Miata Mailing List: April 1997, Message #160
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From: 	jamsc@wizard.net

Subject: Re: Oil gauges: any writeup out there?  What's the change with

Date: 	Tue, 1 Apr 1997 22:59:49 -0500



At 20:40 04.01.97 -0500, John Freas wrote:

>Previously on Oil gauges, James McElroy <mcelroy@ma.ultranet.com> said...

>

>> The only thing I haven't researched about our new Miata is the oil gauge;

>> I've heard lots of people complain about it, but I haven't read or found

>> any descriptions of the new one.  I read recently that the "needle" is

>> painted on?!?  Does that mean this is just a glorified idiot light?

>> 

>> How much is a proper gauge, and how much work is it to put on?  Our

>credit

>> union's car buying service found a dealer that is willing to order us a

>new

>> R package for $500 over invoice, which is a little more than I was hoping

>> for.  If we got with this dealer maybe this is a great opportunity to get

>> the new gauge thrown in...

>



Better idea, go to a dealer other than the CU dealer and see if they will

beat the CU price.  Do the Florida dealers have a processing fee?  If so,

see if they will include that in the price.  IE:  $500 over plus tax (if

any) and tags.  Don't try to include the services of other departments, it

only confuses the issue and makes the deal more problematic for the sales

manager.  Order the sending unit and the guage from Tommy and ask your

saleperson to guide you to one of the techs that moonlights after hours.  To

find the best salesperson ask the operator who he/she would buy a car from.

If no answer, then who is the senior salesperson?  They almost always know

what is going on and will look out for you after the sale.  Keep the deal

simple, negotiate profit, the little things will take care of themselves. 



Good luck,



Joe Pasch

      

>The new "gauge" is simply a needle that rests on the left stop when power

>is removed, and points straight up when power is applied [save your

>comments].  It's the same as an oil light that is either on or off

>depending on a binary pressure switch.  Folks have called it an analog

>idiot light, I prefer the term "idiot gauge".

>





>Anyway, for details on the retrofit, surf on over to miata.net and have a

>look at http://www.miata.net/garage/opg.html  (yes, quoting URLs from

>memory again, I think I need therapy).  It involves replacement of both the

>sending unit and the gauge itself, so the instrument cluster has to come

>out.  Better to get the dealer to throw it in if you can.

>

>I remember that someone recently got a new Miata and arranged for the opg

>retrofit as part of the deal.  YMMV, but I'd be a great time to do it.

>

>	-John

>

>------------------------------------------------

>John Freas (jfreas@gte.net)

>Red '90 Base #7690

>Clearwater, Florida

>Team Roebuck

>Team Voodoo

>Team "I have no idea what those dimple things on the windshield frame are

>for."

>------------------------------------------------

>

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