I know I've been like a broken record over the years with this topic, but yet another scenario just today as to why having gauges is important regardless if your vehicle is tuned (or whatever).

Going down the road today I was getting fluctuations on my volt gauge. Rolling down the road at best would read 12 volts. If there was no forward motion, it would around 11 volts (sometimes a little higher, sometimes a little lower).

Got home, tested the alternator. Sure enough, going south on me. Truck didn't act up any other way. Just the fluctuations of the volt gauge. Now, 8 and a half years and a couple hundred thousand miles and I'm actually not all that put out over this, I think I had a good run with just 1 alternator dealing with that beast.

Point is, that gauge helped spot something early on (didn't act this way two days ago, last time I drove it) and this is one of those gremlins that can catch you off guard in a bad way with no notice. I hate electrical issues with a passion.

Another save for the gauges to go right there along with my TFT and fuel psi gauge. Get gauges people, regardless if your truck has goodies under the hood or not.
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Good point and glad ya caught it early. reps!

 

great advice. unfortunately many people do not realize how important gauges are on this engine. that and by the time they buy their cold air intake and big wheels and tires.... They can't afford gauges. gotta have the bling man!

 

The time I really get frustrated reading threads on this site is when someone without any gauges posts a problem.
They are told countless times to go get their hands on a SGII at the very least, or download one of the apps for their phone, do something. But they keep posting back with questions about jiggling wires and sputters and noises and on and on. And the good folks here keep telling them to get gauges, get gauges. And it goes on and on and on.

I think it was Benny who quoted the old saying about leading a horse to water and being unable to make it drink.

 

Good catch on the Alt.

I love my SGII Costs a couple bucks more then a fill up, why would one not buy one when told to. Besides that it will pay for itself 100 times over if u are in to doing a bit of tinkering.

 

Yeah, the days of messing with the carb and putting a new distributor cap on are over. When guys complain about not being able to work on a truck because all dem new fangled computator gizmos, I don't really feel bad for them at all because it's been trending this way for a long time. OBD-II was mandated in 1996, almost 20 years ago. Basic code readers cost less than a tank of gas.

A basic OBD-II code reader is something anyone who wants to turn a wrench should be required to own before they buy a single tool, and a basic electronic gauge setup for something as complicated as a light duty diesel is not a huge cost outlay compared to the rest of the truck. $400 for something as in-depth as AE is a great deal.

 

I caught my FICM dropping to the low 30s going up a grade. That's why I'm still running on 8 original Injectors after 197,000 miles. Gauges save money

 

That's pretty much it right there.

Now, I can understand that gauges aren't the most fun type of mods that you can do on these vehicles, they do definitely help with catching things early and help keep from having one of those "cascading" type of failures.

I have had 3 issues with my truck. 2 were due to all the goodies I have on my truck and this one, I would imagine could be attributed to age and use. I have never (knock on wood), been stranded by this truck. She might have limped along, but never been stranded totally. If I didn't have gauges, I don't know if I could have said the same thing and I might have racked up some nice towing bills as well as just the repair bill.

I only wish Autometer had more antique beige gauges then they do (or at least did at the time I was looking at gauges, which was a few years ago) as I like how things match my KR interior. Oh well, can't have everything.
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Hello Tex,

Time for a new truck?

 

Ha!

I think this old girl still has some life left in her.
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Back in August I had the same issue my volts were dropping and it was the alt. changed it out and all is well.

 

I watch my Gauges , its a must for Trouble shooting or catching things before they happen. good thread Tex reps your way

 

HAHAHAHA You know me well

That was me

 

Great thread, reps when i fix my pc... For now stuck with the app..

We need gauges for our pcs!

Sent from my Sprint PC36100 using IB AutoGroup

 

Just checking... Glad to see you still around!