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View Full Version : Coolant Temperature Gauge Anyone?

lorne
08-20-2020, 07:53 AM
Has anyone installed an analog coolant temperature gauge? I'd like to know exactly (more or less) what is happening — at least more than the LED tells me. Japanese summers can be hot and very humid.

I'd ideally like an oil pressure gauge and an oil temperature gauge, but for now I'd be satisfied with knowing what my coolant is doing.

I did a search and nothing came up. I'd be reassured by hints of how to rig it up on a Yaris.
stidnam
08-20-2020, 08:34 AM
Couple of options. You can put an inline temp sensor in the bottom or top radiator hose or you could buy a OBD2 gauge like an aem x-series or a scangauge
lorne
08-20-2020, 11:07 AM
Couple of options. You can put an inline temp sensor in the bottom or top radiator hose or you could buy a OBD2 gauge like an aem x-series or a scangaugeThanks ... those are some options I've not been aware of. I'm behind the times.
ohms
08-23-2020, 05:45 PM
get a cheap bluetooth OBDII reader - it plugs into the obd port, and then get an app for your phone (there are several - try dashcommand or torque to start off with) and you'll be able to see quite a few things that the car already has sensors for (water temp being one of them)
06YarisRS
08-24-2020, 08:01 AM
get a cheap bluetooth OBDII reader - it plugs into the obd port, and then get an app for your phone (there are several - try dashcommand or torque to start off with) and you'll be able to see quite a few things that the car already has sensors for (water temp being one of them)

Torque is a great app! For under $20.00 (app and OBD2 bluetooth adapter) and you can see so many sensor data points. Unfortunately, Toyota ECUs (at least the Yaris) won't give up data on trans temp, oil temp, oil pressure via OBD2. I installed dedicated gauges for these parameters.

https://i.imgur.com/83tU50v.jpg
lorne
08-26-2020, 01:52 PM
WOW ... you sure did! I don't think I will be following you. But it sure looks what I would like! Well, not quite. My 2007 1.3L AWD AT type is a pretty sedate, boring driver. Still, coolant temp would be great — even if I can't have oil temp and pressure.

This may be a dumb question, But is what your suggesting mean I have to know the port entries for the scan connection, and then have my smart phone reading something — I'm not really understanding, because I've been driving dinosaurs for so long.