Whats up with these boost gauges?

[Invizible Lite]

Alright, I'm a bit miffed at my boost gauge's reliability. Has anybody heard of faulty boost gauges? I ask bc my car runs great, but my Autometer pro-comp ultralite says I'm only getting 14-15hg vacuum at idle. Furthermore, going through old posts, I've seen pics of my same gauge...the thing is the needle rests at slightly different locations when the car is off. Here's what I mean

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...The first pic is my gauge. Notice how the needle rests on the right of the square thing. The next needle sits on the inside right portion of the box, and the third needle is directly in the center. Thoughts anyone?

 

[TurBoGs-T]

I can't help but to notice that brass tube in your hand is that what you used to hook it up if not, what type of hose did you use to hook it up? You may also have some sort of vaccume leak.

 

[Invizible Lite]

Thats not me...I got that pic from someone else's thread. The only pic that is of my gauge is the first (top) picture. But yes, there is a brass fiting on the rear of my boost gauge that connects to a clear hard vacuum line.

 

[Invizible Lite]

As far as vacuum leaks go...My gauge has been showing low vacuum ever since I put it in. And I've searched and searched and searched for leaks but can't find any.

 

[98RedGs]

Here's your problem and other threads that correspond with it.

http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/showthread.php?t=11516&highlight=calibrate+gauge
^^ GOOD THREAD DAM GOOD ^^

http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/showthread.php?t=131308&highlight=calibrate+gauge
http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/showthread.php?t=135602&highlight=calibrate+gauge
http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/showthread.php?t=132345&highlight=calibrate+gauge
http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/showthread.php?t=89250&highlight=calibrate+gauge
http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/showthread.php?t=108018&highlight=calibrate+gauge

 

[TURFNNSURF]

Inviz, Im with you on this one... My Autometer -30-0-30 vac/boost gauge is not reading the proper boost. I first noticed something wrong when I converted from an Autometer 0-35psi boost gauge. The old gauge read 20psi on my Big16G, then I installed the -30-0-30 and it read 15psi with no other changes. I thought WTF can two gauges from the same company be that far off (5psi)?? At first I thought the old 0-35psi gauge was wrong but then I upgraded to a PTE GT32E turbo w/ 17psi wastegate actuator and the -30-0-30 boost gauge reads 12psi max with the line T'ed into the wastegate vac/boost line. Needless to say I can't trust the -30-0-30 gauge now. However, the vac readings have been within spec for my 1G according to my searches.. Bottom line, Im ordering a new Autometer gauge tomorrow and swapping. Since I don't have my old recipt I'll send the faulty one back in the new box. hahaha

 

[eclipseman99]

I have autometer phantom boost gauge and instead of it resting at zero when the car is off it sits at 2 lines below 0. So I never know the psi Im at.

 

[Sic95gst]

I got one that was off by a lot from the manufaturer and i sent it back and got a new one. They have warrenties for a reason. Mine was reading 15psi on my old Boost gauge and now only peaking at 5. It was calibrated wrong at the factory. Send it back .

 

[doodie]

Interesting... Mine sits a little bit below 1psi every once in a while and goes back to 0 if it wants to. Guess mine is going back to autometer!

 

[j_woody]

I called autometer when my boost guage did the same thing. Autometer said the guage is out of calibration and is useless, all reading will be off. if the needle does not sit in the middle of the box, it is completely useless.

 

[trevor_shiggs]

mine sits between two and one at rest.

 

[SpeedFreak03]

I have heard many people say the autometer gauges do that. But they are good at replacing them free of charge, so I'd give 'em a call and see what they can do for you.

 

[Invizible Lite]

Wow...you guys have been a lot of help...I've burnt soooo many brain cells the past year trying to find vac leaks, timing issues, etc...come to find out it might be a bad gauge! Autometer is gonna hear it from tomorrow!