Autometer Oil Pressure Gauge Light Out

[MM75038]

Has anyone had to replace the bulb under one of their Autometer Gauges yet? I got a quote of $515 (!) from a dealer who said a new oil pressure gauge would run $260 (they don't do bulbs for this) and the labor to access the gauge would require disassembly of the center console and would run about the same.

I can buy a complete new Autometer 4427 Oil Pressure Gauge off the web for around $70...but not sure I want to attempt installation of the same on my own. I am not sure if I can get replacement bulbs (only) for this or not...

Surely somebody has already had to do this, what is suggested approach?

[KillJoy]

Install a REAL AutoMeter Gauge.

:up:

KillJoy

PS - It is not hard. About 20 Mins, and you will be done!

[fastblackmerc]

Install the real gauge.

There are multiple write up's on this site on how to do it. It's not hard and will take you at the most 30 minutes.

[RF Overlord]

MM75038, you are being robbed blind...avoid that dealer!!!!

They "don't DO bulbs??!!!" then they're crooks...and the console does NOT need to be disassembled... :shake:

Replacing a burned out bulb in either the oil pressure gauge or the voltmeter is about a 5 minute job, tops, and the bulb is available at any well-stocked parts store for a couple of bucks (or whatever y'all call dollars up there :D ).

Having said that, by all means replace the fake factory gauge with the real one...it's not hard at all. There's a very nice write-up here...do a search and you should find it. Basically you have to replace both the gauge unit and the sender (supplied in the 4427 kit) but the whole job can be done in an hour and requires no special tools...in fact, the hardest part of the whole job is removing the gauge pod, and that requires no tools at all.

[MM75038]

Thanks, y'all...I should have searched before posting, but hey I just re-joined the site after a couple years hiatus so you'll have to cut me a little slack...I am going to remove the gauge pod tonight and see if I can get a replacement bulb at Pep Boys...if I can manage that then I'll have to consider swapping out the gauge entirely...

[KillJoy]

You swap the Gauge out ENTIRELY because it is nothing more than an Idiot Light. If you have 6psi of Oil Pressue, it reads at 62.5 (or whatever).

A REAL Gauge tells you EXACTLY what the pressure is.

:rolleyes:

And yes, you should have searched "GAUGE" before you posted.

;)

KillJoy

[ckadiddle]

I had the dealer replace a bad gauge bulb while the MM was in for other maintenance. They charged me about 40 bucks. Now at night I can tell that one gauge is slightly different color lighting from the other. Most people would never notice, but I do. Buy two bulbs, replace both while you have it apart. There are instructions around here somewhere for removal of the gaude pod. IIRC you just pull firmly toward you and slightly upward. But I could be wrong.... :)

[DOOM]

DAMN! You should have asked the dealer if they were going to give you a kiss on the cheek when they were done because they were about to ***** you 6 ways from sunday my friend. Stay away from that dealer.

[MM75038]

Hey, appreciate all of the input! I invested 15 or 20 minutes of my time and about 3 bucks on Sunday replacing the bulbs behind BOTH gauges. No desire to replace the actual gauge at this time...but note the update to my "signature"...