ultragauge causing car not to start
 

Hi,

I have an ultrgauge and a Saturn s- series. Recently the car would not turn over, so I replaced the starter. I don't know if you ever replaced a starter on a saturn, but is a b_tch to get to. It took me 4 hours. Ha I won, so I thought, the car started fine twice, but then it did not. I started checking fuses and the clutch switch. I unplugged the ultragauge, and the car started, plugged it in , and did not start. I did this 5 times and each time it was plugged in the car did not start. The ultragauge is causing my car not to start, and I am upset for all the toil I went through. I love the gauge functions but some aspects of it I don't like.

when the UG is plugged in is the starter not even attempting to turn over or is there slight slow movement? If this is the problem it could be a low battery. which when the UG is plugged in it can drain the battery in under 2 days.

nothing when plugged in. everything when not. is NOT a low battery

have you tried the UG in another car to try and replicate the problem in another vehicle? Considering it was working with your car just fine before, if i am correct, something inside the gauge could've gone bad which could make your cars security system to act up when plugged in.

Its a pain, I like to turn off the engine at long lights, but it won't restart sometimes with the gauge plugged in.

i know how you feel one of my favorite cars ive ever had had the same problem. i never figured out if it was the security or the safety neutral switch before i sold it tho. it is a pain but at least you can unplug it and know it will start, im willing to bet something inside the gauge went out:confused:

Contacting the manufacturer or a look on their web site might provide some information, if not done already.

I think this is correct. It is indicated by the fact that the problem is intermittent, but only if the UG is engaged. It never fails to start if the UG is not plugged-in, right? So the UG is defective. Contact the company and ask for a replacement.

My ford windstar has a similar problem with the UltraGauge. If you go out to the car and open a door for more than a few minutes without starting it, then come back in the next two days or more, the battery will drained with the UG installed. Without the UG installed it doesn't seem affected.

Obviously the UG doesn't draw enough power on it's own to drain a large car battery. I think the problems is tied into a circuit in the interior lighting system to auto turn off the interior lights after 7 minutes. I know that I have fooled it with a trailer hooked up. You turn out the lights to park the car with the trailer attached and after 7 minutes the car lights come back on. In all other respects the trailer lights work perfectly. I am pretty sure that the Ultra Gauge does something similar.

whats happening is when the ultragauge is plugged in it is fooling the car to think the systems are still running which drains the battery. By itself it would take a long time to drain the battery, but if it keeps the cars on then the battery will drain much faster. I currently have this problem which is why i unplug the UG if i leave my car off for longer than overnight. On Thursday im sending my UG in for the newest update to hope the new power off options fix the problem