Mystery Gauge

[thestonegroover]

Hello Lancisti. I've finally got myself a Beta Coupe, so there may be the odd stupid question posted by me however I'll try not to ask too many stupid questions too often. The gauge in the bottom left of the instrument panel doesn't seem to relate to anything I can see. I've checked all the wiring diagrams and and according to those it's not connected to anything, but when the car is running it does move. Anyone know what it's for?

[chrisc]

On my (vx) dashboard the bottom left is the petrol gauge, but im guessing you would probably have figured that one out, so instead ive uploaded a photo of the dashboard.

http://groups.msn.com/BetaBoyz/betaboyzpics.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=275

Right, gauges there are :
top left (barely visible) voltage
bottom left - petrol gauge
top centre - oil pressure
bottom centre - coolant temperature
top right - oil temperature
bottom right - oil level (ignore when car is running)

[thestonegroover]

thanks for the reply. i did actually mean the bottom right gauge, not the left and your reply confirmed what i suspected. it's funny how it's not on any of the wiring diagrams though isn't it? once again, thanks for your help.

[chrisc]

Glad to be of help, and in case you didnt know the way to use it is with the car cold, press the button on the dash with the same symbol. The highest point the needle reaches should be indicative of the oil level. However, chances of it working reliably are minimal.

[wellingtonvx]

Is it correct (on the VX at least) that this gauge will only work if there is a cable attached to the dipstick? My gauge doesn't work and there is no cable attached. I don't know if the cable is still attached at the other end (don't know what it looks like) or if it has been removed.

Interesting your speedo shows mph in large numbers, I would have thought kmph would have been larger (my NZ VX only shows kmph, not mph).

Another thing that has always puzzled me about the speedo and rev counter, why don't the needles start at zero? (not that I ever drive this slow anyway :D)

Colin

[Hamish]

It is correct that the engine oil level guage will only work correctly if the air pipe is connected to the dipstick :wink: If you remove the instrument pod, at the back there's a round 'pump' which should have a narrow diameter plastic pipe which - eventually - goes to the dipstick.
Chris is quite right, don't trust it :!:

UK specification cars will have MPH in nice big letters just so you know how much you're exceeding the speed limit by :twisted: no need for KMH to be large as it's not used formally on the roads in the UK as a speed or distance measurement 8)

[chrisc]

It is correct that the dash gauge relies on a length of plastic tubing that runs from the top of the dipstick to the end of the sump. Actually, I took a photo of this the other day, bad quality but hey.

http://groups.msn.com/BetaBoyz/myhpevolumexs.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=277

What it shows is the dipstick from my black vx compared to an unbroken one. The dipsticks usually break about halfway down.

its a uk car which explains the mph

As for why the needles are where they are.... I dont know.... the car wasnt running. A couple of italian cars ive been in have had this - I assume it must be the 'who cares, its slow' mentality!

Im sure the powers that be will make a silly law to say that speedos must be accurate at the minimum enforced speed limits of the country some time :)

[Shant Fabricatorian]

Interesting, I always assumed that the yellow cable attached to the dipstick was for the oil temperature gauge, because that works and the level gauge doesn't on my car...

By the way, congratulations on your new acquisition stonegroover!

[chrisc]

See if its done the breaking off halfway down thing - the length should be ~54cm from the err. bulge at the top of the dipstick to the end of the plastic tube. Mine broke at 25cm from there.

[thestonegroover]

Er...Bloody Hell. I wasn't expecting to start this. I got my first chance to get a good look aroung the car in daylight today (afternoon off work, working a 6day week) and worked out the the push-for-level feature. And I suppose it's not funny at all it's not on the wiring diagram having now realised the whole thing is just a vacuum gauge type thing, the tube coming off the dipstick being just a hollow tube. i feel quite stupid now. it's a very elegantly simple piece of design that i would love to believe only the italians could think of.....mine's extremely accurate as well, i adjusted the level a couple of times from just off the min mark on the stick and the gauge reflected it exactly.