Convert MPG dash cluster gauge to Temp (like the rest of the world ...

[scubazteve]

Hi all,

Digging around it appears the dash cluster gauge is just motorized, has anyone else poked around changing it to show colent temp? Physically the marking till will say MPG, but I'd rather have a temp gauge for winter. ... Basically don't drive until the temp needle starts to move .

 

[bmart]

You could just install one on its own in the pillar, under the dash, or a storage location. Do a Google search and you will find what you seek.

 

[Dick Foster]

Hi all,

Digging around it appears the dash cluster gauge is just motorized, has anyone else poked around changing it to show colent temp? Physically the marking till will say MPG, but I'd rather have a temp gauge for winter. ... Basically don't drive until the temp needle starts to move .

I have a low temp idiot light but it shuts off shortly after the car is started and driven for a short distance. You're not supposed to romp on it with the low temp on. It warms up quickly enough.
As far as converting an existing gauge, anything can be done with enough time and money but as has already been said, it wouldn't be economically feasible. It's much more practical and realistic to buy and install an aftermarket gauge if you really want one.

 

[bmart]

Worth noting that warm coolant isn't warm oil...

 

[scubazteve]

I know there are tons of coolant temp options to add on, stand-alone or OBD... I was hoping this was just something selectable with an SSM device or firmware

I'll poke around and let you guys what I find if anything, thanks

 

[Dick Foster]

There are OBDII readers that can read engine coolant temp, along with many other functions like reading and resetting check engine fault codes.
I had an OBDII 2 scan gauge permanently connected in my rockcrawler that allowed me to read and monitor lots of parameters like voltage, inlet air temp, coolant temp, voltage etc etc etc. That the ECU needs to run your engine.
I had it mounted in a convenient out of the way place and had it programmed to read four parameters that i chose to monitor. It will even keep track of your gas mileage.
You can also take it from car to car and use it to read and reset codes in other cars.
No doubt, they've updated it since I had mine.

.

 

[Dick Foster]

As I suspected they have a Scan Gauge 3 now. It's bigger so will need to be dash mounted, but it reads and displays more stuff like tyranny temp for example. It is also more automated in that it figures out the maker specific codes on its own so you don't need to program it. It also can update itself via WIFI.

I just ordered one.

It's made in the USA in Mesa, AZ by Linear Logic .
Oh yeah, they also give military and veteran discounts.
IMHO, Good products made by a good company.

 

[Dick Foster]

Here's a picture of the Scan Gauge 3 mounted and working. There is a large selection of things you can monitor and three pages of up to 9 items per page to watch them plus you can set up audible alerts with programmable trip points for sounding off.

 

[Dick Foster]

A little hiccup with the scan gauge. Plugging anything into the obd2 port sets off Starlink. Given the choice I'll take the scan gauge and stop paying Starlink. Scan gauge prevents failure while before you use Starlink it's already too late to prevert trouble.

 

[scubazteve]

Roger that, thanks for the tip on the scan gauge.. useful and not ridiculously flashy or annoying haha

Digging around it looks like it would be a firmware mess to repurpose the MPG to Temp gauge, the raw data is looking like too big of a project

Yes I was expecting this to be a deal end but thought I'd give it a shot

I did find a cheap China OBD2 gauge for now so I have something for temp, but I definitely will get something like scan gauge as mentioned before, looks to be a solid product from a good company.

Thanks, looking forward to contributing and participating in the forum!

 

[Dick Foster]

A little hiccup with the scan gauge. Plugging anything into the obd2 port sets off Starlink. Given the choice I'll take the scan gauge and stop paying Starlink. Scan gauge prevents failure while before you use Starlink it's already too late to prevert trouble.

Roger that, thanks for the tip on the scan gauge.. useful and not ridiculously flashy or annoying haha

Digging around it looks like it would be a firmware mess to repurpose the MPG to Temp gauge, the raw data is looking like too big of a project

Yes I was expecting this to be a deal end but thought I'd give it a shot

I did find a cheap China OBD2 gauge for now so I have something for temp, but I definitely will get something like scan gauge as mentioned before, looks to be a solid product from a good company.

Thanks, looking forward to contributing and participating in the forum!

What does it do?

After messing around with cars for a few years now, i find Scan Gauge to be a really decent product made right here in the USA, Arizona in fact. It keeps tabs on all sorts of stuff, including gas mileage. I had it beeping at me today because I set an oil temp alarm with a low trigger temp just to check it out and it was flashing and beeping away. It does mileage too. You can even have it have it warn you to start looking for a gas station.

I had their II which is much smaller, simpler and easier to keep discrete but I really do like their ScanGauge 3. It’s mo betta with literally more bells and whistles.

 

[scubazteve]

What does it do?

After messing around with cars for a few years now, i find Scan Gauge to be a really decent product made right here in the USA, Arizona in fact. It keeps tabs on all sorts of stuff, including gas mileage. I had it beeping at me today because I set an oil temp alarm with a low trigger temp just to check it out and it was flashing and beeping away. It does mileage too. You can even have it have it warn you to start looking for a gas station.

I had their II which is much smaller, simpler and easier to keep discrete but I really do like their ScanGauge 3. It’s mo betta with literally more bells and whistles.

It has a left and right readout, and an optional "dial" in the middle for temp (Celsius only).


I forget exactly the options, but left can be speed mph/kph, temp, and MPG I thing.


Right side has temp, tach, and some others.

Brightness is a fixed adjustment from setting mode, or set to "auto" and has a little photocell like the dash has.

I got it to have something for now.

I'm really not a fan of taking it seriously or if there is a small short or small burn inside that it has "professional" level circuitry.

 

[Dick Foster]

Doesn't sound very versatile and you don't need a tach or speedo since you have those already.
If it matters, it'll likely interfere with Starlink too if you use it.
It seems anything plugged into obd2 messes with Starlink. IMHO it's a shortcoming of Starlink.

 

[scubazteve]

Doesn't sound very versatile and you don't need a tach or speedo since you have those already.
If it matters, it'll likely interfere with Starlink too if you use it.
It seems anything plugged into obd2 messes with Starlink. IMHO it's a shortcoming of Starlink.

I don't have the Navigation built in anyway

It was $20 and wanted something for temp at least,

I'll try to find something smaller to fit in the dash cluster for just temp, with a decent reputation

 

[Dick Foster]

I doubt you'll find anything that fits within the dash but if you want small yet versatile take a look at the Scangauge 2.
Its not quite as versatile or automated as the 3 but much smaller and much easier to find a place for, while also cheaper.
You could see water temp, oil temp, tyranny temp, and voltage and alson keep track of fuel mileage at the time in the same unit.

I had one mounted below the ashtray, radio etc in the center dash of my rock crawler. It was easy to see and convenient there. But, it went when I sold the trunk. I even included the GPS I had in it because it was good for off road and trail use.

That truck had all sorts of dodads added to it over the years. I had added forced induction along with larger fuel injectors, a larger MAF etc. so I needed to keep my eye on lots of things.

» ScanGauge II

www.scangauge.com

 

[scubazteve]

Something like the round panel meter in the middle of this pic, but not with the bulkhead connector

I suppose I can just rip the LCDdisplay out, and 3D print a little housing that fits on the wall of the instrument cluster if needed

!!!!!!! I NEED TO ASK !!!!!! (Sorry not yelling)

****Is there any risk if any of the OBD port connections are shorted to each other? Either from +12v or Gnd to any other pin, is there resistors at all for the signals to not fry computer modules before the fuse pops? *****

 

[Dick Foster]

View attachment 3069

Something like the round panel meter in the middle of this pic, but not with the bulkhead connector

I suppose I can just rip the LCDdisplay out, and 3D print a little housing that fits on the wall of the instrument cluster if needed

!!!!!!! I NEED TO ASK !!!!!! (Sorry not yelling)

****Is there any risk if any of the OBD port connections are shorted to each other? Either from +12v or Gnd to any other pin, is there resistors at all for the signals to not fry computer modules before the fuse pops? *****

I don't think it would be any good to start shorting obd2 pins together. A blown fuse would be the least of concern. However, obd2 is a serial bus, so there aren't that many pins to fret about.
Everything I ever did with obd2 had pre-wired connectors so there really wasn't much danger of that happening.

 

[scubazteve]

I don't think it would be any good to start shorting obd2 pins together. A blown fuse would be the least of concern. However, obd2 is a serial bus, so there aren't that many pins to fret about.
Everything I ever did with obd2 had pre-wired connectors so there really wasn't much danger of that happening.

Right,

While I have no plans for half-ass connections.... I'm more worried about poorly made attachments, maybe some condensate forms, solder drop breaks off, etc etc...

Serial controller maybe ok and have built in resistors to not fry the controller chip, or only fry the controller chip ..

In any case I'll dig into it, and if there is a "surge and over-current/over-voltage" devices already available

 

[Dick Foster]

BTW I found another one that plugs into obd2 that may fit your needs.

I'd say it sits somewhere between the scangages 2 & 3 as far as capability but it's even smaller than either scangauge and cheaper too but is made in China. Ultragauge, you might want to take a look.

They have 2 units, one intended for wanna be racers, and the regular version for the rest of us.