Autometer Pryometer quit working

Reply Subscribe

Thread Tools

Search this Thread

Dec 1, 2011 | 08:41 AM

bbarton

Thread Starter

Freshman User

Joined: Mar 2000

Posts: 29

Likes: 0

Autometer Pryometer quit working

I have an Autometer Pyrometer in my truck (2002 F350 CC DRW 7.3L)and it's worked great for many years but recently it's started acting a bit sporadic. Sometimes it reads the temp correctly, but occasionally it'll get stuck either on Zero or at some other point .... usually around 1100 degrees if I've been accelerating.

Sometimes I can tap the gauge and it'll start working again, but usually not.

Before delving into this problem, I wanted to ask you guys where to start. My first thought when it happened was that the exhaust probe was going bad since it's exposed to the extreme temp differences, but the tapping of the gauge tends to make me think a needle is sticking int he gauge.

Has anyone run across this kind of problem before? Any suggestions on where to start? Picture below was taken after driving about 20 mins this morning while stopped at a traffic light. Tapping the gauge had no effect.

Dec 1, 2011 | 04:05 PM

powerstroke72

Super Moderator

Joined: Oct 2005

Posts: 24,308

Likes: 42

From: SW Virginia

Moved to the 1999 - 2003 7.3L Power Stroke Diesel forum.

Dec 1, 2011 | 04:36 PM

Centauro97

Junior User

Joined: Nov 2008

Posts: 57

Likes: 0

From: Virginia

If tapping on it makes a difference then the problem is in the gauge.

It's mechanical, it'll wear out. I doubt it's the box.

If it sticks at zero there may be a loose connection, but sticking at higher numbers points to gauge problem.

Could be more than one issue. You'll need to pull it either way so depends on how much time versus money you're willing to spend.

Dec 1, 2011 | 08:51 PM

Bonanza35

Lead Driver

Joined: Sep 2005

Posts: 9,399

Likes: 188

From: Norco,CA

Let us know what you do. I have the same gauge, its been great for three years now.

Chet

Dec 2, 2011 | 06:45 AM

Tugly

Hotshot

Joined: Jan 2011

Posts: 18,849

Likes: 179

From: Puget Sound

There's a lot of vibration in our rides, and this wreaks havoc on electrical connections. I'd test every connection (pull/jiggle test), starting with the easiest first. I have also seen connectors "gum up" and simply disconnecting/reconnecting a few time cleans the contact points and things work again. This is one of my "magic tricks" as a tech to get things going fast, but I still like to find out why the contacts gum up and do something about it - if possible. Are all your electrical connections outside the cab protected from the elements?

Dec 2, 2011 | 07:14 AM

Ponyboychris

Lead Driver

Joined: Jan 2007

Posts: 6,708

Likes: 5

From: Kiowa CO

Mine is starting to do the same thing (UltaLite series). I emailed the customer service rep at Autometer and they said that I can send it to them for a free check and if they find something wrong, they will contact me to explain if there are costs involved to fix it. I still haven't boxed it up and sent it off yet but I going to soon.

Dec 2, 2011 | 08:42 AM

JamesHajek

Postmaster

Joined: Jun 2009

Posts: 2,566

Likes: 1

From: Monroe/Ellensburg, WA

Where is your ground? Do all your gauges share a ground?

My pyro did that about 6 months ago, I took the ground wire for the EGT and isolated it. That seemed to do the trick... Autometer told me it's rarely the gauge, normally a connection issue...