Stupid Auto Meter

[JTURBOGSX]

Stupid AutoMeter Cobalt boost gauge. Ok so today Installed my Autometer Coblalt BOOST GAUGE and I thought Everything was gravy untill i got all done ok at idle its 0 then if i floor it... (AUTOMATIC) it jumps all the way to 20-25psi. I dont get it im using vacuum hose I Tryed teeing it into diff places like the hose comming off top off bov then I then i tryed teeing it off intake manifold.... and no diff makes no sense to me... All I have for mods is intake bcs free mod... I have a manual boost controller havent installed yet could that solve the problem

 

[Syndicate13]

What does the guage read when the car is off? Does the guage also read vacuum or just boost? Exactly what line did you have it teed into?

 

[DaDeuceIsLoose]

There are several things that could be wrong. First I can't tell, but it sounds like you might have t-ed into the wrong line. Check vfaq.com for the exact location where to tap into. Secondly the Cobalt gauges have an auto-zero function that requires you to allow the gauge to zero out BEFORE the car is started (I.E. the gauge must read zero and have power the entire time before during and after cranking). This requires tapping into the ignition harness or some other constant 12 volt source or the gauge will not read accurrately. Check both of these things and see if this solves your problem.

 

[JTURBOGSX]

I have it wired to the cig lighter would that be constant power because it drops down to 30 vac when cranking

 

[Dallas J]

I drops down to 30 cause thats probably the off position.

You need to probe around with a 12v light tester or a volt meter and find a wire thats positive at all times. The radio, ecu, ignition, and light switch all have these.

Then you need hook up a switched power supply like the cig lighter. At that same time you can run a wire for the lighting from the lighter light switch power circuit.

About not reading vacume you have it hooked to the wrong spot im sure. Hook it up off the line coming out of the intake manifold going to the fuel pressure regulator.

Lastly, dont blame the gauge blame the operator

-Dallas J

 

[BacknBlack92ESi]

http://www.prostreetonline.com/pso/pages/howto/dsmboostgauge.asp

 

[JTURBOGSX]

ok so It reads 10 vac when i let of gas then I floor it it hits 20psi then goes back to 15 and stays there is this right...mbc not installed yet

 

[BacknBlack92ESi]

It's called a Boost Spike. I have my MBC@15lbs and I spike to 17-18lbs and drops back to 15 and stays there.

 

[JTURBOGSX]

that doesnt seem right though cause it should be like 10psi im guessing but to spike all the way to 20psi thats a lil much :thumbdown

 

[rowlex]

JFYI. The boost gauge is purely mechanical no need to have constant power to it, thats only for the lights.

 

[JTURBOGSX]

Would installing my MBC help make the gauge more accurate

 

[tylerk]

Mechanical boost gauge, reads 0 at idle and 25psi at full boost? If it reads 0 when the car is off, it's hooked up wrong.

 

[JTURBOGSX]

ITs not mechanical its elecltronic

 

[tylerk]

ITs not mechanical its elecltronic

Ah, thought somebody up there said it was a mechanical gauge.

 

[WombatTSi]

If you would have read the instructions/properly hooked it up, you wouldn't have this problem.

The cobalt gauges are electric, and are self calibrating, every time you start the car. If you have the power hooked up to something that doens't see voltage when cranking, when the car starts it will finally see voltage, and set that pressure reading as 0. Simple. Thats why your boost seems so high, the gauge is calibrated all wrong. Its supposed to be connected to the IGN1 circuit, that way when the key flashes through the ON position to get to start, it samples the ambient pressure as 0, and since IGN1 maintains power while cranking, it will read vac when the car finally starts.

 

[JTURBOGSX]

So wut would be a good constant power source cause apparently the cig lighter isnt and I dont have a turbo timer besides battery

 

[ArticNemesis]

Ignition wire that gets voltage when you turn the car to ON.