Possible gauge protection solution CUSTOMER LIST
- Thread starter analogdesigner
- Start date
sr71
GT Owner
TO AWSUM
Ford GT Owner
I haven't had any gauge failures, but I only have 10k on it. I also never start the car until the computer has fully booted and completed all its hand shakes with the gauges, etc (ie. after the odometer displays mileage).
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does the chance of gauge failure increase if you start your car before everything is fully booted up?
TACHY
GT Owner
I personally always crank with the accellerator and clutch down until oil pressure is up, then redo to start the car. Fortunate to not have any guage problems as yet. I did however install the "solution" when it became available as well.
TO AWSUM
Ford GT Owner
No one knows for sure what is causing the failures. There are some theories that it's caused by an over voltage surge during starting. Also it's a fact gauges will not function if the battery is low. Starting drains the battery, so logic would indicate you should wait for a complete boot before straining the battery by starting.
Sent from my SM-N920V using Tapatalk
Sent from my SM-N920V using Tapatalk
Dino
Ford GT Owner
SYCO GT
GT Owner
Good tip! I'm still on my original gauges, but will intentionally do this routine now.
Beach-GT
GT Owner
I'm hoping this helps but I have not implemented it yet. I ran a spice model on the idea and the clamp should be located as close to the gauges as possible. By putting it at the fuse block the model responds with some terrible voltage ringing due to the 3 or 4 feet of wire between the fuse block and the gauges. Maybe my model parameters are not correct but this looks like a problem. My theory on the problem is the gauges are servo motors run by pulse width modulation generated by the guage module which is a computer. Computers run fine when they have proper supply voltage but when they are run with lower than necessary voltage they put out garbage data. My thought is as a battery gets weak or a ground gets bad or some other cause causes the voltage for the guage module to be too low to operate properly, it puts out a DC voltage and cooks the servo in a guage or two. Then when the power is turned off and back on the module straightens out and the cause is gone leaving us puzzeled as to what happened. Just my theory....don't shoot. I keep my battery up.
bonehead
GT Owner
New data point for this thread.
Just noticed my volt meter appears to be dead. Pegged at 'L'. Doesn't move at all with multiple attempts at starting/restarting the ignition. All the other gauges work.
I used Jay's 'Alternate Method' configuration with the 5 and 15 Amp fuses. Haven't checked the junction box yet, but I assume since the rest of gauges work, the fuse will likely be fine?
Just noticed my volt meter appears to be dead. Pegged at 'L'. Doesn't move at all with multiple attempts at starting/restarting the ignition. All the other gauges work.
I used Jay's 'Alternate Method' configuration with the 5 and 15 Amp fuses. Haven't checked the junction box yet, but I assume since the rest of gauges work, the fuse will likely be fine?
sr71
GT Owner
Interesting. If so this would be the first reported gauge failure after installing Jay's protection. Next question would be,,,did the solution fail to provide the desired protection, or did the gauge fail for some other unrelated cause. Keep us posted. Any thoughts Jay?
bonehead
GT Owner
Just checked junction box. The 5 Amp fuse did not blow, so the failure is definitely from another cause. I suppose it's possible the gauge actually still works but for some reason isn't getting a signal from the battery. But assuming it's the actual gauge that took a crap, aside from the hassle for me with another expensive paperweight, this proves that there are other modes of failure separate from some electrical surge.
And just to clarify, I always let the onboard diagnostics run and the odometer display a reading before I start the car.
fjpikul
GT Owner
bonehead
GT Owner
I bought one of the redesigned Autometer oil pressure gauges when they were released. Cheaper? Yes. Cheap? No.
bonehead
GT Owner
Well that sucks. No replacement for that one other that the Speedhuts. Anyone else?
mccarter1369
Ford Enthusiast
bonehead
GT Owner
Good question. Haven't put a volt meter to the battery, but there aren't any other signs that it's dying. Car starts without hesitation and all the other gauges/electronics work fine. Car is usually on a CTEK. Has never been off a charger more than a week or so. But checking the battery is my next step.
bonehead
GT Owner
Whelp. Now my temp gauge took a crap today. Good thing I haven't replaced my voltmeter yet or the dash would have had to come off twice. Will probably change my battery during my next service just in case. But I think I can confirm with almost complete certainty that this gauge protection solution does not work.