I had a AUTOMETER SPORT COMP II 30 PSI TURBO BOOST GAUGE Installed close to 10 years ago. It's served me well over the years but according to my recent tune, it's reading 5-7 extra lbs of boost. While I admire the optimism the gauge has for my car, it's driving me nuts. Do these gauges have a shelf life? Any chance the gauge isn't the issue? I want to be sure before I buy a replacement.

 

if its a mechanical boost gauge you can hook up a mity vac straight to it and compare the vacuum readings. You can also do a boost leak test and compare the gauge readings from your boost leak tester to your mechanical boost gauge and compare.

 

MityVac is $236, boost leak test will cost me $100'ish. New gauge is ~$70, I'm just wondering if these gauges can 'fail' or if it's more likely that I need to have installation checked. Sorry if I sound retarded, I'm a design/computer guy, not a car guy. I can still roll with the car guys if my car looks cool right?

 

SEnd it back to Autometer. They are great with replacement gauges.
And you should make your own boost/leak testers. It's cheap if you have your own air compressor.

 

Good call, I'll give it a shot w/ AutoMeter. I do have an Air Compressor, thanks for the tip, I'll look it up.

 

$236!!! what is it made of Titanium, I paid $30 at Sears for mine. You can also rent these mityvacs at autozone too.

I here ya, not everyone can be mechanically inclined, but owning an Evo I recommend to acquire some knowledge to do some of the smaller stuff yourself or your gonna be spending a lot of cash at shops.

 

I have had the Sport comp II -30-0+30 in my car since early 2007. Been rock solid. I installed the JDM Map 3 bar sensor in 2008 on the intake manifold in the stock position and have found the gauge is about 0.3 off from the 3 bar. Still not much to worry about though. 24 psi basically reads 24 :-).

My car reads -20 psi at idle ( stock cams ) 850 rpm

Mine is the mechanical one BTW.

If yours is the mechanical one, check the tubing and brass ferrule going into the guage. They can get crushed or bent causing issues. I would then check to make sure the guage reads zero when unpowered. if it does not, then send it back to Autometer. IIRC they have about a $75 charge to rebuild plus shipping. Summit sells those for about $75 so take your pick.

 

Good info, thanks!

*Edit* I just checked, gauge does read zero when unpowered. That's strange.