56322 From: Stu Olson <solson8@q...>
Date: Thu Jun 13, 2002 9:12pm
Subject: RE: Re: For those of you who think your TJ temperature gauge is linear and somewhat accurate...
After reading Joe's and Joe's posts (did that make sense?), I dropped a
line to a friend in Detroit. He is one of the three engineers that was
responsible for the Rubicon TJ. You wouldn't believe how that thing
came to be....but that is another story for another day.
I asked him about the gauges and how their signal is derived....time
averaged, are the gauges linear.....etc. His response is as follows:
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Hey Stu ...
"OFF THE RECORD" OF COURSE !
Uh Oh... busted ! One of my "pet peaves... "Truth in gauging" . The
computer does, and is conditioning the information. Fluctuating gauges
make a lot of customers very nervous. Many just don't understand.
Of course, if you really understand an engine, you know this is
"normal". However, too many complaints in the field. This has driven a
"dampened" gauge strategy.
I personally hate this... I want to know what's going on ! What's the
point of a gauge if it's not relaying accurate information ? Bet I'm
preaching to the choir on this one, right ?? LOL
Temp gauge holds 210 for a long time... then moves. It's been changed
several times since the launch of TJ.
The Volt gauge is really dampened.... averaged big time.
And the F ''n fuel gauge ! Don't even get me started on THAT one !!!!
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
The remainder of the e-mail had to be cut out.....not ready for public
distribution. Hang in there....better things are hopefully coming if he
gets his way with the TJ.
TC!
Stu Olson
www.stu-offroad.com
56324 From: Joe W <arizonajeep@c...>
Date: Thu Jun 13, 2002 10:18pm
Subject: RE: Re: For those of you who think your TJ temperature gauge is linear and somewhat accurate...
Hi Stu,
It's nice to have someone admit what we already knew... and while I
completely understand their reasoning for filtering the information which
goes to our gauges; there are a few of us who push their rigs to the point
where filtered information isn't good enough. Customers don't like fuel
gauges which move when you turn a corner, so the factory programs the
computer to ignore fluctuations in fuel level signals which are of short
duration... unfortunately, there are a few discriminating TJ owners out here
who NEED to know what the unfiltered data is... and short of reprogramming
the factory computer to take out the filtering windows... we are screwed
unless we replace the gauges.
I originally replaced my gauges because I wanted a different look in my flat
fender TJ... once I replaced them and discovered how "dynamic" things really
are when you aren't viewing the world through the filter of a computer; I'd
never even consider going back to the factory setup... no way... no how.
Back when I replaced my gauges... I didn't know that the instruments were
computer controlled... I didn't know that the data to the instruments was
filtered... but after replacing the gauges it became clear that DC engineers
HEAVILY filter the data that we see on our computer controlled instruments
<sigh>. Once again, an automotive manufacturer decides to save us from
ourselves.
Thanks again for the confirmation of our suspicions...
Joe
