Re: Yaris, Scion xD, Honda Fit - no water temp gauge

"Mike Walsh" <spam_sucks@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote in message 
news:47F6750C.D65AF225@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
> An idiot light might not come on soon enough to prevent engine damage.
On 
> some vehicles if you loose coolant pressure because of a leak the
boiling 
> temperature will be too low to cause the idiot light to come on.

  I don't believe that is true. The coolant does not have to boil for the 
light to come on. The temp sensor only senses the temperature of the
water, it 
has no way to determine if it is boiling or not. What may happen with a
sudden 
leak is the coolant level will drop low enough that the temp sensor is no 
longer immersed in coolant. Being the sensor is no longer in contact with
the 
coolant it will not turn the light on until it is too late.


> It is getting harder to find vehicles with gauges. Most cars I have
owned 
> had temperature, voltage, and oil pressure gauges. My Fusion has only a 
> temperature >gauge.

   I know. I prefer gauges myself but the are getting harder to find.


>
> bubbabubbs@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
 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/
>> owner****p 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
>
> -- 
>                   Mike Walsh