SPA Gauges

[Maximus]

I have been looking around for SPA gauges. I have not had much success in finding a store locally. Maybe I can purchase them via mail order.



So, who has the lowest price for SPA Gauges?

 

[Bob Wagner]

you could try

www.smokindiesel.com or www.performancediesel.net



Both are excellent sources

 

[Gary C]

HVAC at Performance diesel stands behind the SPA guages, I had a coupler take a dump and he sent a new one with no questions.



Just thought you would like to know.

 

[Jack in Alaska]

SPA

I also had a problem with the harness connection to the boost sensor. Perf. Diesel sent a new sensor with prewired connection at no cost. No problems since in about 3k miles.

Good company to deal with. Also in the same catagory is Pacbrake company, FYI

 

[work2muchplay2little]

I ordered SPA gauges from Nowell (HVAC at Performance Diesel) a while back and have been having periodic conversations with him. I'm gonna try not to put any words in his mouth, but the sense I get from him is that SPA has not been able to keep up with demand, has not fixed some manufacturing problems with specific senders that have been failing with some regularity, have not been very responsive in replacing sensors that have failed and have been replaced at Nowell's expense for the past few months, and have changed the design of the gauges to something a little harder to read at an angle. I think he is considering not carrying the line if these things aren't resolved. Now although I really like these gauges, I'm waiting to see what happens next before putting down the $$$.

 

[CRuD]

WOW

I thought the SPA gauges where good to go.

My truck is in the shop but hope to put in some gauges soon. After reading the above I may go with another malufacture.

Wes

have you had any problems with ours??

Pete, John, Roy what are your thoughts on this gauge. And yes before you ask that is my poor baby sitting at Brynn Marr body shop waiting for repairs.



See Ya

Chris

 

[Bigsaint]

Hmmm

Interesting note on the SPA's, Kurt. Did the problems stem from the pressure senders ? Mine is still good so far, mounted at the bottom of the filter housing (not isolated). Just curious. Perhaps the 'sulatn of soot' can enlighten us . I have nothing negative to say about the SPA's, I have only one SPA gauge, pressure/temp. , but I like it's looks, the way it performs and the fact that you can customize the settings to suit your needs. I also purchased mine from Nowel @ Performance Diesel.



Scott W.

 

[John]

I don't know about everyone else but I'm extremely happy with all three of my SPA gauges. Additionally, I have NEVER had a single problem with any gauge or sender.



BTW, I purchased my SPA gauges from Brent of D. I. S. (Diesel Injection Service... www.dieselpage.com)

 

[work2muchplay2little]

Big Saint, I believe it was the pressure senders that were the problem with the failures. In my case, I ordered the dual EGT/boost and dual fuel pressure/oil temp gauges, with the the FP/oil temp gauge being the one that is still on back order after 3 months. I'd really like to give Nowell my money, but being the good guy he is has given me the pros and cons of these. Hopefully he'll comment on this soon here. I last spoke to him about a week ago.

 

[Bigsaint]

Thanks Kurt



Scott W.

 

[BigDaddy]

From my conversations with SPA Technique and some of their vendors, there is not a great deal of mark up on these. I would suggest you purchase gauges from a vendor whom has demonstrated good/reliable customer service. IMO, both vendors suggested by Bob, Gary, Jack, and Kurt are two of the best.



I fall in the same category as John. I have three, purchased from Diesel Injection Service and love the SPA's However, unlike John I have experienced one problem, "Blackout".



What happens is when cab temperature's reach 140 *F you cannot read the gauge (the face turn's black). I attribute this to the gauges being located in the center dash pod, directly behind the windshield. Of course this condition only occurs in the summer, when parked in the sun.



The new gauge design will correct this problem and Ron Mathis, (SPA Technique, Inc. ) has assured me that my gauges will be replaced at no charge when available.

 

[Sled Puller]

I just sent HVAC an e-mail.



Driving down a flat highway at 70 MPH, my boost was going 3,4,5,4,3 and so on. Normal.

Then I notice my high boost light come on, which is set at 32#. No throttle change.

I hit the recall and it said 39#! Happened again, 47#! And again 51#!!



Then it was all over the place, really weird. Everything looks Ok from the outside.



Gene

 

[BigDaddy]

Gene,



Seem's like the pins are not making a good contact. Check the connection at the sender. When I first installed mine I had the same problem. Wiggled the connector a little and have not had the problem since.



Joe

 

[Snow man]

I ordered an SPA pressure/temp guage over 2 months ago,still isnt here yet. They are to far behind,I will find another brand if they cannot deliver.

 

[John]

Originally posted by BigDaddy

However, unlike John I have experienced one problem, "Blackout".

Funny you should mention that BigDaddy, My personalized license plate is BLCKOUT.



I have never experienced the blackout syndrome with my SPA gauges... I have all three mounted in a triple Gauge Works A pillar panel.

 

[HC]

Originally posted by MGM

Driving down a flat highway at 70 MPH, my boost was going 3,4,5,4,3 and so on. Normal.

Then I notice my high boost light come on, which is set at 32#. No throttle change.

I hit the recall and it said 39#! Happened again, 47#! And again 51#!!

Mine was doing the same thing. Wiggling the connection would make it better for awhile, then the problem would return. Eventually I started seeing 235#. And then I went to the flashing "FL" error message. Finally it got where wiggling it would only work for a few hours before problem return.

I finally disassembled the pressure sensor electrical plug, carefully noting which color wire lined up with each pin. Then I soldered the wires to the pins. My problem is completely and absolutely solved; no more spurious and incorrect high readings or flashing error messages.

For those who already own an SPA, I highly recommend this fix. I'm once again happy with the large digital readouts, adjustable setpoints, and high recall that drew me to this product in the first place. For those who don't yet own an SPA, they have changed the designs of their connectors; if you get the new style you'll probably never even know what we were talking about. SPA (their USA office) was completely supportive throughout.



P. S. - It finally happened! I got to provide some information that might be useful to Gene, instead of the other way around!

 

[DBuchheit]

Originally posted by MGM

I just sent HVAC an e-mail.



Driving down a flat highway at 70 MPH, my boost was going 3,4,5,4,3 and so on. Normal.

Then I notice my high boost light come on, which is set at 32#. No throttle change.

I hit the recall and it said 39#! Happened again, 47#! And again 51#!!



Then it was all over the place, really weird. Everything looks Ok from the outside.



Gene

Mine did the same thing, hit 79 PSI .



It was a bad pressure sending unit. It only acted up when it got hot.



No problem since I (they) replaced the sending unit.

 

[John]

Excellent idea HC!

Thanks for the idea HC... if I ever encounter the situation you and others have described I will solder these connections.



PS: due to a tip provided by another member (just before I installed my SPA gauges), I took apart the pressure sensor connectors, checking and tightening each terminal screw... maybe this is why I haven't experienced any erratic readings.

 

[Sled Puller]

Thanks HC!



Another thing, about 2 weeks before it did that, it would have 1# at idle. It never had that before. Always 00 at idle. One day it actually said "-01"



NEGATIVE ONE! PSD numbers.



If it is the connector, I would hate to have to fix a $325 unit that is only a few months old. Principle of the thing.



Sounds like recall time to me.



I was planning on getting the fuel pressure oil temp unit, but I believe I'll hold off for a bit.



Gene

 

[Fred Swanson]

Check around with the few dealers that SPA has for the gauge you want. One dealer may have it while the others are waiting on their orders. That's one thing about SPA I don't find very effective.



Also, I've only had a couple of minor problems. The original temp sensor for the transmission was bad, replaced by SPA. Second was just recently, my thermocouple broke one of the connector wires on the head of the thermocouple.

Again, SPA sent out a new one. The fluctuating reading at idle, on the pressure gauges, is a normal action. I tend to reset the gauges if I see that, and everything is good to go.

I run the 3 in the A-pillar like others, and like the setup. On the blackout of the LCD, I just pull out the gauge, unplug it, and hold it in front of the A/C vent for a minute, and plug it back in.

The lowest gauge on the a-pillar tends to get this the most.



Also, if your temp gauge reads 32 F, then the sensor is most likely toast. This is what my EGT and my transmission temp both did when I had problems.