Best budget Gauges
27 April 2015, 04:51 PM
#2
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27 April 2015, 04:56 PM
#3
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depo do a 4 in 1 gauge with all you need that a lot of owners have got,
http://www.fcp-engineering.com/wa-60...e-voltage.html
http://www.fcp-engineering.com/wa-60...e-voltage.html
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28 April 2015, 05:31 PM
#11
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This is where I got mine, Very good quality gauges and look superb...
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HDi-SOTG-D...item3ce555b389
I have oil temp, pressure and boost.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HDi-SOTG-D...item3ce555b389
I have oil temp, pressure and boost.
28 April 2015, 05:56 PM
#12
Those HDi ones don't look bad.
The Prosport ones are pretty poor quality tbh.
I'm now on my second set (first was a set of steppers, now Evos) and thoroughly unimpressed by the utterly crap (and HUGE) senders they supply them with.
The oil temperature and pressure sensors seem okay but the boost ones apparently don't like water, moisture, or anything much and I've noted R-Spec (who are the UK supplier) have now suddenly introduced a waterproof one which makes me wonder - hmmm, fit for purpose?
My last boost sender failed and the current one is looking like it's starting to have a few issues as well.
My first fuel pressure sender lasted exactly one month and then stopped working and I'm waiting on a replacement adapter as the last 2 I've had from R-Spec developed hairline cracks.
The Evo series are designed more sensibly than the stepper ones and don't have the stupidly thin wiring the stepper gauges do, but the Evo series have no alarm function...
Unfortunately the plugs between the gauges on both have poor quality wiring - we're talking about 10 strands of cable, it's seriously nasty.
The Evo lighting also seems better than the Prosport stepper gauges - 2 out of my 3 stepper gauges had lighting failures within 3 years so they become harder to see when the only colour they'll light up is red
All in all, not a great experience. They say buy it once and buy it properly - so knowing what I know now I wish I'd just bought Defis or a Toucan.
The Prosport ones are pretty poor quality tbh.
I'm now on my second set (first was a set of steppers, now Evos) and thoroughly unimpressed by the utterly crap (and HUGE) senders they supply them with.
The oil temperature and pressure sensors seem okay but the boost ones apparently don't like water, moisture, or anything much and I've noted R-Spec (who are the UK supplier) have now suddenly introduced a waterproof one which makes me wonder - hmmm, fit for purpose?
My last boost sender failed and the current one is looking like it's starting to have a few issues as well.
My first fuel pressure sender lasted exactly one month and then stopped working and I'm waiting on a replacement adapter as the last 2 I've had from R-Spec developed hairline cracks.
The Evo series are designed more sensibly than the stepper ones and don't have the stupidly thin wiring the stepper gauges do, but the Evo series have no alarm function...
Unfortunately the plugs between the gauges on both have poor quality wiring - we're talking about 10 strands of cable, it's seriously nasty.
The Evo lighting also seems better than the Prosport stepper gauges - 2 out of my 3 stepper gauges had lighting failures within 3 years so they become harder to see when the only colour they'll light up is red
All in all, not a great experience. They say buy it once and buy it properly - so knowing what I know now I wish I'd just bought Defis or a Toucan.
Last edited by MrNoisy; 28 April 2015 at 05:59 PM.
29 April 2015, 08:09 AM
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29 April 2015, 08:21 AM
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This was going to be my question, has anybody ever actually tested the calibration on the Prosport gauges? You see a lot of people saying they're good/cheap but no comments on actual accuracy and it's not something I've seen advertised either.
29 April 2015, 05:51 PM
#22
You gets what you pay for mate.
I like the idea of a Toucan, but I just don't like the finish to it, and it's too small.
I'd love JT Innovations to create a unit that'll fit into a dash pod as this would look much nicer, and have a larger screen.
Last edited by MrNoisy; 29 April 2015 at 05:52 PM.
30 April 2015, 02:56 PM
#23
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Dont get gauges, get a new head unit and use Torque Pro to display "gauges" on the screen. Akin to this http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=68038
30 April 2015, 03:35 PM
#24
Dont get gauges, get a new head unit and use Torque Pro to display "gauges" on the screen. Akin to this http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=68038
30 April 2015, 05:41 PM
#25
I have fitted quite a few different sets to mine over the years and wish I had brought something expensive in the first place. Boost gauges I have been through 4 of them! All failed...
I am currently on Prosport touch and they are hit and miss.
Positive:
Look awesome.
Have an alarm function. I wouldn't bother with any guage that doesn't have an alarm function. You can't watch them all the time and the alarm can save your engine.
Are fairly accurate.
Fairly good customer support.
Reasonable price.
You are able to set two brightness settings so they dim with headlights on. This is great at night.
Negative:
Out of the three I have installed one of the touch sensitive buttons has been crap from day one. You have to jab it really hard and repeatedly to get it to work.
My boost gauge has lost half it's blue illumination so it goes a red/purple colour when set to blue. Which means I now can't use the set on blue.
The plugs are delicate.
The gauges are very fussy about power supply.
If you have them all wired up to come on with the ignition then the disruption of power during engine cranking causes them to go nuts.
Sometimes an odd one will simply change colour randomly and others times they will start to flash like a warning and then be stuck flashing until you turn the ignition off to reset them. The buttons lock out so this is the only way to cure it.
I complained about this and was told it was my car that was the issue.... well there is nothing wrong with my car and the battery and alternator have been changed in the time I have had the gauges and no difference. Also other people on the net have the same issue. So to solve it I fitted a switch to manually turn the gauges on after starting the engine. This stops the issue completely. You can still leave the memory live connected so you don't loose your settings.
So what would I recommend? For less money then Defi's? Nothing really. They will all be cheap and cheerful and all have issues. Prosport are great when they work.
I am currently on Prosport touch and they are hit and miss.
Positive:
Look awesome.
Have an alarm function. I wouldn't bother with any guage that doesn't have an alarm function. You can't watch them all the time and the alarm can save your engine.
Are fairly accurate.
Fairly good customer support.
Reasonable price.
You are able to set two brightness settings so they dim with headlights on. This is great at night.
Negative:
Out of the three I have installed one of the touch sensitive buttons has been crap from day one. You have to jab it really hard and repeatedly to get it to work.
My boost gauge has lost half it's blue illumination so it goes a red/purple colour when set to blue. Which means I now can't use the set on blue.
The plugs are delicate.
The gauges are very fussy about power supply.
If you have them all wired up to come on with the ignition then the disruption of power during engine cranking causes them to go nuts.
Sometimes an odd one will simply change colour randomly and others times they will start to flash like a warning and then be stuck flashing until you turn the ignition off to reset them. The buttons lock out so this is the only way to cure it.
I complained about this and was told it was my car that was the issue.... well there is nothing wrong with my car and the battery and alternator have been changed in the time I have had the gauges and no difference. Also other people on the net have the same issue. So to solve it I fitted a switch to manually turn the gauges on after starting the engine. This stops the issue completely. You can still leave the memory live connected so you don't loose your settings.
So what would I recommend? For less money then Defi's? Nothing really. They will all be cheap and cheerful and all have issues. Prosport are great when they work.
30 April 2015, 06:11 PM
#26
Defis aren't without their problems, ive seen quite a few threads about them playing up and many for sale threads on here and ebay selling them as spares or repairs.
Defis are obviously the better gauges to have but they are too much money.
I've had 2 sets of prosport steppers and have just recently bought another set. I've never had any issues with them and in my opinion they offer far better value for money than a Defi setup. You could buy 4 sets of brand new prosport steppers for the same cost as a second hand set of defis remember.
Defis are obviously the better gauges to have but they are too much money.
I've had 2 sets of prosport steppers and have just recently bought another set. I've never had any issues with them and in my opinion they offer far better value for money than a Defi setup. You could buy 4 sets of brand new prosport steppers for the same cost as a second hand set of defis remember.
30 April 2015, 10:53 PM
#28
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I have fitted quite a few different sets to mine over the years and wish I had brought something expensive in the first place. Boost gauges I have been through 4 of them! All failed...
I am currently on Prosport touch and they are hit and miss.
Positive:
Look awesome.
Have an alarm function. I wouldn't bother with any guage that doesn't have an alarm function. You can't watch them all the time and the alarm can save your engine.
Are fairly accurate.
Fairly good customer support.
Reasonable price.
You are able to set two brightness settings so they dim with headlights on. This is great at night.
Negative:
Out of the three I have installed one of the touch sensitive buttons has been crap from day one. You have to jab it really hard and repeatedly to get it to work.
My boost gauge has lost half it's blue illumination so it goes a red/purple colour when set to blue. Which means I now can't use the set on blue.
The plugs are delicate.
The gauges are very fussy about power supply.
If you have them all wired up to come on with the ignition then the disruption of power during engine cranking causes them to go nuts.
Sometimes an odd one will simply change colour randomly and others times they will start to flash like a warning and then be stuck flashing until you turn the ignition off to reset them. The buttons lock out so this is the only way to cure it.
I complained about this and was told it was my car that was the issue.... well there is nothing wrong with my car and the battery and alternator have been changed in the time I have had the gauges and no difference. Also other people on the net have the same issue. So to solve it I fitted a switch to manually turn the gauges on after starting the engine. This stops the issue completely. You can still leave the memory live connected so you don't loose your settings.
So what would I recommend? For less money then Defi's? Nothing really. They will all be cheap and cheerful and all have issues. Prosport are great when they work.
I am currently on Prosport touch and they are hit and miss.
Positive:
Look awesome.
Have an alarm function. I wouldn't bother with any guage that doesn't have an alarm function. You can't watch them all the time and the alarm can save your engine.
Are fairly accurate.
Fairly good customer support.
Reasonable price.
You are able to set two brightness settings so they dim with headlights on. This is great at night.
Negative:
Out of the three I have installed one of the touch sensitive buttons has been crap from day one. You have to jab it really hard and repeatedly to get it to work.
My boost gauge has lost half it's blue illumination so it goes a red/purple colour when set to blue. Which means I now can't use the set on blue.
The plugs are delicate.
The gauges are very fussy about power supply.
If you have them all wired up to come on with the ignition then the disruption of power during engine cranking causes them to go nuts.
Sometimes an odd one will simply change colour randomly and others times they will start to flash like a warning and then be stuck flashing until you turn the ignition off to reset them. The buttons lock out so this is the only way to cure it.
I complained about this and was told it was my car that was the issue.... well there is nothing wrong with my car and the battery and alternator have been changed in the time I have had the gauges and no difference. Also other people on the net have the same issue. So to solve it I fitted a switch to manually turn the gauges on after starting the engine. This stops the issue completely. You can still leave the memory live connected so you don't loose your settings.
So what would I recommend? For less money then Defi's? Nothing really. They will all be cheap and cheerful and all have issues. Prosport are great when they work.
Recently one of the three will just randomly reboot. Can't be a power outage as they're all daisychained, and it's not the last one in the chain that reboots!
I had my switches extended so they sit in my ashtray, but similar to you - one of mine isn't very responsive.