Autometer D-PIC gauge installed - but ...

[osu1steve]

Just wondering if anyone has put the D-PIC gauge in their car yet. I just installed it this evening, and the dimmer behaves strange. The backlighting is really bright, but when I turn down the dimmer, everything gets dim just as normal EXCEPT for the D-PIC gauge, and then when it's turned almost all the way down, the gauge suddenly goes dim. There is no inbetween - it's either full bright or dimmed - it's just a step change. Anyone heard of this sorta thing??

 

[daedalus]

d-pic? is that like a new series gauge or something?

 

[Mutmatt]

ya... maybe some pics would help like wiring and what ever a d-pic gauge is...

 

[osu1steve]

D-PIC is nothing more than a G-tech unit in the form of an autometer gauge. It measures 1/4 mi time, 60 mph time, 60-0 braking distance, hp, real-time G-force - lateral and straight-line acceleration. It's a pretty nice gauge to have if you want to monitor mod improvements.

There is nothing to the wiring - that's why I don't understand what the problem is. You need a ground, 12V ACC, and 12 from the dash. I have them tapped in to where I'm pulling for all the other gauges, and they work!! The only difference between them is this one is a cobalt gauge. I wouldn't imagine they would dim any differently than the phantom gauges.

 

['Sploder]

My apex'i boost gauge kind of does this. It's not smooth at all when I dim it... It's not either on or off, but the same idea, with a couple stops in between.

 

[osu1steve]

So I called autometer ... found out that's what it's supposed to do - only I have it connected improperly. The third wire is to connect to a 12V dash source, not the dimmer. Once the gauge sees 12V, it dims down for night time, just like a stock radio. Makes sense.