idiot light to gage?
idiot light to gage?
Moderator
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 56,984
Likes: 2,738
From: Virginia
I do not think anyone has tried replacing just the gauge inside a idiot light cluster. Seems if it's possible, it would be a lot of modification. It's simpler just to change out the whole cluster. But if you do that, then you will have to do a little bit of re-wiring to make the alternator still work and charge.
This is a lot of work for a set of gauges that don't tell you much. Just "L NORMAL H" doesn't do much for troubleshooting. If it were my truck I would buy some real gauges and put them under the dash.
This is a lot of work for a set of gauges that don't tell you much. Just "L NORMAL H" doesn't do much for troubleshooting. If it were my truck I would buy some real gauges and put them under the dash.
Posting Guru
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 1,122
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From: Haysville, KS
You can get a set of three gauges in a mounting bracket pretty cheaply. Most will have a mechanical oil gauge. I think they are the most accurate and they don't use a sending unit. I hate them however.
You have to run a small line from the engine to the gauge and they always seem to leak; oil everywhere...
Put in a sending unit and go with an electric oil gauge. Save some grief..
You have to run a small line from the engine to the gauge and they always seem to leak; oil everywhere...
Put in a sending unit and go with an electric oil gauge. Save some grief..
Moderator
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 56,984
Likes: 2,738
From: Virginia
I always use the mechanical type gauges. The only problem I ever had was the plastic tubing got against the exhaust manifold once and melted. That was my own dumb fault after I was working on the engine and didn't put it back out of the way of the manifold.
FTE Legend
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 32,875
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From: Northeast, OK
I'm with Dave - I like the mechanical gauges. One reason is the simplicity. The other, and to me a large reason, is that the electrical gauges have a 90 degree sweep while most mechanical gauges have a 270 degree sweep. And since those gauges usually get mounted in a very inconvenient location to view, the extra sweep means they are three times as easy to read or ballpark.
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