Has anyone had this problem. Before I start the car the guage is slightly below the zero box. I was wondering if there was a way to manually reset the thing to zero.

Thanks

 

You might want to check with Autometer to see if anything is really wrong.

Some gauges won't sit at zero when the power is off. When you turn the key, it it jumps up to zero, it is probably normal operation. The tach and fuel gauges I used to have in my Tercel would drop below zero, and reset just prior to use.

I don't suspect you can do anything to change this. However, if the guage doesn't zero out when power is applied, you might have a defective unit.

 

If its mechanical it could be a calibration error (Defect in the gauge) or a pinched line somewhere before the gauge.. Eletric gauges can sometimes read something other than zero when they get no power because of how the meter is manufactured.. I can tell you I have the mechanical autometer gauge, 30-0-30 and it sits right at zero whent he engine is off..

 

This is very commom in Autometer guages. That's why you should stay away from them. They almost always lose their zero.

 

Thats not exactly true.. Autometer Sport-Comp and Pro-Comp gauges are very accurate, and very reliable.. However the 'Auto-Gage' series and some of the "Sport compact" marketed gauges like the luna's and whatnot have had reliability problems..

I've been using autometer gauges for almost 20 years and have had one defective (electrical) gauge in the entire time I've used them.. On the other hand, I've had frequent problems with Stewart warner and VDO gauges...

MOST problems with gauges, whether they don't work right, or stop working are due to electrical senders, bad wiring, or just a kink in a line (on a mechanical gauge) so check everything before you take it out and exchange it just to rule out the obvious.

 

I have installed several and seen dozens. I personally had one that was off by about 3-4psi. I put in a greddy and a vdo to confirm it. Both were connected to the same pressure source. That's the only one that I have seen that was inaccurate. All the others just lost their zero after some time. It is quite common, but I can't say for sure what models they were anymore. You are probably right about it only being certain models that are unreliable. You could do some searching on the Talon Digest to confirm it. DSM people have been complaining about it for years.

 

pull your hose loose (with the engine off of course) and see if it zero's itself. You could have a slight vacume on the hose your t'd into after the engine cools if there is a checkvalve in the line somewhere.

 

sorry to bring an old thread back to life but I have an autometer ultra-lite series boost gauge and it is off by at least 4 psi...

anybody have an y suggestion on whats the most accurate gauge out...

 

if autometers are so bad why would they be used in nascar and all other racing events?

 

2 options

1. throw it away and get a real gauge (autometer bst gauges are whack)
2. send it to autometer and they'll replace it for you for free.

 

are you sure you dont have a boost leak?

 

The Autometer mechanical boost gauges are sometimes off from the factory. They are happy to replace non-zeroed gauges at no charge but there is no way to fix it yourself. Contact the vendor where you purchased the gauge and they'll arrange an exchange for you.

Tom

 

i had an autometer that was exactly 5psi off ...my greddy profec b spec II was on the money...

good boost gauge? stewart warner, omori....defi's are good too

 

Mine was off a bit 2, then the little light bulb ( or whatever) went dead after 3 months and i couldnlt see a damn thing at night. Got rid of it, got Defi, couldnt be happier

 

yes I am sure I do not have a boost leak, that is why I said my gauge is off my 4 psi, because I know for a FACT that it is off my that much.....

I will call autometer tommorow