Final AutoMeter 9100 ecometer evaluation

[gone-ot]

...and it's THUMBS DOWN!

...as they say, the "final straw" with the ecometer was this weekend, when after less than six days non-use, it completely drained/discharged a brand new battery!

NOTE: the AutoMeter literature does warn to unplug it if the car will be "...unused for two weeks..." however, 6 days is less than half that time!

...so, here are the reasons for my negative evaluation:

1) Only ONE (1) of the four Modes is actually useful, ie:
2) Only the MPG-avg display is useful (once "calibrated").
3) The MPG-inst display "fluctuates" w-a-y too much.
4) The MPH display constantly "hunts" around the real MPH value.
5) The RPM display constantly "hunts" around the real RPM value.
6) The unit is ON all the time and REALLY drains the battery quickly!

...all these maybe problems between the '09 Vibe and the ecometer and not indicative of ALL applications...so, obviously, YMMV.

SUMMARY: no "stars" for this device from me, ie: THUMBS DOWN!

...guess I'll be investigating the SGII.

[wagonman76]

Dang, 6 days, in AZ no less. Up north in the winter it probably would kill the battery overnight.

[Tundra-Trooper-06]

do you have a picture of it in your car?

[99LeCouch]

Wow, this makes my SGII look even more brilliant.

Sucks to hear it drains the battery that quickly. And hunting for the MPH? Even my SG knows how to read the vehicle speed sensor...

[gone-ot]

...no pictures, but I simply "placed" in on top of the GAS and TEMP housing (sat fine) with the cable looped over the top of the SPEEDO and TACH housings. Sorta 'wedge' fit.