Oil Pressure Guage Answer From Auto Meter

[03 Merc]

All,

Below is the my query and the response, from Auto Meter, regarding the Oil Pressure Guage in the Marauder:


Hello,
I have a 2003 Mercury Marauder. I would like to convert the oil pressure guage in it to read the actual, true oil pressure, not just be a on/off indicator. Do you have a kit to do this conversion? I know the oil pressure sender will need replaced. But is the guage it's self ballasted to provide a continual mid range position or is it a stock Autometer guage?

Thanks,

Wayne


Dear Wayne,
Thank you for your question. I understand you are disappointed to find a gauge that appears to be an Auto Meter gauge, yet functions as a typical original equipment (OE) piece.

Auto Meter Products built the Marauder's gauges to Ford Motor Company's specifications while borrowing from the look of our Ultra Lite instrument line - that's why they function like an original equipment (OE) gauge, but look like Auto Meter's Ultra Lite gauges. The gauge is not ballasted. Rather, as you indicated, it operates more like an "on/off" switch.

Although your idea of a conversion kit for your Marauder's oil pressure gauge is logical and inventive, we will not be manufacturing a conversion kit for it. As it is built to Ford's OE specifications, the gauge cannot accommodate such an adaptation.

We are not licensed to manufacture any look alike gauges, even on a "one off" basis, to match the stock Marauder instruments.

If you desire to completely replace your stock oil pressure gauge, I'd first check with your local Ford dealer regarding warranty issues. Additionally, removing OE senders/gauges will send error messages to the car's CPU, causing flashing "service engine soon," or other warning lights. This can be problematic and frustrating. Again, please consult your certified Ford dealer to discuss warranty issues before replacing any of your OE senders and/or instrumentation.

The optimum scenario is to complement your OE gauges with functioning Auto Meter product. Again, you are advised to contact your local Ford dealer to determine if you've adequate ports, clearance, etc... to tap into your vehicle's engine. If you would like to receive an Auto Meter catalog, please reply to this email with your full name and mailing address. I'd be happy to send you one!

I hope I've answered your questions. Thank you again for your email and your continued support of Auto Meter Products.

Sincerely,
Brett Littlefield



Hopefully this will resolve the questions regarding the Oil Pressure Guage.....or should I say "Warning Guage"?

[Logan]

That sucks...

Hmmm... It might be worth the $50 to order a standard autometer oil pressure gauge and hook it up in place and see what happens, if anything...

[Flash]

03 Merc,

Read AutoMeter's reply:

Went out to garage and pulled out the two gauge bezel (factory refers to it as a "finish panel") to take a look. Remembering what AO said:

"Additionally, removing OE senders/gauges will send error messages to the car's CPU, causing flashing "service engine soon," or other warning lights"

I have an idea, remove the stock gauge from the bezel leaving all the stock wires in place and tuck it in behind the bezel, there's plenty of space. Then put a 'real' AutoMeter gauge and sending unit in. BTW down by the oil filter housing where the stock sending unit is there is another hole drilled and tapped with a plug in it, [factory foresight?]. Just add a 90° elbow, sending unit, wire to new gauge in bezel and tap off the voltmeter for the light circut and we're good to go.

[Logan]

For the record, I just remembered something. I've driven around for a week with the gauge physically removed from the car while I was modifying the bezel for a third gauge. That being said, removing the stock Oil pressure gauge will NOT cause the service engine light to come on, nor will it cause any other issues.

Flash, you've got the right idea, there are additional bosses on the block to screw a real pressure gauge into and just replace the stock gauges.

[03 Merc]

Logan and Flash,

As I posted in a earlier thread the wiring diagram for the MM does not show the oil pressure sender switch going to the computer. It goes straight to the guage... I think if you replace the sender and the guage you can re-use the stock wiring... which saves us the biggest hassle in installing guages usually... Since the MM does not have a "Check Guages" light we won't lose any functionality...but you may scare the crap out of a dealer tech doing an oil change:D

[Moparzz]

I think we are going about this all wrong. We didn't create this problem, FORD DID! We should collectively contact our dealers, Ford engineering, and Ford corporate and put the burden on them! Why should we be doing all of the hard work to resolve the issue of them putting in a bogus gauge in what is supposed to be a modern day muscle car. Let's use a little of our muscle (and intelligence) by dialing the phones and maybe writing some letters to get this and maybe some other issues taken care of also. Don't do for them what they should be doing for you!.......................... ...Phew, glad I got that off my chest.

[tetsu]

I agree with Bobby. I recommend insisting that these bull-s**t guages
be fixed. As far as I'm concerned my oil guage is broken. It does not
tell me the OIL PRESSURE. What kind of oil pressure guage does not
display the oil pressure. Complete horse-hockey!

Johnny

[Logan]

Ford's oil pressure gauges have operated in the same manner for decades... Not that that makes it right... but...

[MitchB]

I had the same problem with the factory oil pressure gauge in my 93 TBird. Although the gauge was not an Autometer, the same principles apply. I replaced the oil pressure switch with a Mustang 5.0 sending unit. I also had to solder a jumper on the dash circuit board to bypass a 20K ohm resistor (this would not apply here). The gauge now reads like a true oil pressure gauge. All you have to do is find what sending unit will work with the Marauder gauge and use it to replace the factory switch. Like someone mentioned previous, I highly doubt the EEC has an input from this switch. Autometer is just covering their ass'.

Mitch

[Logan]

Autometer sells a sending unit, part number #2242

[Smokie]

The owners manual on page 16 states "If the pointer drops below the normal operating range (40-60 psi) or the minimum low (6 psi) pressure when the engine is running, stop your vehicle as soon as possible" To me that is proof in writing that the gauge is reading actual oil pressure or that it should. We paid a lot of money for this car, why should we have to spend more money to make the gauge work as stated in own. manual? Is bad enough Mercury advertises the car as a muscle car smoking the tires at a dragstrip. I went to my dealer today to simply talk to someone about some questions and issues unique to the MM. and the asst. service manager told me that they just fix broken cars, the mechanics are not there to answer my questions and told my salesman somebody would have to pay his mechanics time to talk to me. I walked away without saying a word (to avoid hitting the sob.) The salesman chased after me to apologize and he claims he will have an engineer from Ford contact me. I believe that will never happen. :mad: :mad: :mad:

[Ray Snyder]

I'm with these guy's. I wish this had come to light before they called to quix me about my satisfation with the car. They did however leeve me a phone number for the Maruader tech support folks. But I coan't find it. Did anybody else get this number as I would really like to call them and complain.

I'd rather have a real gage than a leather jacket.

[Black Terror]

Customer Service 1-800-521-4140

[warren]

Just Called the 1-800 cust. service line and she said they don' t help with tech. problems that I should call my dealer again and again and again.
Perhaps if we all call the cust. ser. line at once they will notice?
If we hammer at this I think we will get an answer soon, real soon.

Warren B.

[MitchB]

I'm going to talk to someone who worked on the development of this car. There's probably an Autometer sending unit you can use with the factory gauge. The question is: which one is the right one. We'll see.

Mitch

[Flash]

Installed the AutoMeter sending unit, part number #2242 and the gauge would read 25 psi just with ignition on! Running it would be between 30-48 psi. Put in the AutoMeter gauge and it sits at 0 with the ignition on, running 50-75 psi. Wired the gauge both ways [factory vs hard] to check resistance, no difference, so I used the factory wire.

Don't end up with 2 sending units. Bought one sending unit first, the #2242, then bought the gauge #4327 (also comes with a sending unit). I didn't take the time to see if they sold gauges separate so I'm stuck with 2 sending units.

[LincMercLover]

I wouldn't see how the stock gauge could work. All the oil gauges I've installed have a brass line that actual oil goes through, all the way up to the gauge. Do they have external sending units that measure pressure by resistance of a circut? Even so, if ours is just an on off switch, then what would make it actually work correctly when it was specialized to only read 0 or 65? Just a thought...

[Moparzz]

I think we can all appreciate the frustration (and expense some have gone through) with this so-called oil gauge. All that we really have is a very expensive and exotic looking idiot light. It is obvious to me that there is no retrofit that is going to make this bogus gauge actually work the way an oil pressure gauge is supposed to. Members have been contacting the dealers who have been telling us to call 800 numbers who tell us to contact our dealers. They have us running in circles. We need to somehow work collectively at this. Maybe Logan could forward these messages to someone in Ford corporate or we could threaten to go to certain publications with this info to expose the fraud. That is my additional 2 cents, now I'm up to 4 cents!

[cyclone03]

Flash,
Looks like you took the bull by the horns and did the real leg work for us all.
So your now running the aftermarket Auto Meter oil pressure gauge?
Is the stock sender just a switch?

As to challenging Ford on the "idiot gauge",I've heard all these cry's sense 1997 when I first went on line.

[Smokie]

I have called the 1-800 # four times and complained about the dummy gauge and the wiper arm on passenger side sticking up. They are obligated to record and document complaint, today I sent out a letter to Steve Babcock Marauder Program Manager, I doubt he will actually read the letter; someone has to (before it goes in the trash) point is, the pen is mightier than the sword. If enough people write and call there will be a response. Ford has been sued a lot lately and a class action suit on behalf of MM. owners for misrepresenting the car and false advertisement is something they might want to avoid. IMHO :mad:

[Moparzz]

I contacted Mercury customer service today, and after a long conversation with the rep on the phone I was able to get him to understand that the oil pressure gauge is a fake. He advised me to return the car to the dealer to verify that the gauge is a fake! I will be doing just that and I will not be satisfied until Mercury installs an actual oil pressure gauge.

[mtnh]

Good work, all. Just imagine what it would be like if they did that to our fuel guage! :^)

[Flash]

cyclone03,

The answer to both your questions is yes. The aftermarket AutoMeter gauge was actually easy to do and the gauge itself looks better [ to me ] in the dark, the backlite is a different setup, still green. Thinking of swapping out the voltmeter for something else. Can they make fake voltmeters?

[Donald]

Where is the proof that the gauge and sender are not what they seem? Has anyone tested the pair?

[Murader03]

Enough already! What's the big deal about the gauge? It's been the same way on all Ford performance cars since the Mustang GT/Cobra package came out. You guys are really beatin' a dead horse here. I guess if we can get the Mustang crowd to complain about their gauge then something "might" be done, I doubt it! It didn't worry me in any of the Mustangs I owned, GT, and 2 Cobra's, it's better than an idiot light. Besides, if your watching the gauge, who's watching the road?

[03 Merc]

Donald,

The biggest proof, if you will, is in the console. The oil pressure of my MM nevers varies one bit...same exact reading at both idle and redline....

And the factory shop manuals that show, and describe, the sending unit to be a on /off sender. A true oil pressure guage would require a variable sensor to vary the resistance a "real time" pressure sender produces based on the actual oil pressure....

And my dealership mechanic's response when asked if it's real....

And Auto Meters response when asked about it.....

And Flash's response....

Ain't much doubt on this one....add in the fact Ford has been faking "guages", even on the SVT products, for years.... I had hoped since they went to the time and trouble to buy Auto Meter products this one might be real but it isn't....


Flash,

I doubt they faked the VoltMeter. Voltmeters tend to have a constant reading anyway regardless of RPM. Since the guage doesn't move much you do not get a uneducated owner coming in to the service department thinking they have a problem. This is one reason Voltmeters are more acceptable to OEM than Amp meters. Nothing in the shop manuals indicated that it is not a true reading device. To check it just use a multi-meter to measure the voltage between the terminals on the battery and compare the reading to the internal guage....

[Moparzz]

Originally posted by Murader03
Enough already! What's the big deal about the gauge? It's been the same way on all Ford performance cars since the Mustang GT/Cobra package came out. You guys are really beatin' a dead horse here.

If your happy with a non-functioning gauge that's fine for you, but it isn't for me. All of the other gauges in the car work the way they are supposed to and I think that I would be an idiot to be happy with what is nothing more than a fancy idiot light. Oil pressure is one of the major functions that should be monitered in an engine. When I was going for my pilots license I was taught to keep an eye on the temperature gauge and oil pressure gauge, because an increasing temp. and falling oil pressure was an ominous sign. I paid a lot of money for this car and part of the appeal was that it had supposed functioning Autometer gauges. To me this is a matter of principal. I can't be as apathetic as you if I think I've been screwed. I don't care if Ford has done this on every car they have built, it doen't make it right and I will not accept Fords FROD!

[Wags]

I agree 100% with Moparzz. Oil pressure is very important to engine survival. With what we have now, we could be very low on oil, and it would still read the same. It is not until there is a bad failure that you will know that something is wrong. I will be ordering a new gauge soon, if that is the only fix for it. The owners manual describes a working unit, not one that is on/off.

Wags

[Logan]

This topic has been beaten to death. Replace the gauge or not, the decision is yours. I wouldn't expect Ford to do it for you...

Considering their oil pressure gauges have been switches since they ever started putting them on cars...

This thread is on the verge of getting closed, so if you have something to contribute fine, if you're just going to argue, don't bother.

[DavidB]

That's too bad that Ford decided to put a fake gauge in. If I remember correctly, the Impala SS too was delivered with the same type of oil idiot gauge, that registered only "on" or "off."

Ford wasn't always so cheap...my 1973 Continental has a highly damped, but correctly operating, analog oil pressure gauge. :)

[hrtn_monky]

hello all,
I've been following this thread from the beginning because I too noticed the apparent on / off function of the guage. Disappointed ? yes - More disappointed I didn't notice it until I owned it. Anyway the volt meter is real, to verify - if you hold the power window button up or down past its normal stopping distance you can see the motor drain on the meter.

My mustang, by the way shows variable oil pressure

hrtn_monky

[michburt]

All,

Below is the my query and the response, from Auto Meter, regarding the Oil Pressure Guage in the Marauder:


Hello,
I have a 2003 Mercury Marauder. I would like to convert the oil pressure guage in it to read the actual, true oil pressure, not just be a on/off indicator. Do you have a kit to do this conversion? I know the oil pressure sender will need replaced. But is the guage it's self ballasted to provide a continual mid range position or is it a stock Autometer guage?

Thanks,

Wayne


Dear Wayne,
Thank you for your question. I understand you are disappointed to find a gauge that appears to be an Auto Meter gauge, yet functions as a typical original equipment (OE) piece.

Auto Meter Products built the Marauder's gauges to Ford Motor Company's specifications while borrowing from the look of our Ultra Lite instrument line - that's why they function like an original equipment (OE) gauge, but look like Auto Meter's Ultra Lite gauges. The gauge is not ballasted. Rather, as you indicated, it operates more like an "on/off" switch.

Although your idea of a conversion kit for your Marauder's oil pressure gauge is logical and inventive, we will not be manufacturing a conversion kit for it. As it is built to Ford's OE specifications, the gauge cannot accommodate such an adaptation.

We are not licensed to manufacture any look alike gauges, even on a "one off" basis, to match the stock Marauder instruments.

If you desire to completely replace your stock oil pressure gauge, I'd first check with your local Ford dealer regarding warranty issues. Additionally, removing OE senders/gauges will send error messages to the car's CPU, causing flashing "service engine soon," or other warning lights. This can be problematic and frustrating. Again, please consult your certified Ford dealer to discuss warranty issues before replacing any of your OE senders and/or instrumentation.

The optimum scenario is to complement your OE gauges with functioning Auto Meter product. Again, you are advised to contact your local Ford dealer to determine if you've adequate ports, clearance, etc... to tap into your vehicle's engine. If you would like to receive an Auto Meter catalog, please reply to this email with your full name and mailing address. I'd be happy to send you one!

I hope I've answered your questions. Thank you again for your email and your continued support of Auto Meter Products.

Sincerely,
Brett Littlefield



Hopefully this will resolve the questions regarding the Oil Pressure Guage.....or should I say "Warning Guage"?
I Brett,

Yes, I would like a catalog.

Mike Burton
1868 N. University Drive
Suite 301
Plantation, FL 33322

[marauder307]

Autometer sells a sending unit, part number #2242


Just talked to a local speed shop here in STL last week, Wise Speed Shop. They listed Autometer part # 4327 as the replacement for our guages, and according to the shop, that comes as a kit, sender, guage and all, and it's $65.

I confirmed this with a phone call to Autometer at their Illinois point of contact.