What aux gauges do you run?

[samdajellybeenie14]

Note: please excuse my incoherent ramblings... try and bear with me here.

To my knowledge, either the 3rd gen 4Runner doesn't have a sensor to monitor these specific things or the ScanGauge II cannot read them (but that's not the purpose of this thread):

Oil pressure
Fuel pressure
Manifold air pressure
Engine vacuum
(If anyone knows of any more, don't hesitate to quote me and add them to the quote)

And now to the point of this thread: does anyone run these gauges as aux. gauges in your 4Runner?
For example, if you have a dedicated fuel pressure gauge, and the gauge is showing no fuel pressure you can probably conclude that you have a bad fuel pump. We all know that diagnosis sometimes takes a long time and involves a lot steps (of course, it depends on the problem you're trying to diagnose in the first place). So, in order to save yourself some time, wouldn't it be easier to just install a fuel pressure gauge to aid in diagnosing fuel pump issues? After all, something like an oil pressure gauge can tell you a lot more than just your oil pressure.
I wonder about this a lot when I hear of someone who takes their car to several mechanics, and none of them can accurately diagnose the problem. Finally, a good mechanic gets it right. Usually, that problem is something really obvious; and all that money and time spent on failed diagnoses could be saved from the very start by having something as simple as a gauge. Does that make sense to anyone? Correct me if I'm wrong, but that could be a reason why race cars have a thousand gauges in them.

 

[samdajellybeenie14]

No one runs any auxiliary gauges?

 

[Mike&Ike]

Only thing I am running currently is a trans temp gauge. I just bought a wideband and boost gauge for my supercharger though.

 

[habanero]

Just a cheap set of 3- so far I have the volt meter reading both batteries via a switch and a coolant temp sensor because the dummy switch is stupid. Hah!
have since added an air pressure gauge for the compressor.
I'll eventually set up the oil pressure gauge too, but I want to replace the one that came in the set with an electric rather than the mechanical.

When it comes time to replace I will get backlit gauges, it'll work better with the angle they are at in the dash.


Aren't some people using scangauges and the like, rather than gauges?

 

[PNW yota]

I went with an Aeroforce Interceptor, haven't installed yet, hope to this weekend. I'm not sure what all the scangauge does but I like the looks of this much more over the scangauge.

Heres a list of the parameters that it shows, no fuel or oil pressure

1. IAT–Intake Air Temperature
2. COOLANT–engine coolant temperature
3. RPM–engine speed
4. MAP–Manifold Air Pressure or boost (not supported on most Toyotas
5. MAF lb/min–Mass Air Flow in lbs per minute
6. MPH–Miles Per Hour
7. THROTTLE PCT–percent of throttle opening
8. IGN. ADV–Ignition Advance
9. STFT B1S1–Short Term Fuel Trim bank 1 sensor 1
10. STFT B2S1–Short Term Fuel Trim bank 2 sensor 1
11. LTFT B1S1-Long Term Fuel Trim bank 1 sensor 1
12. LTFT B2S1-Long Term Fuel Trim bank 2 sensor 1
13. ENGINE LOAD–PCM calculated percent of engine load
14. FUEL STATUS–Open or Closed loop operation
15. MPG–calculated fuel economy
16. HP–calculated horsepower
17. AT TEMP–Automatic Transmission temperature
18. INJ. PW–Injector Pulse Width in msec.
19. MISFIRES–total misfires of all cylinders per 600 rpms (not supported by all
vehicles)

 

[Swimmerboy2112]

Supercharger boost gauge. That's all.

 

[pattycakes77]

I've got Volts, Oil Pressure, and Transmission Temp. Those seem like the big ones for me right now.

 

[Jayjayb96]

I've got Volts, Oil Pressure, and Transmission Temp. Those seem like the big ones for me right now.

Do you have a build thread for your rig? Im interested to see what you used for the inclometer under the headunit? Is it off a 1st gen 4runneror fj?

 

[d4nrunner]

I use an auto meter trans temp gauge and also the Torque app on my smartphone with a wifi OBDII port tool (it gives me most of the readouts I want to know, like water temp, voltage, etc.). The only other one I want is a oil pressure gauge as there is only a pressure switch in my 97.

 

[pattycakes77]

Do you have a build thread for your rig? Im interested to see what you used for the inclometer under the headunit? Is it off a 1st gen 4runneror fj?

No build thread, ain't nobody got time for that!
The inclinometer was from a 1st gen, chopped and rebuilt to fit but I got tired of it and have now removed it.

Someday I'll document my 4runner but not anytime soon. I have a lot of threads on Yotatech if you dig for them, just none here.

 

[RussToy]

I've got Volts, Oil Pressure, and Transmission Temp. Those seem like the big ones for me right now.

Hello sir... Im totally digging your gauge holder. Looks frik'in sweet! Did you make that yourself or did you buy it? If so where?

Either way...frik'in way cool!!

 

[SpidermanGeek]

I use an auto meter trans temp gauge and also the Torque app on my smartphone with a wifi OBDII port tool (it gives me most of the readouts I want to know, like water temp, voltage, etc.). The only other one I want is a oil pressure gauge as there is only a pressure switch in my 97.

I also have an AutoMeter Trans Temp Gauge as well as a basic digital Voltage display.

So I'm in the same boat as you as the only other gauge I would also want is an Oil Pressure Gauge.

 

[Toy2play]

Going to bump this old thread instead of making a new one. Does anyone have pictures of a gauge in the cubby just below the cigarette lighter? I've got a 2 pod pillar with two gauges already and need to find a place for a third.

 

[bugman-74]

Going to bump this old thread instead of making a new one. Does anyone have pictures of a gauge in the cubby just below the cigarette lighter? I've got a 2 pod pillar with two gauges already and need to find a place for a third.

I put my voltmeter in the useless "pocket" beneath the cigarette lighter. I did have to shorten the mounting cup, and make a custom mounting bracket (lower profile), so that everything would fit. I prefer the voltmeter down there, because even dimmed it is bright. The rest of my guages are Here

 

[Toy2play]

I put my voltmeter in the useless "pocket" beneath the cigarette lighter. I did have to shorten the mounting cup, and make a custom mounting bracket (lower profile), so that everything would fit. I prefer the voltmeter down there, because even dimmed it is bright. The rest of my guages are Here

Very nice, thanks for the pictures. I'll definitely keep this in mind. I'm curious if old style face plate is any different than the newer style. I've got a 97 with the old style design.