dash mounted engine temp gauge

johnbird · Post by **johnbird** » Tue Jan 04, 2011 11:11 am

Is there an accepted method of doing this please? I have a number of gauges in my garage And a couple of saab top hose temp senders which fit in the hose neatly. How hard can it be to rig a couple of wires to the cabin? Any good places to fit one. Pod mount by the digital clock or saw a larger hole where the fag lighter is look most obvious. Is there a digital gauge or display people have used? Never been a big fan of the warning light system, its generally too late by then.

Post by **docchevron** » Tue Jan 04, 2011 1:40 pm

Tidiest method is fit a proper BX guage!
Although they are not always easy to find now..

Aftermarket guages tend to be more accurate anyway! Fitting on a pod to the right of the instrument binnacle is a usual spot I find, although before I put the 16valve clocks in the diesel I did use a temp guage that I mounted next to the digiclock in the tray.

johnbird · Post by **johnbird** » Tue Jan 04, 2011 1:46 pm

Hi, do you have a picture of the way you mounted an aftermarket gauge? Wasn't aware there was a bx one available. No one gone digital in these eighties icons? Would be good to see some pics. I have single, double,apillar mounts and various gauges in the garage. Quite like the idea of a digital readout? Accuracy not the issue really its monitoring a rise I want. So long as the temp is stable its ok.

KevR · Post by **KevR** » Tue Jan 04, 2011 5:34 pm

Umm, surely that's what the existing temp warning light does: so long as the temp is stable, the light stays off, when it rises too far, the light comes on.

johnbird · Post by **johnbird** » Tue Jan 04, 2011 6:58 pm

it seems i may have upset you a bit chap judging by the replies to my questions you have been sharing with me.
i didnt ask if you thought it was a good idea to get a red light before the head gasket went i asked if anyone knew or had fitted a temp gauge to warn of the rise in temp so i can take remedial action before the head gasket goes.
if thats too complicated for you i can draw pictures.now get off my back.

Mike E (uk) · Post by **Mike E (uk)** » Tue Jan 04, 2011 7:16 pm

I would not be happy with the lights. A gauge is more useful as you get familiar with it's readings at various operating conditions so you can spot problems before they get significant- as the man says.

Best plan is to get a BX meter, they fit in the instrument panel properly and that saves space for another gadget should you want one.

Mike

johnbird · Post by **johnbird** » Tue Jan 04, 2011 7:23 pm

in a truck you get lots of gauges for lots of purposes.it is a familiar thing to scan them as i would check my mirrors regularly.
when one is not reading where it generally is its subconsciously apparent almost immediately.
it seems an unecessary risk to let the temp rise into a danger zone before taking action?
where does the standard bx gauge live in the dash please?

sdelasal · Post by **sdelasal** » Tue Jan 04, 2011 7:25 pm

John - there are a couple of useful links ...

http://www.bxclub.co.uk/diy/tempgauge/

http://www.tramontana.co.hu/citroen/cooling/cooling.php

I did the latter and am very pleased to be able to see a stable needle sitting at 90'.

MULLEY · Post by **MULLEY** » Tue Jan 04, 2011 8:01 pm

I got a really nice temp guage & its fitted to the right of the pod next to the a pillar, no idea how it was fitted as i got it done at a garage, its in my tzd. i could possibly take a piccy or 2 at the weekend & see how its connected up under the hood as well?

johnbird · Post by **johnbird** » Tue Jan 04, 2011 8:14 pm

those links are superb,thankyou for that.the grommet will be behind the glove box as the car was set up for lhd i presume. lets hope theres no false bulkhead! i will have a good look for the bolt blanking the water way. looks simple enough.job for a weekend i think,thanks again for the link,john.

johnbird · Post by **johnbird** » Tue Jan 04, 2011 9:00 pm

mr mulley that would be useful,thanks.i have a couple of a pillar mounts.the site for the temp sender is generally the trickiest part of the job.
when we were kids we used to put all sorts of gauges into our old cars,was a good lesson on car electrics. the pictures of the gti dash show an oil presure gauge too which would be smart. just fitted an old chrome dial smiths mechanical one into a custom made mount built into a centre console in the 99. nice gear lever!

bill o · Post by **bill o** » Tue Jan 04, 2011 9:12 pm

my temp gauge is fitted into the coin tray.by removing the coin holder and keeping the front and base the panel can be drilled to take electric temp gauge.I first did it on my tzd and have now transfered it to my 1.9 diesel tgd..

johnbird · Post by **johnbird** » Tue Jan 04, 2011 9:15 pm

now that is a great idea,exactly what i have been seeking.buy a second coin holder and everything can be put back to standard with no difficulty at all.its not like you can get many coins in it anyway!

Dollywobbler · Post by **Dollywobbler** » Tue Jan 04, 2011 9:17 pm

Seeing as my coin holder is broken and the ashtray can't be opened, I have been planning for some time to rip out that middle row and fit a custom panel with a gauge or two. Kermit's got the sort of thing I'm after in the (somewhat battered) Green Hornet.

johnbird · Post by **johnbird** » Tue Jan 04, 2011 9:32 pm

sheet aluminium is great for making a custom panel.1 mm thick ish.i got an old sign years ago and still chipping away at it. wet and dry then solvol auto sol on a polishing wheel makes a good polished finish or cover it in vinyl like the 99 mount. its very forgiving.
from my old c900