Cheapest path to full gauges
02-06-2004 | 12:11 PM
#1
Thread Starter
VIP Member
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 2,023
From: Phoenix, AZ
Car Info: Subaru Impreza WRX 2002
Cheapest path to full gauges
I've been wanting oil pressure, water temp and turbo PSI gauges since I bought my car, but so far most of the shops and dealers I have gone to have quoted me outrageous figures ($1800 and up) to install the dash pod and meters.
I'm a semi-experienced car tinkerer; I've been under the hood in all of my cars (even re-wired a VW Rabbit to run a stereo with a sub!) but I have yet to mess with my WRX besides some cooling mods. Are the sensor bungs/ports already installed in the engine in their locations, and the gauges hook up to these? How much actual cutting and installing is involved? Basically, as the subject says, I am looking for the cheapest path (hopefully $500 or less) to a full gauge pod with some useful data. Any comments on your own experience installing this setup would be welcome.
I'm a semi-experienced car tinkerer; I've been under the hood in all of my cars (even re-wired a VW Rabbit to run a stereo with a sub!) but I have yet to mess with my WRX besides some cooling mods. Are the sensor bungs/ports already installed in the engine in their locations, and the gauges hook up to these? How much actual cutting and installing is involved? Basically, as the subject says, I am looking for the cheapest path (hopefully $500 or less) to a full gauge pod with some useful data. Any comments on your own experience installing this setup would be welcome.
02-06-2004 | 06:18 PM
#3
Try autometer. I've heard nothing but good stuff about them, and they're inexpensive. You can find them on www.summitracing.com
02-19-2004 | 02:41 AM
#4
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Posts: n/a
Check out wrxtra for gauge systems
I was able to find gauge sets from http://www.wrxtra.com for about $400. They include a modified subaru gauge pod, a custom bezel and they have installation instructions on their website.
The turbo gauge is pretty to install, just cut the BOV tube and run a T.
Oil temp can be done either with a sensor in the oil drain plug or oil filter sandwich adaptor. The sandwich adaptor can also accomodate an oil pressure sensor as well.
There is a engine galley plug under the intercooler that is often used used for oil pressure sensors too.
wiring all this stuff into the dash is not too bad and is pretty easy if you tap power from the clock wire harness. There is also a lighting harness that is not used and taped to the radio wiring harness.
I don't remember seeing info on installing a water temp gauge.
You should be able to find a lot of information about installing gauge systems in the forums.
Another good place to look is http://www.scoobymods.com
If you decide to do this yourself, some more tricky parts are modifying the subaru gauge pod for 52mm gauges and making a bezel for the gauge pod.
There is a guy named Derres that makes a billet aluminium faceplate that looks pretty cool. You should be able to find it by searching the forums.
Wrxtra also sells the modified subaru gauge pod with their faceplate separately from their gauge systems as well.
As for gauges, if you have a '04, check out the VDO vision series gauges. They are pretty cheap at about $30 a guage and have red illumated needles and green light bulb filters to match the rest of the instruments. You can find them at egauges or summit racing. I got mine at http://www.42draftdesigns.com, a custom VW parts shop. They threw in wires and connectors to make the gauge wire harnesses.
Doing everything yourself, a setup with turbo, oil temp and volts can be had for about $250 with the VDO gauges and the Subaru gauge pod.
good luck,
Jim
The turbo gauge is pretty to install, just cut the BOV tube and run a T.
Oil temp can be done either with a sensor in the oil drain plug or oil filter sandwich adaptor. The sandwich adaptor can also accomodate an oil pressure sensor as well.
There is a engine galley plug under the intercooler that is often used used for oil pressure sensors too.
wiring all this stuff into the dash is not too bad and is pretty easy if you tap power from the clock wire harness. There is also a lighting harness that is not used and taped to the radio wiring harness.
I don't remember seeing info on installing a water temp gauge.
You should be able to find a lot of information about installing gauge systems in the forums.
Another good place to look is http://www.scoobymods.com
If you decide to do this yourself, some more tricky parts are modifying the subaru gauge pod for 52mm gauges and making a bezel for the gauge pod.
There is a guy named Derres that makes a billet aluminium faceplate that looks pretty cool. You should be able to find it by searching the forums.
Wrxtra also sells the modified subaru gauge pod with their faceplate separately from their gauge systems as well.
As for gauges, if you have a '04, check out the VDO vision series gauges. They are pretty cheap at about $30 a guage and have red illumated needles and green light bulb filters to match the rest of the instruments. You can find them at egauges or summit racing. I got mine at http://www.42draftdesigns.com, a custom VW parts shop. They threw in wires and connectors to make the gauge wire harnesses.
Doing everything yourself, a setup with turbo, oil temp and volts can be had for about $250 with the VDO gauges and the Subaru gauge pod.
good luck,
Jim
02-19-2004 | 12:41 PM
#5
Registered User
iTrader: (14)
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 14,221
From: Peoples Republik of Kalifornia
Car Info: 05 H2 SUT, 45 GPW, 10 Murano, 13 Boss 302
Another inexpensive (relatively speaking) and low clutter system would be the PSI3 from SECS. Quantum Racing sells these units. They plug directly into your OBDII port and read the same info as the ECU. The display is DIN sized and can be put in the dash or the clock location.
It reads and displays: EGT, Boost, RPM, Road Speed, Water Temp, Knock Correction, AFR, TPS, Intake Air Temp, MAF, Injector Duration, Timing Advance, Battery Voltage, and a couple more I'm forgetting. It also has a clock. With additional sensors (more $ and a bit of wiring) you can read and display Oil Pressure, Oil Temp, Aftermarket EGT, and Fuel Pressure. You can add a shift light and the unit will control water spray based on boost pressure. It can also control nitrous and water injection.
In addition, there are adjustable alarms for high voltage, low voltage, high water temp, and high boost. It will record peak boost, peak RPM, peak road speed, and peak coolant temp. It can also read OBDII trouble codes and reset the ECU.
There may be other features since I have an older chip in mine. The chip is upgradeable as they add new features to the PSI3.
My install: http://mikeegan.stormpages.com/PSI.html
Quantum Racing: http://www.quantum-racing.com/cgi-bi...ine+Management
PSI3 Site: http://www.psi3.co.uk
For the money, it really is an awesome device and leaves your interior uncluttered.
It reads and displays: EGT, Boost, RPM, Road Speed, Water Temp, Knock Correction, AFR, TPS, Intake Air Temp, MAF, Injector Duration, Timing Advance, Battery Voltage, and a couple more I'm forgetting. It also has a clock. With additional sensors (more $ and a bit of wiring) you can read and display Oil Pressure, Oil Temp, Aftermarket EGT, and Fuel Pressure. You can add a shift light and the unit will control water spray based on boost pressure. It can also control nitrous and water injection.
In addition, there are adjustable alarms for high voltage, low voltage, high water temp, and high boost. It will record peak boost, peak RPM, peak road speed, and peak coolant temp. It can also read OBDII trouble codes and reset the ECU.
There may be other features since I have an older chip in mine. The chip is upgradeable as they add new features to the PSI3.
My install: http://mikeegan.stormpages.com/PSI.html
Quantum Racing: http://www.quantum-racing.com/cgi-bi...ine+Management
PSI3 Site: http://www.psi3.co.uk
For the money, it really is an awesome device and leaves your interior uncluttered.
Last edited by Egan; 02-19-2004 at 12:44 PM.
02-28-2004 | 11:53 AM
#8
Registered User
iTrader: (14)
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 14,221
From: Peoples Republik of Kalifornia
Car Info: 05 H2 SUT, 45 GPW, 10 Murano, 13 Boss 302
The PSI3 will work with anything, but if you're using a piggyback (like my old Xede) some of the values it reporst ay not be correct (ie: boost, timing).
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