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

"Mike" <mik@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote in
news:wovJj.1203$Cn4.795@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
 

> 
> "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 
> 
> 

An "idiot" light uses a sensor that is just a switch that flips once the 
design temp is exceeded. But a true temperature gauge uses a sensor that 
MEASURES the temp,and the gauge gives warning BEFORE the temp goes "over 
the top". A gauge gives you more info,and sooner. A stuck thermostat may 
cause your engine tempo to cycle from 'cold' to 'hot'(affecting mileage) 
but an idiot light will not show that unless 'hot' exceeds the sensor 
limit.But a gauge will show that variation,and will show an engine running

hotter than usual but within tolerance,showing something has changed[a 
problem!],that an idiot light will ignore.
(until it's too late...)

Every car should have a temp gauge,not an idiot light.

-- 
Jim Yanik
jyanik
at
kua.net