Gauges mechanical or electrical
 

Looking at buying some gauges for an early WRX and as title not sure to buy either electrical or mechanical.
Looking at oil/temp,pressure and possibly an AFR

No boost gauge?

The difference between electrical and mechanical gauges is that in electrical ones, the "signal" (pressure, temperature etc), is converted to an electrical impulse by the sender which is simply connected to the gauge by a wire, sometimes a pair. The gauge is just a little voltmeter/ammeter which is calibrated in Bar, degrees C etc.

Mechanical gauges generally have pipework going to the gauge, which DIRECTLY reads the pressure, temperature etc.

Most folk tend to go for electrical nowadays, sice it's far easier running wires than often stiff pipework through a crowded engine compartment, and even more crowded under-dash;)

Also, with wires, you don't have the possible problem of hot pressurised oil inside the car in the event of a problem;) ;)

Electrical everytime.
I have DEFI's, although you can get electrical gauges for a quarter of the price of DEFI's. They are so much easier to install, and as mentioned, safer.

Electrical all the way, so simple to install even a numpty like me managed it :lol1:

Already have a boost gauge :)
As for your last point that's what i was getting to in a roundabout way:)
cheers peeps:thumb:

Electrical, not sure i'd want hot oil anywhere near my face!

I'm just fitting a boost gauge to my 98 wagon wrx, but am not sure where to put the T-Piece.. The car is new to me, but I recognise that someone has replaced the standard boost actuator solenoid with some kind of adjustable arcticle so need to get a guage on asap to see what they have done with it.
Am I right in saying I need to "T" into the pipe which goes to the factory dump valve?
If so, where is it located? has anyone got a pic handy? is it under the intercooler?
I've got a chap coming to fit me a clifford alarm in about half an hour so wanted to do it while he is here so he can wire up the lighting to my gauge.
Any response would be gratefully appreciated. :O)

I'll put some piccies up later :O)

Chris.

Hope this is not too late for you.

The easiest way to fit a boost gauge to that car is to look for the blanked off spigot on the right, (n/s) front of the block as you look at it from the radiator end. It's covered with a rubber sleeve. Pull that off and put the pipe to the boost gauge/boost gauge sender over it instead.

Nice one! Thanks for that.. So that is just a spare one which is blanked off?

Guage is working nicely... Although is it normal that it should make a ticking noise on idle and more noise when on boost? It seems accurate I think, so is it just the air pressure making noises while propelling the gauge needle?

(i ended up having to get a £20 Gauge quickly from Halfords as my Autometer Pro Comp was 60mm and the A Pillar pod I'd ordered was only a 52mm :mad: - I'm going to try and acquire a 60mm pod and swap it over.. I've looked on scoobyparts.com but they only do a 52mm.. Does anyone know where I can get a 60mm one? Without breaking the bank too much).

Pics to follow...

Here is a pic of what I believe to be an aftermarket boost controller? You can see it with a screw head on top, next to what I thought was the standard solenoid? So I'm worried that someone has installed it and turned it right up. What PSI should my standard 1998 WRX Wagon be pushing approx.?

http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m...8/DSC03140.jpg

The model name seems faded, but it has "1FCR6" on it. Can anyone confirm?


This may be a better pic?.. It's got a Gold colour filter looking part off the side (pointing towards the air-box)

http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m...8/DSC03141.jpg


Also, a couple of the engine bay (with and without flash) I'll post some of new boost gauge later & try to video the sound it makes...

http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m...8/DSC03144.jpg
http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m...8/DSC03145.jpg

On the whole I think it's very tidy... I occasionally get a squeeky belt, not sure which one tho! They all seem like new and I wouldn't think they have been on too long.