Nate Nagel <njnagel@roosters.net> wrote in
news:ftbr6n1273o@news3.newsguy.com:

> Ashton Crusher wrote:
>> On Fri, 4 Apr 2008 10:56:27 -0700 (PDT), bubbabubbs@yahoo.com wrote:
>>
>>
>>>I've been thinking about what my next commute car is going to be. 80
>>>miles/day, it's just me and my briefcase, so thinking of a small
>>>vehicle with great gas mileage. Yaris hatchback, Scion xD, or Honda
>>>Fit would work for me. Problem is, none of them has a water temp
>>>gauge, just an "idiot light."
>>>
>>>Would you consider buying a car (brand new) that only has the water
>>>temp "idiot light", but no water temp _gauge_ ?
>>>
>>>Btw, do these "idiot lights" come on early enough to prevent major
>>>engine damage, or only after the engine has overheated to the point
>>>where the head gasket is blown?
>>>
>>>Also, the next bigger models that do have the water temp gauge would
>>>be Toyota Corolla, Matrix, or Honda Civic. But the extra purchase/
>>>ownership cost may not even offset the possible repair costs resulting
>>
>>>from a Yaris/Fit/xD engine overheating (which, if happens, would be
>>
>>>several years down the road.)
>>>
>>>TIA,
>>>Bubba
>>
>>
>>
>> Yes, I would. I've had many vehicles with real gauges and a few of
>> them overheated and I never noticed the gauge go up because it
>> happened so fast (blown hose). I might have noticed an idiot light.
>> I'd like to have both in an ideal setup. It's nice to know what's
>> happening with water temp on a long uphill, esp if you are towing
>> something. My 99 Mustang GT has a temp, oil and volt gauge but all
>> are just idiot gauges. At least on the mustang you can put the
>> Dashboard odometer into "diagnostic mode" and it will give a true
>> digital readout of water temp. I think most idiot lights for water
>> temp are set to go on at about 235 degrees. If everything is good in
>> the cooling system it should not boil till it hits 260 degrees.
>
> I agree, I think the ideal setup would be gauges with an idiot light
> right inside the gauge. Unfortunately if you want something like that
> you have to do it yourself.
>
> nate
>

Many gas gauges do that;when you get down too far,the warning light comes
on.

With today's modern LCD dashes,such a thing ought to be easy to
implement.Have a bright LED behind the hi segments that would light when
those segments are activated.

--
Jim Yanik
jyanik
at
kua.net