Dash hawk (need help!)

[SNGLESHOT]

Maybe it is me, but I think I just blew $260 on a dash hawk monitor that really is NOT designed for a Diesel. Almost all available parameters come up N/A and the DTC's are cross referencing to a gas engine and not diesel. I printed out 130 pages of manual that is no help either. Really frustrated by trying to get technical assistance. Too. I am now thinking of just getting gauges.
. #@$%!

Does anybody have any positive experience with the Dash Hawk??

PM me or email me if needed.

 

[HBarlow]

I have used (three years on two separate trucks) a three gauge set of DiPricol gauges with LED lighting in an A pillar mount that matches the OEM interior color. All purchased from Geno's. If I get a code it can be read in the odometer by doing the switch on/off routine or stopping by an Autozone.

 

[SNGLESHOT]

Yeah Harv, I have already come to that conclusion. us newbies have to learn the hard way sometimes. Would I ever recommend this device to anybody else. NOPE.
What would be the three most important guages to have? EGT, Boost, Tran temp? Fuel Pressure?? Personally I think EGT and Boost for sure.

 

[HBarlow]

Yeah Harv, I have already come to that conclusion. us newbies have to learn the hard way sometimes. Would I ever recommend this device to anybody else. NOPE.
What would be the three most important guages to have? EGT, Boost, Tran temp? Fuel Pressure?? Personally I think EGT and Boost for sure.

Major,

Yes, EGT and Boost for sure. I and most TDR members use EGT, Boost, and, if automatic transmission equipped, a transmission fluid temp gauge.

I don't see any reason for a fuel pressure gauge. Beginning with the 24 valve engines with a fuel transfer pump that initially had a high failure rate (1998. 5 through 2002) and into the early (2003-2004) HPCR engines that continued the use of an engine mounted fuel transfer pump TDR members began using fuel pressure gauges.

Their reasoning was concern that if the lift/transfer pump failed w/o symptoms and the driver didn't know it, the VP-44 electronic injection pump would have to draw fuel from the tank and that could cause early failure of the injection pump.

Many take the absolute need for a FP gauge as one of life's certainties. I never saw a need for one and never had one on my '01 in 325,000 miles of faithful service. I had one lift/transfer pump failure at 60k miles and immediately recognized it because the engine stumbled under acceleration in third or fourth gear similar to a bad spark plug or plug wire in a gasser motor. I had my mechanic replace the lift pump one more time as a preventive measure somewhere around 200k to 250k and never experienced a failure.

Geno's is a great source for gauges if you decide you want them. The Geno's parts sales reps can advise you on what's best for your truck and your wants and needs.

 

[rjrkihap]

Harvey, you are one lucky man. I have watched 3 lift pumps fail via the fuel pressure gauge and the 4th (the original) took my VP-44 with it (as I didn't have a gauge at that time). The gauge is cheap insurance and an easy install. Even with my FASS HPFP I still would not be caught without a fuel pressure gauge.

Just my opinion.

Ron

 

[KevinSmith]

Harvey, you are one lucky man. I have watched 3 lift pumps fail via the fuel pressure gauge and the 4th (the original) took my VP-44 with it (as I didn't have a gauge at that time). The gauge is cheap insurance and an easy install. Even with my FASS HPFP I still would not be caught without a fuel pressure gauge.



Just my opinion.



Ron

Ditto,

If not the guage at least put in the BD led light. I would do a fuel pressure guage and use the single steering column mount. Just my 2 pennies.

Kevin

 

[HBarlow]

I know. I think some TDR members think I'm lying when I post that I had almost no lift pump problems and never had a gauge. I may have been very lucky because I traveled the entire US and Canada with that truck hauling commercially and never had a breakdown.

I did, however, replace the APPS every 45,000 miles! I don't remember how many times I had APPS failures but when I was transporting and running 13k to 14k miles a month I was replacing them every three or four months.

I never had an injection pump failure either but as I've reported earlier, I mistakenly replaced one at a little over 100k but it turned out my VP-44 was okay, it was the Jacobs exhaust brake that wasn't opening promptly when the switch was pushed down and this was causing the engine to stumble when it was trying to fuel against a closed exhaust. I sold the OEM pump to another guy and left the Cummins rebuilt in for another 200k miles or so. The same reman pump is still in the truck today with 350k on the clock and the same third lift pump that was intalled several years ago and probably 150k miles ago.

 

[AClayton]

The life expectancy of a VP44 may not have anything to do with mileage. My truck was babied by the original owner and I would not say I have abused it in the 2 1/2 yrs I've owned it. My VP lasted only to 130K miles but,my truck is an 01' that was purchased in 11/99..... so it is almost 10 yrs old. I'm wondering if mileage is even a template for them to fail or whether it is time..... years of service!



I have a fp gauge and mine just stalled going down the highway as if somebody turned the ignition off. I was running about 65mph and when it stalled,I instantly looked at the fp gauge and it read 19... . like it always does.



Alan

 

[SNGLESHOT]

Wow... this is why I am glad I have this TDR membership. A wealth of knowledge and experience always available. Thanks guys. Appreciate the feedback.