3rd Generation Specific (1993-2002) 1993-2002 Discussion including performance modifications and Technical Support Sections.
Sponsored by:

boost gauge?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Mar 18, 2008 | 04:36 PM
  #1  
tafkamb2's Avatar
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Tenured Member 15 Years
 
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 484
Likes: 1
From: florida
boost gauge?

Ive been searching for a while but couldn't find what I'm looking for. I bought and autometer boost/vac gauge and I have it installed but I'm not getting a good reading. I was wondering if I had to tie it into a vac line or if I could just put it on the extra nipple on the UIM?
Thanks for the help guys.
Reply
Old Mar 18, 2008 | 04:42 PM
  #2  
Prophet7000's Avatar
VV That's mine VV
Tenured Member 05 Years
 
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 583
Likes: 0
From: Chapel Hill, NC
There's typically an open nipple on the top of the passenger side of the UIM, use that bad boy
Reply
Old Mar 18, 2008 | 04:59 PM
  #3  
4CN A1R's Avatar
sleeper
iTrader: (6)
 
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,957
Likes: 3
From: Abbottstown, PA
mine doesnt read correct vacuum and sometimes boost. i dont know what makes boost gauges read incorrectly or go bad. but its pretty cruital that you get one that reads accuratly
Reply
Old Mar 18, 2008 | 05:02 PM
  #4  
Mahjik's Avatar
Mr. Links
Tenured Member 20 Years
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 27,595
Likes: 43
From: Kansas City, MO
Originally Posted by tafkamb2
I'm not getting a good reading.
What readings are you getting?

For what it's worth, mine is T'd into the boost (MAP) sensor line.
Reply
Old Mar 18, 2008 | 05:16 PM
  #5  
MAXX65's Avatar
Full Member
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 173
Likes: 0
From: San Diego
I know this is a little off topic, but get another gauge. I have a autometer and its always about 1.5 psi more than I'm really boosting. I had my shop check my install and they said i did it right, its just the gauge is off. After some reaserch with some friends I found that most everyone that has had, or still has a autometer gauge has had problems with proper ready.

not all the gauges I checked out where boost gauges.

The only reason why I've stayed with the autometer gauge is because I know that its consistantly off by 1.5 psi. and never any more. (and I perfer to spend my money on there things for the time being)
Reply
Old Mar 18, 2008 | 06:56 PM
  #6  
tafkamb2's Avatar
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Tenured Member 15 Years
 
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 484
Likes: 1
From: florida
Originally Posted by MAXX65
I know this is a little off topic, but get another gauge. I have a autometer and its always about 1.5 psi more than I'm really boosting. I had my shop check my install and they said i did it right, its just the gauge is off. After some reaserch with some friends I found that most everyone that has had, or still has a autometer gauge has had problems with proper ready.

not all the gauges I checked out where boost gauges.

The only reason why I've stayed with the autometer gauge is because I know that its consistantly off by 1.5 psi. and never any more. (and I perfer to spend my money on there things for the time being)
Ive read this and I'm ok with that. I was looking for something that matched the stock gauges and I'm fine with it being off that much as long as I know.
And as for what I'm reading it goes down slowly to about 10 inhg and then it stays there thats about it.
Reply
Old Mar 18, 2008 | 07:04 PM
  #7  
Mahjik's Avatar
Mr. Links
Tenured Member 20 Years
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 27,595
Likes: 43
From: Kansas City, MO
Originally Posted by tafkamb2
And as for what I'm reading it goes down slowly to about 10 inhg and then it stays there thats about it.
So, how do you know the gauge is off? Have you verified your vacuum reading with something else?
Reply
Old Mar 18, 2008 | 07:15 PM
  #8  
tafkamb2's Avatar
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Tenured Member 15 Years
 
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 484
Likes: 1
From: florida
because even when I spool up the turbos it still reads 10inhg and when i shut the car off it still stays there.
Reply
Old Mar 18, 2008 | 07:25 PM
  #9  
zack4173's Avatar
Rotary Enthusiast
Tenured Member 10 Years
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,020
Likes: 0
From: Bonney lake Washington
I have an autometer boost/vac gauge and, I thought it might read high because I have always ran 12PSI even when stock, But even my power FC says im running 12 PSI.
Reply
Old Mar 18, 2008 | 07:56 PM
  #10  
Mahjik's Avatar
Mr. Links
Tenured Member 20 Years
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 27,595
Likes: 43
From: Kansas City, MO
Originally Posted by tafkamb2
because even when I spool up the turbos it still reads 10inhg and when i shut the car off it still stays there.
If you rev it in neutral, does it just always stay at 10 inHg? When it's off, where does it rest?
Reply
Old Mar 19, 2008 | 07:09 AM
  #11  
DaveW's Avatar
Racecar - Formula 2000
Tenured Member: 20 Years
 
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 4,033
Likes: 369
From: Bath, OH
When i got my #3376 electronic autometer boost gauge, it came with some really crappy tubing to hook the sender up to vacuum. It looked like it could kink really easily, and I used other tubing instead. Maybe your boost tubing to the gauge is kinked.
Reply
Old Mar 19, 2008 | 10:33 AM
  #12  
tafkamb2's Avatar
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Tenured Member 15 Years
 
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 484
Likes: 1
From: florida
If you rev it in neutral, does it just always stay at 10 inHg? When it's off, where does it rest?
If i rev it it stays at about 10inhg all the time. It rest at 10 and seems like it goes down over time.


Originally Posted by DaveW
When i got my #3376 electronic autometer boost gauge, it came with some really crappy tubing to hook the sender up to vacuum. It looked like it could kink really easily, and I used other tubing instead. Maybe your boost tubing to the gauge is kinked.
I was thinking about that I just havnt had time to get back under the car to check to see if maby I could have kinked it.
Reply
Old Mar 19, 2008 | 10:42 AM
  #13  
Mahjik's Avatar
Mr. Links
Tenured Member 20 Years
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 27,595
Likes: 43
From: Kansas City, MO
So when the car is off, it's not resting 'near' 0? It won't be exactly 0 as there is nothing inside the gauge to make it go completely to 0 when the power is off, but it should be 'near' 0.
Reply
Old Mar 19, 2008 | 11:04 AM
  #14  
Montego's Avatar
Don't worry be happy...
Tenured Member: 20 Years
Loved
Community Favorite
Top Answer: 1
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 6,901
Likes: 842
From: San Diego, CA
it's your gauge... autometer boost gauges are known to suck. BTW I also have an autometer and yeah it sucks.
Reply
Old Mar 19, 2008 | 11:20 AM
  #15  
Mahjik's Avatar
Mr. Links
Tenured Member 20 Years
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 27,595
Likes: 43
From: Kansas City, MO
Originally Posted by montego
it's your gauge... autometer boost gauges are known to suck. BTW I also have an autometer and yeah it sucks.
I've had one for going on 7 years now. Never had an issue with it.
Reply
Old Mar 19, 2008 | 12:49 PM
  #16  
Montego's Avatar
Don't worry be happy...
Tenured Member: 20 Years
Loved
Community Favorite
Top Answer: 1
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 6,901
Likes: 842
From: San Diego, CA
Well I guess I should clarify

to the thread starter. Don't be surprised if your autometer gauge is off especially with their lower brand lineup. Some people get lucky and some don't
Reply
Old Mar 19, 2008 | 02:36 PM
  #17  
tafkamb2's Avatar
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Tenured Member 15 Years
 
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 484
Likes: 1
From: florida
so should i send my gauge back?
Reply
Old Mar 19, 2008 | 02:39 PM
  #18  
White94RX's Avatar
BMW Tech
Tenured Member 05 Years
 
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 845
Likes: 0
From: Auburn, Alabama
sounds like the crappy tubing may be kinked. I used that tubing to go from the gauge down under the dash, then used rubber vacuum line from there to the intake manifold.
Reply
Old Mar 19, 2008 | 02:58 PM
  #19  
DaveW's Avatar
Racecar - Formula 2000
Tenured Member: 20 Years
 
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 4,033
Likes: 369
From: Bath, OH
Originally Posted by tafkamb2
It rest at 10 and seems like it goes down over time.

I was thinking about that I just havnt had time to get back under the car to check to see if maby I could have kinked it.
Slowly going down over time does sound like a kinked line...

Dave
Reply
Old Mar 19, 2008 | 04:04 PM
  #20  
tafkamb2's Avatar
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Tenured Member 15 Years
 
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 484
Likes: 1
From: florida
When I do have it hooked up the car doesnt run as nice, but I dont see how I could have a leak because i put teflon tape on both of the connectors on the back of the gauge, the part that screws on the gauge and the part that holds the tube onto that part and the other side is ziptied.
Reply
Old Mar 19, 2008 | 04:57 PM
  #21  
DaveW's Avatar
Racecar - Formula 2000
Tenured Member: 20 Years
 
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 4,033
Likes: 369
From: Bath, OH
That doesn't make sense. You'd need a HUGE leak (more than you would have with the boost tubing open to the air) to affect performance.

Dave
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
rgordon1979
3rd Generation Specific (1993-2002)
40
Mar 15, 2022 12:04 PM
Jeff20B
1st Generation Specific (1979-1985)
73
Sep 16, 2018 07:16 PM
ZaqAtaq
New Member RX-7 Technical
2
Sep 5, 2015 08:57 PM
gabescanlon
3rd Generation Specific (1993-2002)
7
Sep 5, 2015 12:09 AM




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:56 AM.