Sometimes I think of the most stupid things to do on my free time, but either way I think this is a cool idea. My mothers 01' STS and my buddies 03' Z06 have a feature that when the key is turned to the on position all the gauges (tach, speedo, temp, press etc etc) do a full sweep from rest to max and back down. I know this is nothing serious but really sweet to watch nonetheless. I have no idea what makes them do this but I was wondering if there is anyway it could be done to my 97 Z28? If it can im sure it will be next to impossible to do but thought I would see what people think. Does the computer do this or is it just a simple module or something that triggers the gauges and goes through a quick check at key on position?
Anyway, thanks for any help on the subject.
JT

 

That sounds pretty cool, if someone finds this out I would also be interested.

 

If its really cheap it will be cool if its expensive it'll be dumb as hell

 

Pontiacs do it too..

 

Which pontiacs do it? I have a 98 GTP and a 95 TransAm that sure dont do it. The only other Pontiac that is higher than those would be the new Bonnevilles but I have never drivin one of them.

 

I had an '04 Grand Prix a month or two ago for a rental car, it had that feature, so I guess I can't guarantee ALL of them do it.

 

Sooo, does anyone know how this works and can it be done to a 97 Z?

 

Yea, ground all the signal leads momentarily and it'll do that.

 

Anyone know the best way to go about setting something up to do that then? How to ground the leads?

 

The first time I saw any thing like this, it was in a bike video I found.. The guys name is Super Kaos.. It's not a 4thGen F-Body, but it's been over 220 MPH.. It's a 2000 and something Suzuki GSX-R1300 Hayabusa Turbo.. As if the thing isn't fast enough on it's own stock..

Here's a video clip I extracted for anyone who doesn't know what a gauge self check is..

http://www.technologyorgasm.com/downloads/gauges.wmv

That smaller gauge is a boost gauge. And since it's not "stock equipment" it doesn't self check.. Anyone have any videos of a C5 gauge check??

What about this "grounding leads" talk?.?.

I understand that for things like the , oil pressure, fuel, , battery(maybe), and temp gauge.. Since it's getting the "signal" directly from a "sensor". The "speedo" is understandable as well.. It's got an A/D (analog to digital) sensor that could be "grounded" as well.. What about the tach though.. It's all digital, and grounding that might set off the SES light among other things.. It's going directly through the PCM from the coil (I might be wrong about that), and that means there has to be a way to do it "post PCM".. Isn't the tach wire A-13 on the PCM? Can that output have a "relay" disconnect the wire a few inches (or whatever) out from the PCM and switch it to "ground"? Will grounding the tach, post PCM, make the gauge go to 7K or 0 RPM? This is something that GM should offer with a basic reprogramming..

I'm not sure I can afford to fry my PCM on this expierement, so please don't do what I say and hold me to it.. I hardly want to pay for a new one for myself let alone someone elses..

This is something that I've been wanting for a bit now, so any info that I can trust will be taken and swallowed whole..

Thanks

EDIT:
The MPH gauge takes "pulses" from the A/D so that might not work as well, but shouldnt cause any SES lights..

 

anymore ideas? and that video from the above posts is exactly what im tlakin about thanks.

 

I know that all the vehicles that do the "gauge self checks" are doing it right from the PCM..

Unless someone here is a "PCM Programmer", it's not looking good for this idea..

Too bad though.. I'd love to have that feature..

 

This would be badass . Theres got to be a relay or module that
momentarily grounds the gauges then releases grounds. Theres
a way we just have to get real technical about this. If we put our
heads together we'll get this . I'm willing to talk this out and get
it going. Who's with me ?????

 

I'll help in any way that I can.

There's just a new road block that I have to cover..

This is only really a problem for the MPH gauge..

All the gauges are are electromagnetically driven (similar technology in your hard drives that moves the heads..)

Now imagine this while looking at an analog clock.. (OC = o' clock)

Let's say this:
0 MPH is at 8 OC.
75 MPH is at 12 OC
150 MPH is at 4 OC

When you electromagnetically attract something, it tries to take the shortest path to get to the end location..

If you instantly go from 0 to 75 MPH, the needle will turn clockwise. Not because a "cable" is turning in that direction, but because it's the shortest path..

If you instantly go from 0 to 150 MPH, the needle will most likely bury itself below 0 (8 OC) since counter clockwise would make the shortest path to travel..

If you did by chance get the needle to get over to 150 MPH. It would most likely continue moving clockwise to try to get back to 0 MPH (8 OC)..

Here's a perfect expierement for anyone that has a 3rd gen Camaro to do to find out what I'm talking about.

In the 3rd gen Camaro's, the tach was arranged like this:
6 OC = 0 RPM
10 OC = 3K RPM
3 OC = 6K RPM (or so)

I found this out in my 88 Camaro.. I'd stomp on the gas and get the tach needle over the top most point (not the top RPM) of the gauge(4 - 4.5K RPM or so) and kill the ignition. Then the next time I'd turn on the ignition, the needle would scream around clockwise (from 1 OC) down to 6K RPM (to 3 OC) and bury itself in the peg. (since it was the shortest path..)

I think that any "modding of gauge's" to this extent would have to be PCM programming..

I'm not a programmer, but I made an ALDL to serial cable that I use to check vitals, error codes, ect.. I also used it to extract the PCM's contents once..

We need someone that can read into the contents, and maybe find out where they are blinking all the lights (airbag, SES, ABS, low trac, ect) on ignition, and find out from some live monitoring what signal is being sent to make the gauges move durring normal use.. Then take that signal (or commands) and re-programming the PCM with the new, "tweaked" contents..

If anyone want's / need's a PCM's contents I can dump my 94' Z28's any way you wish.. Just tell me what to use. (there's a couple free programs that do this (I believe))

We can do this!! It will just take some real brain work..

Maybe if we can diesect the PCM's contents, we can then make an ALDL interface plug-n-play device that will do the work (sending signal's to the PCM) without the programming...

 

my v6 does that occanionally when i start her up