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Re: DIY non invasive temperature gauge probe placement ideas
Posted: Sat Jul 30, 2011 12:46 am
by jaylee
Re: DIY non invasive temperature gauge probe placement ideas
Posted: Sat Jul 30, 2011 1:09 am
by The Great Pretender
Poke it in........Bu**er the consequences, live dangerous...........

Re: DIY non invasive temperature gauge probe placement ideas
Posted: Sat Jul 30, 2011 2:20 pm
by missfixit70
No real need IMO to go invasive, mounting it on the pipe gives a good enough indication for me, for the sake of possibly eliminating a couple of seconds lag in temperature movement, not worth the aggro/risk, but I'm happy to be proved wrong

Re: DIY non invasive temperature gauge probe placement ideas
Posted: Sun Jul 31, 2011 8:01 pm
by jaylee
Right... Just completed the cosmetic side...
Here is the business end which runs out of the loom grommet that goes into the engine bay behind the drivers foot well out under the brake fluid reservoir & tied/running along the front of the engine bay..
Looks a little OEM?
Now the gauge...
Cutting into this Mazda 626 clock surround where the original clock was took a fair bit of fettling...
It's not the fascia that's the problem but the plastic case gubbins holding the electronics for the original clock in place...
As mentioned earlier, i smoked the gauge screen using window tint to loose the slight red hue to the screen when off... Readout is still quite bright in this glorious sunshine!!
I already have a clock on the radio!!! & My sat nav...

Re: DIY non invasive temperature gauge probe placement ideas
Posted: Sun Jul 31, 2011 8:09 pm
by missfixit70
Re: DIY non invasive temperature gauge probe placement ideas
Posted: Sun Jul 31, 2011 8:21 pm
by jaylee
You wouldn't have thought it when i started slowly tearing into the back of it yesterday after work.. I nearly gave the fiddly affair up..!
I gave it another go after today's shift with a fresh view..
The irony of all, is the clock i removed also had an outside air temp gauge too.. Presumably for the 626 loom..?!!
Still haven't had a chance to give it a thrapping & see what temps i get yet...

Re: DIY non invasive temperature gauge probe placement ideas
Posted: Sun Jul 31, 2011 10:09 pm
by nigelgibson
Excellent job thanks for info and pics , i'm ordering one from same seller in blue !

Re: DIY non invasive temperature gauge probe placement ideas
Posted: Sun Jul 31, 2011 10:34 pm
by jaylee
nigelgibson wrote:Excellent job thanks for info and pics , i'm ordering one from same seller in blue !

Let me Know how you get on with the installation... There actually was no instructions with mine.. You may find it set by default to Fahrenheit.. but there is a DIP switch on the PCB for the settings to Celsius... (Just prise the back off the unit.) I don't know what the other three do, but i seemed to find the first one intuitively the first time!!
(On end, DIP switches to the top 2nd from left flip down.. There are four of em.. Ruddy tiny too!)
Impressed with the fast send from China though...?! Fair play!!!!

Re: DIY non invasive temperature gauge probe placement ideas
Posted: Sun Jul 31, 2011 11:07 pm
by The Great Pretender
Neeeeeeeeeeet.
Re: DIY non invasive temperature gauge probe placement ideas
Posted: Mon Aug 01, 2011 12:11 pm
by nigelgibson
thanks for heads up , will let you know how it goes.

Re: DIY non invasive temperature gauge probe placement ideas
Posted: Mon Aug 01, 2011 1:31 pm
by haydn callow
I have some small rubber "fillets" that allow a wire to pass under a hose and seal.
Before you start !!! I am not trying to sell by stealth.....just help out.
Re: DIY non invasive temperature gauge probe placement ideas
Posted: Mon Aug 01, 2011 1:40 pm
by nigelgibson
Anything that makes the job easier!
Not done this before so where do these fillets go and how many do i need?
who's been talking of stealth selling, if people don't know these things are out there how else do you let 'em know ?

Re: DIY non invasive temperature gauge probe placement ideas
Posted: Mon Aug 01, 2011 2:00 pm
by missfixit70
The fillets go between the hose & pipe to allow the sensor to enter into the coolant itself. It means breaking into the cooling system & therefore will need bleeding & as Jaylee says earlier presents another leak risk ( IMO & his

). I'd go for the external mount for now.
Re: DIY non invasive temperature gauge probe placement ideas
Posted: Mon Aug 01, 2011 2:01 pm
by haydn callow
You just need one.......it will involve removing the hose off the stub......getting it all dry.........inserting your sensor and the rubber fillet........putting a bit of sealant around....replacing the hose.....tighten jub clip very light......leave for 12 hours .....tighten jub clip......bleed.
If your wanting to go that way ....let me know and you are welcome to a FREE fillet..
But as stated.....fastening one to the metalwork will do the job almost as well.
and if you are going to have to bleed you would be better off with a adapted inline sensor as per website below......
Re: DIY non invasive temperature gauge probe placement ideas
Posted: Mon Aug 01, 2011 2:40 pm
by nigelgibson
Thanks for advice and offer, not sure which way to go but will decide before unit arrives. Steve [ widdowson] has said he'll give me a hand to fit so might be dry route as i think his is this. will update later but unit on way fron china so may be a week or so.