Damn Autometer full dual pillar pod won't stay!

[ChopstickHero]

damn autometer full dual pillar pod won't stay nice and tight. It doesn't fall down, but if i push on it, it feels like there is more room for it to hold tighter.

right now my combination of super sticky double sided tape and velcro won't hold up my pillar pod. it's not even that heavy with only a boost gauge in it! arghhh... it may be the heat down here, it seems to stick for a while and when it gets hot, it doesn't hold it up as well. i don't want to do any drilling to mount the thing. any other ideas? :confused:

[JCell]

same problem here

i just bang it once really hard every time i see it start to fall off :D

[Protege2K]

Did you tape it onto your stock pillar or tape it to the actual frame?

[smithers_0990]

I had that same problem.

After fighting it for a year I gave in and drilled a hole through it and stuck a push tab thing in there. I painted the tab so it would match the color of the gauge pod.

Tight fit ever since.

[ChopstickHero]

I had that same problem.

After fighting it for a year I gave in and drilled a hole through it and stuck a push tab thing in there. I painted the tab so it would match the color of the gauge pod.

Tight fit ever since.

yeah, i might have to do that


Did you tape it onto your stock pillar or tape it to the actual frame?

it is a full pillar gauge pod. i removed my stock pillar and this takes it's place.

[Protege2K]

it is a full pillar gauge pod. i removed my stock pillar and this takes it's place.
That is how I had mine mounted. Used 3m double side adhesive and it never once slipped. It was actually very hard to remove as well.

[mazpro]

I thought they went on top of the stock one. mine does the same thing, I guess I'll try taking off the stock one

[Protege2K]

They are designed to go on top of the stock one and then mounted with set screws. But when you mount it on the frame itself it gives you a ton of room to run wires. And if you ever install a wideband you will no how much room it takes.

[ChopstickHero]

I thought they went on top of the stock one. mine does the same thing, I guess I'll try taking off the stock one

i tried sticking it on the a-pillar itself, i didn't like how it sat on there, so i just ran it on the frame. and Protege2K is right, there's more room to run wires.

how many people run it on the frame? how many people run it on top of the stock a-pillar?

[livelyjay]

I have it attached to the frame with two screws. It isn't the prettiest mounting job, but I plan on fixing it up soon. I'm going to drill out some of the plastic so the screws are flush mounted. Then I'm going to paint the tops of the screws to match. It doesn't fit as tight as I would like, but it's good enough.

[ChopstickHero]

seems like throwing in a few screws will help it stay up better. i only have one gauge in it now, i can see it coming off more easily with the weight of another gauge.

any more suggestions?

[UnNaturalinc]

It should go over the stock pillar cover. The Autometer one does not have a way to actually secure it to the body like the factory one does (with those metal clippy thingies).

I thought they came with push tab things to hold it in against the stock one...? Maybe that's just the pod ones, but I thought the full pillars came with them too.

I have 3 electronic gauges in mine right now (probably slightly heavier than standard Autometer gauges). I mounted the Autometer pillar on top of the factory. I put it UNDER the inner door molding to hold it there better. At this point I have NO additional 'mounting media' besides it being stuffed in there (so to speak). I have had no issues of it moving or falling. I do plan on adding some additional mounting security however. Not sure how yet. Either those tabs (I'm not crazy about drilling a hole in the factory pillar cover) or double-sided tape (I hate that stuff though, it's such a hack way of putting things together... but can be affective). I'll probably just use the tabs... this pillar probably wont need to come out again. I'll let it go with the car.

[Rawyzf]

It fits right on top of your stock pillar, they go together. It will stay if you do that.
yeah, i might have to do that



it is a full pillar gauge pod. i removed my stock pillar and this takes it's place.

[ChopstickHero]

It should go over the stock pillar cover. The Autometer one does not have a way to actually secure it to the body like the factory one does (with those metal clippy thingies).

I thought they came with push tab things to hold it in against the stock one...? Maybe that's just the pod ones, but I thought the full pillars came with them too.

I have 3 electronic gauges in mine right now (probably slightly heavier than standard Autometer gauges). I mounted the Autometer pillar on top of the factory. I put it UNDER the inner door molding to hold it there better. At this point I have NO additional 'mounting media' besides it being stuffed in there (so to speak). I have had no issues of it moving or falling. I do plan on adding some additional mounting security however. Not sure how yet. Either those tabs (I'm not crazy about drilling a hole in the factory pillar cover) or double-sided tape (I hate that stuff though, it's such a hack way of putting things together... but can be affective). I'll probably just use the tabs... this pillar probably wont need to come out again. I'll let it go with the car.

OK thanks, i'll throw my stock pillar back in and redo the mounting.

[Rawyzf]

You'll have to chop up the base of the pillar a little to get the vac line to run through it smoothly. I took out 1/2 inch wide section from the base of the stock pillar up about 6 inches.
OK thanks, i'll throw my stock pillar back in and redo the mounting.

[ChopstickHero]

You'll have to chop up the base of the pillar a little to get the vac line to run through it smoothly. I took out 1/2 inch wide section from the base of the stock pillar up about 6 inches.

OK, stuck my stock pillar back in and stuck the Autometer pillar on it. Fits 100x better! Since i only have one gauge in for now (it's a dual pod) I got my wires and vac line to fit neatly. When i add another gauge, i might saw off some of the bottom like you suggested.

Thanks for the input everyone. (thumb)

[Rawyzf]

Sweet, that's good news.

I bought a third gauge, now I am in trouble.


OK, stuck my stock pillar back in and stuck the Autometer pillar on it. Fits 100x better! Since i only have one gauge in for now (it's a dual pod) I got my wires and vac line to fit neatly. When i add another gauge, i might saw off some of the bottom like you suggested.

Thanks for the input everyone. (thumb)

[ChopstickHero]

Sweet, that's good news.

I bought a third gauge, now I am in trouble.

which ones do you have?

i have no clue what to get. i'm still planning on getting my exhaust done ... so maybe a wideband....

[Rawyzf]

Defi Boost, AutoMeter Oil Temp, and now Defi A/F. I want the Boost and A/F on the pillar, but I have no idea as to where to put the Oil Temp now.

Is there a gauge holder you can mount on the dash next to the pillar maybe?


which ones do you have?

i have no clue what to get. i'm still planning on getting my exhaust done ... so maybe a wideband....

[ChopstickHero]

Defi Boost, AutoMeter Oil Temp, and now Defi A/F. I want the Boost and A/F on the pillar, but I have no idea as to where to put the Oil Temp now.

Is there a gauge holder you can mount on the dash next to the pillar maybe?

have you looked for a steering column gauge pod? i had one on my old P5, but i sold it off. hmm... i guess you would need those gauge cups with the metal mounting base. not the neatest solution though. too bad Autoeter doesn't take notice of those Leadfoot bezel's (the dual pod on the gauge cluster) and produce some. Leadfoot has a busy life and is only producing a few of them.

You like the oil temp gauge? is it easy to install an oil temp sender on the block?

[Rawyzf]

I have looked for a steering column gauge pod, but no one has one up for sale. I think the metal would look horrible, but it could work. I guess I could get one of those metal plates under the radio too, but then I would lose that pocket where I put just about everything.

I like the oil temp gauge, let's me know when the car is warm enough to start getting hard on it.

I didn't do the install, had a shop do it. I didn't want to mess with that! It didn't take long, so I am guessing it was pretty simple.



have you looked for a steering column gauge pod? i had one on my old P5, but i sold it off. hmm... i guess you would need those gauge cups with the metal mounting base. not the neatest solution though. too bad Autoeter doesn't take notice of those Leadfoot bezel's (the dual pod on the gauge cluster) and produce some. Leadfoot has a busy life and is only producing a few of them.

You like the oil temp gauge? is it easy to install an oil temp sender on the block?

[ChopstickHero]

I have looked for a steering column gauge pod, but no one has one up for sale. I think the metal would look horrible, but it could work. I guess I could get one of those metal plates under the radio too, but then I would lose that pocket where I put just about everything.

I like the oil temp gauge, let's me know when the car is warm enough to start getting hard on it.

I didn't do the install, had a shop do it. I didn't want to mess with that! It didn't take long, so I am guessing it was pretty simple.

yeah, that steering gauge column pod was great... too bad it's gone now.

still planning on a Unichip, so i think a wideband will be good when i need to do some tuning. i like the gauges under the stereo idea too.

[Rawyzf]

yeah, that steering gauge column pod was great... too bad it's gone now.

still planning on a Unichip, so i think a wideband will be good when i need to do some tuning. i like the gauges under the stereo idea too.

Wideband would be good, $$.

[ChopstickHero]

Wideband would be good, $$.

http://www.42draftdesigns.com/ sells DIN gauge panels... but they are made for EVO8 and Golfs ... they might fit in ours with some modification.

[Rawyzf]

Sweet, I'll take a look at them.
http://www.42draftdesigns.com/ sells DIN gauge panels... but they are made for EVO8 and Golfs ... they might fit in ours with some modification.

[xfaradx]

I tried the double sided tape bullshit. Then I got sick of comming out to my car after work and seeing my pod hanging. So I just epoxyed it to teh stock pillar. Still goin strong.

[ChopstickHero]

I tried the double sided tape bullshit. Then I got sick of comming out to my car after work and seeing my pod hanging. So I just epoxyed it to teh stock pillar. Still goin strong.

nice... that'll work. although if you have to take it out for some reason, will the epoxy break loose easily? i just threw my stock pillar back in and used some better double sided tape.

[Matthew]

get 3M tape from target or walmart. it has a red cover and the tape itself is gray, and it holds up to 5lbs. if yo need me to i can get the item number as i just picked some up to mount my pink "i" badge on my suby.

[YellowMP5]

i have had mine attached straight to the frame and it never held together. i now i mounted it on top of the stock a-pillar cover and it sits much better. if you use double sided tap between them, it will stay put. and you still have lots of room to run the wires.

[Matthew]

oh i didnt read that...youre not SUPPOSED to attach it to the frame. its built to fit onto the stock pillar.