AeroForce Interceptor installed...
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All Star
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 777
Likes: 1
From: NH
AeroForce Interceptor installed...
It finally arrived. Installed in literally less then 20 minutes, including replacing the A pillar with the SRT pod version.
Ill post pics if anybody wants to see anything, make a pic request and ill post it.
As for the gauge, i ordered the single version with the Green display. Here are my likes and dislikes so far:
Likes:
1. The gauge display is very sharp, super easy to read. I was kind of worried that a 2-1/16 gauge with a digital display would be tough to see at a distance but it's not. Even in bright sunlight it's fine.
2. They give you PLENTY of cable to run from the gauge to the OBD-II plug. You could mount the gauge ANYWHERE in the dash or overhead with cable to spare. They also have the cable soing out the OBD-II port at a 90 degree angle. So no worry about seeing the cable or banging your leg into it.
3. Simple hookup. Everything is plug in.
4. Now that i know how to use it, it is pretty straight forward. Their are LOTS of parameters it reads. In fact, more then half of them ill never use. But it's nice to know i can if i ever want to.
5. It DOES Read Transmission temp! I also was surprised to find it will read Battery temperature as well.
Dislikes....
1. It "feels" very cheap. But let me clarify this observation in no way impact how well this gauge works. I am used to holding a high end gauge, like an Auto Meter gauge. They are solid. Metal case, some weight to them. They just feel like quality. The Interceptor weighs very little. Is all plastic and the plastic feels very thin. Again, just an observation.
2. No instructions come with the gauge other then a VERY basic 4 page (double sided 8x10 sheet of paper) install guide. They mention to go on the AeroForce website and download and print a manual to learn all the features. And that manual is 39 pages!. When i pay $200+ for an electronic device, i expect that the manufacturer would at least have the courtesy to include the operating instructions with it. Aside from the fact it's wrong that I have to waste my printer paper and ink, but what would have happened if the site was not working or the file was not working? I would be left with a product with no idea how to use it. And i have read on other forums people are annoyed by this as well. The gauge is packed in a full color printed box with the company logo which does not help at all with using the gauge. But no instructions? I would rather they save the money on the custom box and instead enclose and instruction manual.
3. The buttons. Their are only two buttons on the gauge that control every feature. This just makes everything very time consuming. You pretty much press one button to scroll down and the other to select an item. But their is no way to back up. So if you accidently skip the item you wanted, you have to scroll through the whole menu list again. When you have 40 paramaters in total and only 5 can be shown on the screen at one time, this takes a LONG time. The butons are also annoying in that you have to press them and hold them for an exact amount of time. Too short a time and it will not register the command, too long and selects and then de-selects it. And the buttons feel delicate. Like if you are pressing one while driving and hit a bump you may break one of them. But that is just an assumption, maybe they are super tough.
4. Customer service. This is the single biggest reason i was hesitant to buy one of these gauges and why i am scared for when their is a problem. They have no phone number. They tell you to e-mail them or use their online forum. Two problems. One, their response via e-mail is way too slow. Already i e-mailed them today (at 1:09pm and i am in the same time zone as them) with an issue (ill explain below) and i still have not heard back from them. Can you imagine how frustrating that will be if you are all set to setup your gauge and have to deal with waiting for an e-mail response to adress an issue?. Again, your spending $250 for an item and they will not give a phone number or respond quickly to e-mails. Kind of annoying.
5. Thier Online forum which they mention on their website is the best way to get help with their products has been down for at least a few weeks. I only found out it existed 3 weeks ago and it has never been working. I have seen other forums with people having customer service issues with them and they said they were told to post their questions on the companies forum for answers. Not easy to do when the forum does not work.
But i am happy with the gauge. It's compact, looks great and does everything i want. And i still have plenty more to learn about it's features. Like reading codes and setting up the warning lights. My issue today was the guage turned on as soon as i plugged it into the OBD-II port. Even with the key off. Thier instructions claim that with a CAN BUS like i have, this should not normaly be happening. So i had to use the switched power wire it comes with an tap into an accessory circuit. But their was a wire right there for my radar detector i tapped, so it was only a 5 minute fix. But i am wondering why my OBD plug is live all the time.
I like this product is made in America and reasonable priced, but their customer service issues will be the downfall of them if they don't get their act together.
Ill post pics if anybody wants to see anything, make a pic request and ill post it.
As for the gauge, i ordered the single version with the Green display. Here are my likes and dislikes so far:
Likes:
1. The gauge display is very sharp, super easy to read. I was kind of worried that a 2-1/16 gauge with a digital display would be tough to see at a distance but it's not. Even in bright sunlight it's fine.
2. They give you PLENTY of cable to run from the gauge to the OBD-II plug. You could mount the gauge ANYWHERE in the dash or overhead with cable to spare. They also have the cable soing out the OBD-II port at a 90 degree angle. So no worry about seeing the cable or banging your leg into it.
3. Simple hookup. Everything is plug in.
4. Now that i know how to use it, it is pretty straight forward. Their are LOTS of parameters it reads. In fact, more then half of them ill never use. But it's nice to know i can if i ever want to.
5. It DOES Read Transmission temp! I also was surprised to find it will read Battery temperature as well.
Dislikes....
1. It "feels" very cheap. But let me clarify this observation in no way impact how well this gauge works. I am used to holding a high end gauge, like an Auto Meter gauge. They are solid. Metal case, some weight to them. They just feel like quality. The Interceptor weighs very little. Is all plastic and the plastic feels very thin. Again, just an observation.
2. No instructions come with the gauge other then a VERY basic 4 page (double sided 8x10 sheet of paper) install guide. They mention to go on the AeroForce website and download and print a manual to learn all the features. And that manual is 39 pages!. When i pay $200+ for an electronic device, i expect that the manufacturer would at least have the courtesy to include the operating instructions with it. Aside from the fact it's wrong that I have to waste my printer paper and ink, but what would have happened if the site was not working or the file was not working? I would be left with a product with no idea how to use it. And i have read on other forums people are annoyed by this as well. The gauge is packed in a full color printed box with the company logo which does not help at all with using the gauge. But no instructions? I would rather they save the money on the custom box and instead enclose and instruction manual.
3. The buttons. Their are only two buttons on the gauge that control every feature. This just makes everything very time consuming. You pretty much press one button to scroll down and the other to select an item. But their is no way to back up. So if you accidently skip the item you wanted, you have to scroll through the whole menu list again. When you have 40 paramaters in total and only 5 can be shown on the screen at one time, this takes a LONG time. The butons are also annoying in that you have to press them and hold them for an exact amount of time. Too short a time and it will not register the command, too long and selects and then de-selects it. And the buttons feel delicate. Like if you are pressing one while driving and hit a bump you may break one of them. But that is just an assumption, maybe they are super tough.
4. Customer service. This is the single biggest reason i was hesitant to buy one of these gauges and why i am scared for when their is a problem. They have no phone number. They tell you to e-mail them or use their online forum. Two problems. One, their response via e-mail is way too slow. Already i e-mailed them today (at 1:09pm and i am in the same time zone as them) with an issue (ill explain below) and i still have not heard back from them. Can you imagine how frustrating that will be if you are all set to setup your gauge and have to deal with waiting for an e-mail response to adress an issue?. Again, your spending $250 for an item and they will not give a phone number or respond quickly to e-mails. Kind of annoying.
5. Thier Online forum which they mention on their website is the best way to get help with their products has been down for at least a few weeks. I only found out it existed 3 weeks ago and it has never been working. I have seen other forums with people having customer service issues with them and they said they were told to post their questions on the companies forum for answers. Not easy to do when the forum does not work.
But i am happy with the gauge. It's compact, looks great and does everything i want. And i still have plenty more to learn about it's features. Like reading codes and setting up the warning lights. My issue today was the guage turned on as soon as i plugged it into the OBD-II port. Even with the key off. Thier instructions claim that with a CAN BUS like i have, this should not normaly be happening. So i had to use the switched power wire it comes with an tap into an accessory circuit. But their was a wire right there for my radar detector i tapped, so it was only a 5 minute fix. But i am wondering why my OBD plug is live all the time.
I like this product is made in America and reasonable priced, but their customer service issues will be the downfall of them if they don't get their act together.
Last edited by NV290; Mar 12, 2012 at 11:19 PM.
Thread Starter
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All Star
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 777
Likes: 1
From: NH
As far as readings, here are some i have found.
It was 60 degrees yesterday and my readings were:
1. Oil Pressure: 49-53 on the highway. 15-17 at idle (truck at operating temperature)
2. Coolant temp: 198-204 at all times when the driving.
3. Trans Temp: 140-144 while driving on the highway or in town.
4. IAT: 80-90 on the highway. Which i found was odd considering that it was a bit below 60 degrees outside. In fact, you can see Ambient temp from the PCM too.
5. Battery voltage: 14.4 all the time.
Does anybody want data on other parameters? I take requests!
It was 60 degrees yesterday and my readings were:
1. Oil Pressure: 49-53 on the highway. 15-17 at idle (truck at operating temperature)
2. Coolant temp: 198-204 at all times when the driving.
3. Trans Temp: 140-144 while driving on the highway or in town.
4. IAT: 80-90 on the highway. Which i found was odd considering that it was a bit below 60 degrees outside. In fact, you can see Ambient temp from the PCM too.
5. Battery voltage: 14.4 all the time.
Does anybody want data on other parameters? I take requests!
Thread Starter
|
All Star
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 777
Likes: 1
From: NH
The pod i bought from a dealer, $46.00. Just type in SRT 10 A pillar on ebay and you will find them.
I considered other mounting options but this is by far the cleanest install i could think of. No room anywhere to dash mount it and i did not want a gauge cup on the dash.