Voltage gauge ideas needed

[MarkVIIIMarc]

My factory alternator finally died after 18 years and 220,000 miles. I now believe I need to install a voltage gauge for two reasons.

1. The replacement is no doubt the most likely part to fail on my old car.
2. The car's warning light comes on at a ridiculously low 9 volts or whatever. The "traction control" warning gives a hint it is time to get out the multi meter but I can actually go weeks w/o spinning my tires.

Anyone have a favorite gauge or other ideas to get me an honest warning system? I really don't spin my tires that often.

My best idea so far is placing one on the windshield pillar and possibly not lighting it or going dim as can be.

I am up for suggestions, thank you.

 

[tixer]

Welcome!

For years, my solution was to keep a spare alternator in the trunk, but I had to use that about a year back. Which reminds me, I have yet to rebuild the original!

I think quite a few folks have used one that plugs into the OBD port, and has a little LCD readout.. Scangauge? I've also seen el-cheapo ones that you just stick into the lighter socket. I'm trying to think about where I'd stick one into the instrument cluster and make it look a bit more like it belongs, and I'm coming up blank.

Amazon has no shortage of direct-from-china type voltage gauges, it's just a matter of finding a good home for it.

 

[tonybrooklyn]

Get a pillar set up like on my corvette.

 

[beerdog]

If you do not have heated seats you can use the spot where the heated seat switches go. People have mounted 3 gages in that spot and made it look factory.

 

[Lvnmarks]

I alway thought about moving the message center buttons and mounting a custom triple pod there.

If you're really worried about your alternator, just do what Mike, me and other have done, Just install a rebuilt one and keep a second in the trunk. After a while of changing these out I can do in 10 minutes.

Then just run a cheap cigarette lighter gauge.

 

[driller]

If you're really worried about your alternator, just do what Mike, me and other have done, Just install a rebuilt one and keep a second in the trunk. After a while of changing these out I can do in 10 minutes.

Then just run a cheap cigarette lighter gauge.

That's how I roll. :thumbsup:

 

[Roadboss]

I'm with Driller, no need to over think the problem. If you start tearing up wiring in these cars you may cause more problems than you solve with their wire brittleness.
KISS

 

[98mark8lsc]

Here's what I did a number of years ago. My car has heated seats, but I think I only used them a handful of times, so I was ok with "deleting" the heated seat switches. Eventually, I may relocate them, but we'll see.

I used PLX devices gauges and they're pretty awesome. I have still yet to hook up the one on the right side. It'll be used for AFR, and I've been waiting til I redo the exhaust...

http://www.lincolnsofdistinction.org/vbulletin/showthread.php?33827-MY-gauge-quot-pod-quot