Vinsil

Does anyone else have issues with their factory gauges? I started my truck up today...and the oil pressue guage just sat on L. I sorta freaked out, but it magically jumped up to where it should be.


My fuel gauge jumps around like when I fill it up going from E-F than back again...after 10 miles or so it figures out it's actually got a full tank of diesel and stays on full.



Now I stare at my temp. gauge alot. It barely comes off the C and hits the first line. I know they run cool, but .


It has occured to me, the factory gauges are pretty worthless and I'm better off reading the answer from a envolope held against my forehead.


Anyone else have these issues? Any "fixes" besides all aftermarket gauges? I have no pryo/boost/trans/tach yet, I planned on putting them in after the 1st of the year. I've had the truck only a month so things are slowly coming about. I'd honestly rather not have the thing look like a cockpit for a fighter with 18.4 gauges hanging from every place in the cabin...I'm enough that they didn't put a tach in my truck!


Sorry for the rant, I've had a few beers tonight and felt the need to vent. Happy Holidays!

G1625S

Factory gauges are a rough approximation at best. As for the oil pressure, the sending unit is a common culprit for the low oil pressure warning light coming on when the engine is hot and idling. Though replacing the unit stopped the low oil psi light from coming on, I've never liked how low the gauge reads. Fearing the worst, I put a temporary mechanical gauge in the spare port on top of the oil filter adapter yesterday...60psi hot @ 800 rpm idle! My factory gauge reads at the second to lowest line, so there you go. BTW, easy on the 'ladies of the night' comments....this is a family site, don't 'cha know

bgilbert

Welcome to Dodge Truck ownership! Typical Dodge Truck issues.

A.K.APARTSMAN

your right,,, they suck!

Geico266

Sounds like you need to clean the ground wire connections on your truck.

loch

LOL you noticed amp gauge never works ? I have another dash, im in process of converting it to all after market , speedo included. Im adding a fuel pressure as well as indicaters and fluid level for the water inj.

frostie

I have 2-1992s, I have to remember which truck Im in when checking gauges. They both read so different from each other. One truck the temp reads high on the gauge all the time, even though they both have had Cummins Thermostats installed. When the low fuel light comes on, one has 6 gallons left, the other has about 3 1/2. Manual gauges would be best.

6WHEELER

I have a 99. My fuel gauge is about 6 gallons off on average, the tach it off 300rpms at idle, and at 2000 on the gauge it at 3100 really according to the dealer. but for a $700 instrament panel I will just keep an eye on the tach till I got the spare money.

Holsteinman

So no one likes the guess-o-meter gauges? I have aftermarket water temp and oil pressure as I don't like the guess-o-meter stock gauges.

Vinsil

Sorry about the words...didn't know they showed to you guys.


Thanks for advice, I still don't want to run aftermarket ones...but if I can't clean the contacts up enough on mine to make me confident enough to use, I guess I'm stuck.

Boatnik

With all the vehicles I have owned, and that has been way too many, I have never seen a factory guage that was worth a wooden nickel. The newer computer monitors are the ticket for monitoring engine vitals. The only draw back is when you run into the back of someone because ones focus shifts to the dash board instead of the road.

EClancy

None of the guages in my '92 worked when i bought it. I bought a cheesy little 3-guage set at walmart for like $12, drilled three 1.5" holes in the dash where heat vents would be if the truck had them, and installed them. I tapped the oil pressure intot he top of the filter housing, coolant temp into a plug on the front of the engine, and i haven't figured out how tro hook the ammeter up yet (so if anyone knows, lemme know). I also just bought a universal fuel guage and sender unit from jc whitney, for $20. i just installed it on friday, but for some reason, with about 25 gallons in the tank, it only reads around 1/2 full. But i'd rather have it tell me when i'm getting empty then full. So all in all, yes, the factory guages suck, funny thing is that all the guages in my '93 gasser work great.

wannadiesel

Just because it's digital doesn't mean it's accurate.