Or Sport Package interior...

How does Ford choose which guages to give you? With the IUP you get them all, but with non-IUP you get Fuel (obviously) and temp. Is it based on importance? Does Ford think this car is more prone to overheating? I mean they are just dummy guages anyway, no better or worse than a warnign light. I actually noticed i have the same 2 on my contour. Fuel, and Temp. And then a light for battery and oil pressure.

 

Well, fuel is a given. I think I would prefer temp as if it rises you will most likely notice. Oil pressure would be nice but if you notice it is low, damage has been done. I would agree that over heating would be more common.

 

Over heating is the most common problem next to or near voltage in frequency. Oil pressure problems usually do not occur very often and like posted above the damage is probably already done. If voltage gives out the most will happen is leave you stranded without causing permanent engine damage.

 

Hmm, I know the volt gauge in my tbird saved me a few times by alerting me of a problem with my alternator. I guess temp is usefull, but usually by the time the dummy guage alerts you, the damage is done there too. This is a problem with my car, as they have been known to eat water pumps...by the time the guage lets you know, it's usually too late (head warpage, etc)

 

That makes me think! With the SCT and Predator tuners getting direct access to the ECU, would it be possible to reprogram the gauges to display the "true" value instead of the "low","normal","high" type reading it gives us now? If the ECU controles the guages and the tuners can program the ECU, you would THINK that we can reclaim true gauges once more!

 

Temp gauge saved me a couple times before engine damage. Would start creeping towards hot before the car would start losing power (this is where you're causing damage).