Elio Gauge Cluster - Lord Elgin? - Other Options?

[RKing]

JEBar, I agree. I think the reason the dash is so troublesome to me . is that it is the ONLY item/idea on the Elio that lacks a sound engineerining reason to be. Form vs function, Elio has outstanding value in that comparison. I am ,I think, just shocked that Paul Elio would put (his) opinion of astetics (sp) ahead of good ergonomic dash layout and design. It will serve my purpose, because I will not pay to change. But I will ,somehow, add Coolant temp, oil pressure, and Voltage displays. I too want to monitor, not be told that I have "exceeded allowable range" with no way to then know "by how much" and "is the trend continuioning".

 

[JEBar]

I hope you realize that your concerns, as stated, are not really focused on the Elgin gauges at all but the rest of the dash.

In their dash design EM has included the least amount of gauges they could get away with which are speedo, tach, and fuel. Everything else is available via idiot lights and/or the central multi-function display. This would likely be EM's choice even if the speedo and tach were more conventional as idiot lights are less expensive than gauges. Unfortunately you were likely destined for disappointment anyway.

I most certainly do favor gauges and do realize that going cheap would preclude them being used .... when I look at the Elgin dash I'm looking at it as a whole, not just as a collection speedometer/tach and fuel gauges ... it will be interesting to see what will be necessary to convert the idiot lights into gauges .... I don't know if it will be practical to do so or not

Jim

 

[nthawk68]

I hope you realize that your concerns, as stated, are not really focused on the Elgin gauges at all but the rest of the dash.

In their dash design EM has included the least amount of gauges they could get away with which are speedo, tach, and fuel. Everything else is available via idiot lights and/or the central multi-function display. This would likely be EM's choice even if the speedo and tach were more conventional as idiot lights are less expensive than gauges. Unfortunately you were likely destined for disappointment anyway.

But I want to know if the elgin dash will be on the right or left side (correct or wrong side) , Hopefully onthe opposite side from the fuel filler cap. I definitely am also a guage man and hate digital and idiot lights (even though many have inferred I am an idiot); but this is something that I do not control and it is not a deciding factor, I am sure I can backyard engineer an oil and water guage come safety wire and duct tape....

 

[Bert]

I've had both, I prefer gauges.
In fact, I insist on my trucks. Volts, tach, oil pressure and temperature gauges can give you a lot of clues well before you have real issues, and give you aid in how you're driving for conditions.
Sometimes pulling steeper grades can cause temperature raises, therefore calling for slowing down, or shifting down. The tach assists in keeping you well inside the boundries of the power band. Flickering oil pressure can indicate low oil pressure or blockage, time to check it out while it's still running well. Volt meter bouncing?, time to check for a short, perhaps something as simple as a bad light bulb.
Idiot lights tend to come on when it's too late. Your money is spent on repairs instead of maintaining your vehicle. The cost difference can be staggering.
Having said this, I was less concerned about the Elgin dash once I saw the "lite up" version. Not reallly offensive, and as someone else has stated, it just might be a collectors item one day.
I have several needle gauges left over from past racing cars, perhaps I'll figure a way to incorperate them into the dash, without ruining the Elgin dash while doing so..

 

[lnwlf40]

I am sure Dakkota does not make it a habbit of revealing their business relationships with random people who contact them unless they have permission and good reason to do so.

Not only has this been confirmed by Jerome Vassallo but it is even on the EM website even if it is not obvious.



It is not very clear because they use automotive industry lingo however In this context 'IP Module and Cluster" = Instrument panel and gauge cluster

The orginial picture of the prototype Elgin gauge cluster was actually included way back in Tech Talk V5 - http://us6.campaign-archive1.com/?u=24b371802c83d81776b06aa68&id=671ea870d4&e

The photo has a very telling name:

https://gallery.mailchimp.com/24b371802c83d81776b06aa68/images/Dakkota_Cluster_2_cropped_TT.jpg

I see the problem. I was thinking Dakota Digital was the company EM was referring to but in fact it's Dakkota Lighting (as Goofyone pointed out), two different companies. My deepest and sincerest apologies for any added confusion.

 

[outsydthebox]

I've had both, I prefer gauges.
In fact, I insist on my trucks. Volts, tach, oil pressure and temperature gauges can give you a lot of clues well before you have real issues, and give you aid in how you're driving for conditions.
Sometimes pulling steeper grades can cause temperature raises, therefore calling for slowing down, or shifting down. The tach assists in keeping you well inside the boundries of the power band. Flickering oil pressure can indicate low oil pressure or blockage, time to check it out while it's still running well. Volt meter bouncing?, time to check for a short, perhaps something as simple as a bad light bulb.
Idiot lights tend to come on when it's too late. Your money is spent on repairs instead of maintaining your vehicle. The cost difference can be staggering.
Having said this, I was less concerned about the Elgin dash once I saw the "lite up" version. Not reallly offensive, and as someone else has stated, it just might be a collectors item one day.
I have several needle gauges left over from past racing cars, perhaps I'll figure a way to incorperate them into the dash, without ruining the Elgin dash while doing so..

I agree! I will add the needed gauges and sensors. I'm thinking "A-pillar mounted pods." 2 or 3 gauges on each side should provide the info I need. You know, this will be the only (new vehicle) where it's practical to have gauge pods on both sides!

 

[JEBar]

I agree! I will add the needed gauges and sensors. I'm thinking "A-pillar mounted pods." 2 or 3 gauges on each side should provide the info I need. You know, this will be the only (new vehicle) where it's practical to have gauge pods on both sides!

I like A-pillar mounted gauges .... I installed boost pressure and turbo temperature gauges in my '02 Chevy 3500 .... those gauges really helped with towing heavy loads up steep grades

Jim

 

[pistonboy]

I see the problem. I was thinking Dakota Digital was the company EM was referring to but in fact it's Dakkota Lighting (as Goofyone pointed out), two different companies. My deepest and sincerest apologies for any added confusion.

This is why this is a classy forum.

 

[goofyone]

I see the problem. I was thinking Dakota Digital was the company EM was referring to but in fact it's Dakkota Lighting (as Goofyone pointed out), two different companies. My deepest and sincerest apologies for any added confusion.

It is a very easy mistake to make and I myself was a bit confused about the whole thing at first until I decided to look into it a bit more.

 

[goofyone]

the above link didn't work for me .... to me its a good thing that it will be made by Dakkota Digital because they should know exactly how to replace it with one of their other dashes

Jim

Jim, we actually have two different companies here, Dakota and Dakkota. o_O

Dakota Digital is not the same company as Dakkota Lighting/Dakkota Systems, However as Jerome said the dash uses standard connections I would not be surprised at all if the Dakota Digital systems would work fairly easily in the Elio.