Community Forums

Flyer15015 · 12-21-2020, 03:25 PM

I am currently looking at several class "A" coaches in the 2002 - 2008 era, and the 32 -38 foot length, and those with the Chevy V-8 / Allison power packages.

One thing I notice is that the instrument clusters only have a speedo, tach gas and temp guage.

What happened to the oil pressure and amp meter ? Or even that ever so necessary Tx temp guage ?

So......... my question is, did you add these to your coach ? If so how and where ?
OR, do you not think they are necessary ?

Mike in Colorado

yeloduster · 12-21-2020, 03:54 PM

The gauges are there. See the attached picture. The temperature gauge is an analogue gauge to the right of the speedometer. The temperature gauge doesn't show the actual coolant temperature but I've found it adequate to show a rise in temperature that indicate a problem.

The LCD display below the speedometer can be set to show all the gauges you are interested in including oil pressure and alternator voltage. I don't think any modern vehicles show amperes any more. The voltage is a better indicator. What is missing is a transmission temperature gauge. However, the transmission temperature is monitored and will cast a check engine light and message if the transmission temperature gets too high.

Newer chassis than my 2003 might be able to display transmission temperature in the LCD display?

The seating and steering wheel position of my motorhome made reading the speedometer awkward. I made a new dash board cut to the correct shape and finished to match the existing fake wood. I lowered the instrument cluster so I could see the speedometer easier. I also added a transmission sump temperature gauge and a manifold vacuum gauge. In the attached picture you will see those two gauges above the speedometer.

F4Gary · 12-21-2020, 05:47 PM

You can get a ScanGauge and program it to show you actual temps and pressures. It plugs in to the OBD port.

Flyer15015 · 12-22-2020, 08:56 AM

NOW THAT'S COOL !!!
Thanks for the response.
Reason for asking is that I am looking at an '04 pace arrow, that is "bone stock" and I know I'll have to do some suspension mods and of course a set of headers.
What else is required to "wake up " that big Chevy V-8.
Mike in Colorado

Mike

PappaBull · 12-22-2020, 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flyer15015

NOW THAT'S COOL !!!
Thanks for the response.
Reason for asking is that I am looking at an '04 pace arrow, that is "bone stock" and I know I'll have to do some suspension mods and of course a set of headers.
What else is required to "wake up " that big Chevy V-8.
Mike in Colorado

Mike

times 2 on the scan gauge, the stock water temp gauge only goes to half way regardless of how hot it gets. my 8.1 is a work horse as is, just needs more PM than my V-10s did. spend a few days reading this thread but don't get over whelmed by all the info and opinions. I bought mine in August and was ready to travel by Feb. except for suspension mods which are still slowly being taken care of.

PappaBull · 12-22-2020, 02:51 PM

FYI Ultra RV has the scan gauge on sale for $180.00, also look up edgray on this thread if you like a build sheet

MoCoTom · 12-22-2020, 06:11 PM

I added three gauges to the dash shortly after I bought my coach. They are water temp, trans temp and fuel pressure. Later I purchased the scangauge to monitor fuel trims and found out I could have saved money and a whole bunch of work. The only one of those three gauges I now actually monitor is the fuel pressure, everything else is on the Scangauge
Tom

**TonyDi** · 12-22-2020, 10:14 PM

Scan gauge makes a diesel and a gas scanner. You can set it up to monitor 4 functions at the same time. I believe there is about 17 different functions that are available. Changing the function is very easy.

Mark_K5LXP · 12-23-2020, 07:54 AM

My solution was to use a bluetooth OBD reader and running Torque on an old android tablet. I don't use it for every trip I take but I wouldn't leave home without it. Because it's wireless I can set the tablet pretty much anywhere but it usually resides on the doghouse. I have the app set up so that different groups of gauges are visible on different pages so I can see all "temperature", "fuel" or "transmission" related things with one glance. Being able to make the size and kind of gauges you want is great. Using a graphing style of gauge for certain parameters lets you catch a change in value without having to see it happen real time.

Mark B.
Albuquerque, NM

bruceh · 12-23-2020, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MoCoTom

I added three gauges to the dash shortly after I bought my coach. They are water temp, trans temp and fuel pressure. Later I purchased the scangauge to monitor fuel trims and found out I could have saved money and a whole bunch of work. The only one of those three gauges I now actually monitor is the fuel pressure, everything else is on the Scangauge
Tom

I have a scan gauge and enjoy it. There are minor problems. You can't read the scan gauge with sunglasses on. You also can't just glance at it, you have to really look at it to see the readings taking your eyes off the road for a short time.

I have been thinking of adding of gauges that I can just glance at while wearing sunglasses.

The really unique stuff like fuel trim will still show up on my scan gauge.

F4Gary · 12-23-2020, 10:28 AM

I have no problem reading mine with sunglasses on. Maybe ditch the polarized sunglasses for conventional.

Also, I think one can run 2 (or more) scangauges with an OBD splitter.

A quick glance is all you need to read the scan gauge. You should already know what number range is normal so it doesn't take but a second for your brain to recognize something out of range.