure.
The gauges need ">10 volts." This is a diagnostic test for all the gauges. Is voltage greater than 10 volts? Yes. Go to the next step.
A 12 volt battery is at 0% charge at 10.5 volts. So...even a dead battery has more than the minimum voltage to operate the gauges.
I too do the voodoo ritual of letting the gauges boot before pressing the engine start button. However, there is no evidence this procedure has any effect. Even a battery too weak to crank the engine will have sufficient voltage to operate the gauges.
It's appealing to think that low voltage could be a failure mode. And conversely, that high voltage (as in a spike) could be a failure mode. Humans like to create explanations for things we don't understand. Total lack of evidence doesn't bother many of us.
I like the Occam's razor explanation. The Autometer gauges are crap. No failures for me though.
2112
Blue/white 06'
I have lost 2 temp, 2 fuel level and 2 voltage, but never oil pressure or boost.
Add me to those thinking it quality control is the issue. Hope the replacements are better.
Add me to those thinking it quality control is the issue. Hope the replacements are better.
bonehead
GT Owner
I'm down 3 gauges. Car is either running or on a CTEK. I always let the diagnostics cycle before starting the ignition. Battery is getting a bit old, but it still puts out adequate voltage.
There is absolutely no rhyme or reason as to why some have multiple failures and others have never had one. What I don't understand is why Autometer doesn't just share what they know about the gauge failures? Liability? Or they just want to cash in on selling these redesigned units?
There is absolutely no rhyme or reason as to why some have multiple failures and others have never had one. What I don't understand is why Autometer doesn't just share what they know about the gauge failures? Liability? Or they just want to cash in on selling these redesigned units?
BlackICE
GT Owner
2112
Blue/white 06'
Forgot to mention I am on a smart charger too.
Speedhut isn't interested in getting the faceplate right. That black Powdercoat is horrible.
PeteK
GT Owner
Well, you can pack away the original gauges and panel, like I did, and then customize the Speedhut panel any way you like. The gauges are different anyway (especially the tach), so there's no point in trying to make it look original. You could take the panel to a machine shop and have it "engine turned." That would be a really cool look, like something from the 1960's or earlier.
Yeah, I know, I'm beating a dead horse....
Yeah, I know, I'm beating a dead horse....
2112
Blue/white 06'
Speedhut does a fantastic job on their brushed aluminum faceplate.
They refuse to correctly hard-coat anodize it. I offered to put them in touch with a Boeing contractor who could do it before they press-fit the screws on the back side. Were talking less than $20 per plate.
They are not interested.
They refuse to correctly hard-coat anodize it. I offered to put them in touch with a Boeing contractor who could do it before they press-fit the screws on the back side. Were talking less than $20 per plate.
They are not interested.
Xcentric
GT Owner
texas mongrel
GT Owner
I’m on my third battery, always replace with a Ford unit. I’ve never used a trickle charger because back in the day when the failures started popping up, one theory was that the charger was causing the failures. I can always tell when my battery needs replacing because the gauges stop working, but put the new one in and presto (fingers crossed) the gauges come back to life. 48,000 miles in I have all functional original gauges, even after multiple temporary failures.