Econ & Ambient Gauge kit....

Post by **5lab** » 10 May 2004 01:45 pm

cheers mate, look forwards to that

out of interest, re : econometer - you say it 'swings back' when you drop gear.. does it do this quickly?? mine rarely moves any faster than my speedo needle.. also whereabouts does yours normally rest on the dial? if i cruise at about 60 mines normally just in the red.. and never makes it behind 3 big notches up, even if its just idleing (which incidentally, seems to make the car run at its most economical, despite idleing = 0mpg..)

confused

Post by **foggyjames** » 10 May 2004 02:21 pm

Well it obviously isn't a true measure of economy, as for that you'd need to take account of road and engine speed, hence why you can get a better reading when stationary than when on the move.

I keep meaning to make a brief video of mine in action. Basically on anything more than about 1/4 throttle mine sticks right round at about 4 o'clock, on idle it more or less sits on the marker at about 10 o'clock, and under engine breaking it goes right around to the left (8 o'clock. It moves pretty quickly...its the fastest moving of them all (well...apart from the ambient temp when you first switch the ignition on!).

cheers

James

Post by **5lab** » 11 May 2004 10:19 am

at least mines not alone in not saying i was driving economically

i think the idea is that when your driving quicker, theres more presure in the air filter cos more air is being pushed in by the general airflow into the engine..

doesnt move very quickly thou, maybe the same speed as the speedo when im accelerating hard, no quicker (dont have a rev gauge)

Post by **foggyjames** » 11 May 2004 07:59 pm

Well it measures vacuum drop (ie: throttle position). When the throttle is closed, the engine is sucking air out of a semi-sealed enclosure, in other words it tries to create a vacuum. When the throttle is open, air can rush in (through the intake / filter) to replace the air being sucked into the cylinders, collapsing the vacuum.

I'll try to make a video in the next few days. It might involve a little bit of a thrash

cheers

James

Post by **foggyjames** » 12 May 2004 12:05 am

Here is the vid...
http://www.kinveredge.org.uk/Volvosite/ ... gauges.MOV
Thats during fairly heavy acceleration....you can see it under engine breaking in the last few seconds (right around to the right).
You'll need to Apple Quicktime to watch it...I've got 6.5 (latest), and that certainly works.

cheers

James

Post by **5lab** » 12 May 2004 03:16 am

ah no mine DEFINATLY dont move that quick.. really slow and steady.. wonder whre the difference is at - would prefer them to look like that cos that looked cool

im wondering whether its a prob with the gauge or the actual engine.. or perhaps mine is right and yours is wrong??

Post by **foggyjames** » 12 May 2004 08:42 am

This is how all the ones like this I've seen have worked. Yours isn't the Smiths version (all-white markings) is it? Those might be a bit different. It's most likely a gauge problem - they're very prone to damage.

cheers

James

Post by **5lab** » 12 May 2004 09:47 am

no its just a normal red stripey one...

could just need some lubing - that'd slow it down - its responding the right amount to the pressure, just not quick enough..

incidentally - it didnt work since i brought the car till the other week when i found a loose wire under the bonnet (theres bloody hundreds of them under there, think due to an aborted alarm install many years ago) and plugged it into a random socket

Post by **foggyjames** » 12 May 2004 02:10 pm

That is strange, as the gauge is purely mechanical! Yeah, you could try oiling it. If the big curved bellows/spring is buckled at all though, its time for the bin...

cheers

James

Post by **foggyjames** » 14 May 2004 03:39 pm

Excellent news - I've got an original Volvo sender for you

400 seres cars with the 'info centre' use the same sender

I'm afraid the sender cost me a bit, so ye olde cost will have to rise a little, but how does £20 incl shipping sound?

cheers

James

Post by **5lab** » 17 May 2004 01:09 pm

that for both bits? if so im vvvvvvvv interested

Post by **foggyjames** » 17 May 2004 02:05 pm

Yeah, that's the gauge and sender, including shipping. You'll need to make up your own wiring, but its really not that hard...and I'll give you any guidance you need. Let me know if you're interested.

cheers

James

Post by **5lab** » 17 May 2004 03:26 pm

gwon then i'll have it (despite finding a dash with oil temp (assume its ambient temp really) fitted on fleabay for a fiver

i'm presuming there are just 3 wires - battery -> sensor, sensor -> gauge and gauge -> ground??

how do you cut the hole out of the dash?

Hugh

Post by **foggyjames** » 17 May 2004 03:48 pm

This one?
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... eName=WDVW
When it says oil temperature, i'll put a tenner on it really being water temp (the normal temp gauge)!

Regarding the 'business' side of things...send me an email

The link is below...

I'll email you all the installation bumf...I wrote a guide for that kit I sold on ebay, so I'll send you the appropriate bits. It's not hard...but I'll install it myself for petrol money if you like! Whereabouts in the UK are you located? I'm either in Derby or Devon, depending on the time of year...

cheers

James

Post by **5lab** » 17 May 2004 05:00 pm

i'll have a go meself with the fitting - i service my car (badly) and did the stereo n all so a quick temp gauge shouldnt be hard (eheh

).. needed it yesterday thou, was boiling in the car

based in brighton, although me folks are moving to devon (exeter) in a few months time..

i recon your right about temp gauge on that one.. oops

ygm