Instrument Panels Ain't What They Used to Be (Another Rant from a Curmudgeon)

[wchevron]

Great point my wife has a 2023 Mercedes-Benz. The dash shit the bed. No speedo. No tach. Nothing. Because the entire display is digital. Took 6 weeks to get a replacement ( early in 2023 model year might not be as long today) never had a car with every physical gage fail at once.​

Wife has the same. Find the dash too complicated. Everything is digital and there are 4 different ways to get to everything.

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[JsnJcksn]

Hence idiot lights to tell those people there's a problem with the vehicle.

I usually keep the oil pressure gauge up.
There is an arc over the digits that act like the needles on analog gauges, I can glance down and read the oil pressure, bump the gauge button once to read the next one, look back at the road while I bump the gauge button again then another glance down and I catch two more.

I would still prefer to have all the gauges on the instrument panel at once.

I keep oil pressure up 99% of the time too. Set screen to have digital speedo in corner. Information is key, but scrolling through it is akin to texting and driving. Too much push and read.

 

[JsnJcksn]

Use these....

If the default could be this and not require a reload each time you switch to another menu item. , it would be perfect.

 

[NULL POINTER]

My fear is one intergraded panel to replace when it shits the bed. My 2014 f150s did and it was total darkness…$3K later I got my fuel gauge back. This electrical integration will get worse Not better.

Interesting. The panel on my 2014 f150 crapped out. Fortunately I was still under warranty. Ford had a procedure where, before they removed the instrument panel, they would have to copy the settings file from the ECU and then they should restore after the reinstall. Of course they did not do that part and so I did not have my vehicle specific options showing on the new panel. Who follows instructions, right? Anyway, I had to bring it back and they had to pull the proper file down from the Ford corporate computers for my VIN. It was all good after that.

Agree with you on the electrical integration getting worse, not better.

 

[Mad Mac]

Our 1998 Silverado had a partial instrument panel failure.
The entire panel had to be replaced.
Fortunately, it was covered by a recall at no cost to us.

Our 1960 Chrysler New Yorker had the AstraDome instrument panel.
A clear plastic dome covered the instruments
which stood on a domed field.
The transmission push buttons were to the left.
The steering wheel was rectangular.
Very futuristic.
The NHTSA has tamped down
much of the creativity in automobile design.

Traveling farther down memory lane:
My grandfather's VW Beetle had one instrument.
The speedometer had an odometer
that only went to 99,999 miles
and a trip meter which was important
because there was no gas gauge!
You had to reset the trip meter and keep an eye on it.
But if you ran out of gas you could turn a lever
like the one on a motorcycle
and access the reserve tank.
You also had to remember
to reset the lever to the main tank.
You only forgot to do that once.
It was air-cooled so there was no temp gauge.
No oil pressure gauge.
No tachometer, that's what ears are for.

Have a Merry Christmas everyone.

 

[40x40]

Our 1998 Silverado had a partial instrument panel failure.
The entire panel had to be replaced.
Fortunately, it was covered by a recall at no cost to us.

Our 1960 Chrysler New Yorker had the AstraDome instrument panel.
A clear plastic dome covered the instruments
which stood on a domed field.
The transmission push buttons were to the left.
The steering wheel was rectangular.
Very futuristic.
The NHTSA has tamped down
much of the creativity in automobile design.

Traveling farther down memory lane:
My grandfather's VW Beetle had one instrument.
The speedometer had an odometer
that only went to 99,999 miles
and a trip meter which was important
because there was no gas gauge!
You had to reset the trip meter and keep an eye on it.
But if you ran out of gas you could turn a lever
like the one on a motorcycle
and access the reserve tank.
You also had to remember
to reset the lever to the main tank.
You only forgot to do that once.
It was air-cooled so there was no temp gauge.
No oil pressure gauge.
No tachometer, that's what ears are for.

Have a Merry Christmas everyone.

Merry Christmas to you sir and to the epic heater in that punch bug!

 

[Deleted member 52902]

My first driver's license was more than 60 years ago.
This JTR is my first vehicle with a digital instrument panel.
We have outsmarted ourselves.

Back in the bad old days
one brief glance at the dashboard
revealed the status of all critical systems.

If all the needles were pointed up
all systems were good.
Eyes back on the road in a fraction of a second.

Amen brother.

 

[Janster]

I feel ya….. granted, got my license about 41 years ago….. My first car was a junkyard gem (seriously, my Dad bought it from a junkyard) 1984 Plymouth Horizon. I don’t remember if any of the gauges worked.

With a 24’ - there’s a shitload of information at your fingertips - and I probably only use about 25% (or less) of it. I like to think I watch the gauges….. The truck is new - so the assumption is, I shouldn’t have to watch the gauges!

I think its a good idea to have all the information and all the techy gadgets. Afterall, you’re not forced to use it and don’t have to use it.

I tend to ‘over-think’ things…. So, I’ll get a thought in my head and wonder…. “The Jeep’s gotta be able to do that!!” - and find out it doesn’t. Or, I get an idea of something and I know the truck can do it….I just can’t find WHERE or how to do it.

Funny…. but…. Every-time I get in the truck, Carplay would load up and it’d automatically be on the ‘music screen’. Something changed… (oh, yea…I went to the dealership for service). And now….the offroad screen is the first thing that pops up and stays there. I have to click around to get to the music screen. I mean…. is there a setting to tell it to default to music screen?

 

[Sweetums]

You, of course, do realize that the TJ dash is not as 'analog' as you are thinking it is, right? All those gauges are controlled by the ECU...

And may of them are just glorified Idiot Lights. Temp in range and the needle is in the middle, too hot and it points to red, cold startup it points to cold - just three positions. It's like my wife's VW, temp light was blue when cold, off at operating temp, and red when hot.

 

[JimF51]

I'm in same age bracket as the OP. My 1st Jeep was a new CJ5 in 1972. Speedo, fuel and temp gauges only, if I recall. I'll take all the info the new Jeeps have, even if it means a couple finger taps. As someone mentioned, after a bit, no thinking about it. And compared to a lot of new other brands? Jeep is far more simple. Hell, I had to move a KIA the other day, a Telluride I think. Took me 10 minutes to find the start button, not on dash or console. On the freakin stalk off the steering column, and was hidden by the steering wheel lol. And don't get me started on having a dial to shift! Yeah, the good old days may have been simpler, but I can live with the newest Jeeps.

 

[DylanM]

And may of them are just glorified Idiot Lights. Temp in range and the needle is in the middle, too hot and it points to red, cold startup it points to cold - just three positions. It's like my wife's VW, temp light was blue when cold, off at operating temp, and red when hot.

The only gauge on a TJ that was ever a glorified idiot light was the oil pressure gauge, and that only on the '03-'06 models. All other gauges displayed the actual information seen by the PCM, including oil pressure on the '97-'02 models.

 

[dajudge]

I do use the Offroad pages for the gauges a lot, but that screen is also the radio/xm/Apple Car Play/etc/etc. A set of gauges around the speedo and tach would be really nice. I don't care if they are analog or digital.

 

[Figmo]

I do use the Offroad pages for the gauges a lot, but that screen is also the radio/xm/Apple Car Play/etc/etc. A set of gauges around the speedo and tach would be really nice. I don't care if they are analog or digital.

Agreed.

While the dash on my Bronco is nothing to write home about....at least Ford gave us a gauge summary screen that can be pinned to the center dash at all times. Jeep needs to steal this idea....

 

[Exceed Fabrication]

Having tried the Bronco with a full LCD instrument panel, I prefer the combination of the physical pointer and the central display screen of the Gladi.
I just want to keep some mechanical feel while making the instrument panel customizable, which is the ultimate form for me.
Unfortunately, the full LCD instrument panel seems to be a trend, especially for EVs.

 

[Mad Mac]

Yes! The mechanical feel is missing.

The LCD Uconnect infotainment panel
may be a touchscreen
but it is numb.
There is no tactile keyboard feedback,
no "keys" or buttons to press or click.
Very helpful for keeping eyes on the road.
At least the buttons on the steering wheel
provide some feedback.

A full keyboard is the reason I prefer my netbook
to my iPhone.
My Dad was disappointed when I took typing in high school
and learned to touch type.
The digital age was still over the horizon in 1965.
The ability to touch type proved to be my most beneficial skill.
He felt a little better when I told him
that's where the girls are.

Don't get me wrong.
The bright, colorful LCD display
is welcome for these old eyes.
But we can have it both ways.

For example, instead of a $10,000 Rolex GMT,
download the LCD Butler GMT Chronograph app
for your smartphone, for free.
And you don't have to keep it wound.
It even has an audible tick that can be felt in your hand.
Or you could buy a real Butler GMT for $500.

Theoretically, we could have LCD instrument panels
that replicate the analog panels of the past.
All the important systems with dial faces
and all the needles reassuringly pointing up.

Take it easy and enjoy the drive.

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