What those things next to the speedo are for
 

I just read something about an overdrive problem and it turned out to be the voltage regulator not charging. I had another friend get stranded a month ago when his battery got completely run down. So, I'm asking the question, how many here regularly look at your gauges while driving. I monitor mine periodically while driving. If the car is not charging then I can maybe change the part out without worrying the battery is dead. A few years ago I had an oil pressure sending unit go. It read full 80 lbs and I was close to home. Changing the sending unit fixed that problem. Driving through the desert I learned the gas gauge must also be watched closely and replenished at every opportunity. I won't get into the temp gauge and climbing Mt Washington.

Re: What those things next to the speedo are for
 

I check the gauges frequently. Probably more than I look at the speedometer.......Mark

Re: What those things next to the speedo are for
 

I watch my gauges constantly. It is a habit I developed out of necessity given some of the marginal vehicles I was stuck with when I was younger.

Re: What those things next to the speedo are for
 

Ya....this about sums it up!!....I still drive marginal vehicles....except now I own more of them...... Mark

Re: What those things next to the speedo are for
 

I can't imagine anyone not constantly monitoring their gauges. I think only teenage girls do not watch their gauges.

Re: What those things next to the speedo are for
 

Hah, i think most teenage girls don't even watch the road
But can tell you everything about the radio

To me if you cant fix your own old car within reason your better off walking

Re: What those things next to the speedo are for
 

In some ways the new cars are better, in most not so. I have gauges and it will also flash warning lamps, but is usually just a picture of engine or service required. Sometimes same lamp will illuminate orange or red. So pull over and get owners manual, 167 pages of radio instructions, 3 pages of seat belts, 1 page of oil requirements. Then on to 385 pages of fuse locations with descriptions of some things that sound like medical procedures. Finally to warnings, see page 19, chapter 2. Yellow means time for something, orange means something tomorrow, red means stop call tow truck. If flashing red it means reduced power levels and AC will be turned off but you can drive 125 miles without coolant drive to dealer, trade in on something from the 50's!

Re: What those things next to the speedo are for
 

But wait..........you might not get a manual anymore. You need a phone app.

Re: What those things next to the speedo are for
 

I monitor the gauges constantly. More than the speedo, anyway.

I really must try hooking that speedo cable up someday.

Mart.

Re: What those things next to the speedo are for
 

Have something of an overdrive problem with my 52 vicki, 50 mph in overdrive floor it overdrive kicks down amp gauge goes to 0 engine starts to miss let up and amp gauge shows charge again and everything is good, Think it may be a bad ground found connector on battery post cracked replaced it haven't had a chance to road test it yet

Re: What those things next to the speedo are for
 

When making changes in the engine area I monitor the gauges constantly. After a few months when I have made sure that everything is ok I look at them less frequently. The gas gauge is the only exception.

Re: What those things next to the speedo are for
 

The problem may be in your solenoid. There is a grounding circuit that shorts out the points until the OD kicks out. if that circuit is not fully opening you are losing power to the coil.



In the end I hope this post makes people more conscientious of looking at and understanding what the gauges do. When I'm on a trip I just use my GPS for a speedometer. More accurate and I can mount it in a better place to read it. Also keep track of my average speed.

Re: What those things next to the speedo are for
 

My wife is definitely not a teenager.

Re: What those things next to the speedo are for
 

We were trained in helicopter school to scan our gauges every thirty seconds.

Re: What those things next to the speedo are for
 

Back in the 80's working on my pilots license I learned that watching the gauges was a survival tool. Still do it today.
Good habit to get into. Better to see when your oil pressure drops to "0" than her about it later...Chap

Re: What those things next to the speedo are for
 

Thanks for the reply. Fixing the bad ground cable seems to have fixed it took it for a drive and everything worked as it should, Still starts real slow until cooled down after driving, Tried a temporary jumper from starter side of solenoid to coil side of resistor seemed to help thinking about a switch or a diode to get more battery to coil when starting.

Re: What those things next to the speedo are for
 

As a trained, long haul, semi operator, gauges are, of course, scanned every few seconds. In the car, there is time allowed for scenery.:p

Daddy taught me early on, at age ten, gauges are not instruments, they are gauges!

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Deluxe dash in the old Ford L line was great, all gauges pointed to the 3 o'clock position except fuel, could scan them all at a glance. Maybe newer trucks have that or should.

Re: What those things next to the speedo are for
 

How women see them..