I'd like to install a more accurate termperature guage, but after searching the archives, I'm not sure what the best solution would be. I'm not racing my car so I'd rather keep it off the A pillar. Should I replace the guage within the instrument cluster or use the Saab-type instrument panel under the radio? Do you add a new sender unit or replace the factory one? Any recommendations out there for the simplest solution?

Thanks,
Corbet

P.S. It would be nice to retain the low coolant warning buzzer.

 

I'm in the same boat as you - looking for a good WT gauge too.
From what I gathered so far, the important things to consider are: look (how close to stock you want to go - i gather that autometer and VDO are good in these respects), scale (Celsius v Farenheit), and electronic / mechanical.

I am personally leaning towards the SAAB din only beacuse I plan to add more gauges (EGT and Oil) and I think that messin with the instrument cluster is a going to be a PITA (although is has been done). Don't overlook placing a gauge cluster in the useless center speaker space - some of these installs look real nice.

Don't know about the buzzer though - but I guess with enough time and money, anything is possible.

M

 

There is a post on how to linierize the stock gauge if you want to keep the stock one and have it preform like a standard gauge. Check Robinettes site.

 

Does it make any sense to buy an aluminum AST and place the temp probe in the wall of that, or is the water temp at that point much different from engine tempurature?

 

I woudn't think it would be as acurate if you placed it in the AST. I'm planning on mounting mine in the thermostat housing just in front of the thermostat.....the pipe plugs are not where I want to mount the probe (one is but the air pump is in the way so I'm going to drill and tap my own.

 

I woudn't think it would be as acurate if you placed it in the AST. I'm planning on mounting mine in the thermostat housing just in front of the thermostat.....the pipe plugs are not where I want to mount the probe (one is but the air pump is in the way so I'm going to drill and tap my own.

 

I am thinking about going into the gauge cluster and replacing it there. I've done it on a 91 MR2 for it's boost gauge. HAs anyone done it to an FD? Since I have never seen it, I'm hesitant in doing it. Has anyone done a write up on this?

 

To me, adding another temperature gauge or replacing the stock gauge are extreme responses to dealing with the problems of the stock gauge. Why not just fix the stock gauge?

The following two links deal with the subject of the stock temperature gauge. The first link will give you a better understanding of the shortcomings of the stock gauge. The second link is a "how-to" on fixing the problems with the stock gauge. Go to these links:

http://www.geocities.com/sdrx7_club/tempgauge.html

http://us.share.geocities.com/sdrx7...nstructions.pdf

 

The "how to" link doesn't work.

 

Try this link to get to the How-To:

http://www.geocities.com/sdrx7_club/technical.html

Scroll down the page and you will see the reference to the linearization How-To. Click and you should get to it.