Gauges that should've be standard
Posted: Sun Sep 09, 2012 1:29 pm
Hi all,
After my recent rad problem I started wondering once again why certain gauges don't come standard on all cars - like:
1. Water loss indicator warning
2. EGT for diesels
3. Heat gauge for the cylinder head (not the water temp)
4. Some gadget to indicate if your thermostat failed
So I started with the 1st one since I had the recent rad problem.
I had a float switch in the garage which I used on another project. Think they sell for just over R100.
I drilled a hole in the filler tank and fitted the switch inside routing it to a light on the dash.
Real easy job - the most difficult part was getting the wire through the firewall into the cab.
I posted some pics.
Some pointers:
I made sure the switch is in the "light on" position when the car is still cold so that I will know the light is still working fine.
As the car heats up, the water level rises and the light goes off. If it stays on, or comes on again after it when off it should spell water loss.
Used a flashing LED which takes almost no power as the light will be on permanently through the night (unless you wire it via the ignition which I failed to do).
Will work on the heat gauge for the head next as the EGT is n/a for my petrol.
Cheers
Pierre
After my recent rad problem I started wondering once again why certain gauges don't come standard on all cars - like:
1. Water loss indicator warning
2. EGT for diesels
3. Heat gauge for the cylinder head (not the water temp)
4. Some gadget to indicate if your thermostat failed
So I started with the 1st one since I had the recent rad problem.
I had a float switch in the garage which I used on another project. Think they sell for just over R100.
I drilled a hole in the filler tank and fitted the switch inside routing it to a light on the dash.
Real easy job - the most difficult part was getting the wire through the firewall into the cab.
I posted some pics.
Some pointers:
I made sure the switch is in the "light on" position when the car is still cold so that I will know the light is still working fine.
As the car heats up, the water level rises and the light goes off. If it stays on, or comes on again after it when off it should spell water loss.
Used a flashing LED which takes almost no power as the light will be on permanently through the night (unless you wire it via the ignition which I failed to do).
Will work on the heat gauge for the head next as the EGT is n/a for my petrol.
Cheers
Pierre