by paggaz » Tue Oct 30, 2012 7:06 pm
Just an update to this thread:
Bought this second hand SPT boost gauge anyway and received it today. All I can say was I'm glad I didn't pay much for it.
Was a bit sceptical though when I first saw it. With a gauge not connected, it should automatically be set to zero, however this one was at 5psi. It looked pretty decent other than that.
Anyway I went on to install it anyway because of the slight chance that it might just be "sticky" and need a few revolutions by getting a bit of boost in the system.
As for plug and play, it plugged, but didn't play (as expected). Unlike the WRX (and I assume prefacelift Libs because they have the trip computer there), the post facelift liberty doesn't have a wire in the clock plug for 12V in the "ON" position, I just tapped into the wire one next to it which is the 12V ACC wire, meaning the gauge turns on in ACC rather than ON. I'll fix this later, when I have the chance. I expected that sort of thing anyway since it's made specifically for WRX so that wasn't a problem for me.
So I got it installed, went for a drive - lots of boost and off boost to try to free the needle and get it to stay at 0psi when off. But as feared, the gauge "zero" calibration is actually on 5psi, meaning every readout was 5psi higher than real pressure.
My main issue is why the hell did SPT (Made in USA) make such a POS gauge!? What's the point in a gauge which isn't accurate, or accurately calibrated? I'd probably get a more accurate reading from a $20 eBay gauge.
Pretty annoyed and disappointed about that...
Anyway, I just wanted to let you know how it went.
Wouldn't recommend the SPT gauge to anybody.