Gabe, did you get your order yet? I ordered 2 of these back on Feb. 18th, also. They said 10 days and I'm still waiting - how 'bout you?
Edit: They just arrived in today's mail (3-6)
Last edited:
External Temp Gauge Mod (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter CycloSteve
- Start date
This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.
Gabe, did you get your order yet? I ordered 2 of these back on Feb. 18th, also. They said 10 days and I'm still waiting - how 'bout you?
Edit: They just arrived in today's mail (3-6)
sandcruiser
....back in the saddle again....
I'm all for installing fun toys into our Cruisers.... but to imply that anyone "needs" an outside temp gauge to know if they should slow down, is a little absurd.
If the temp is below 40, you should expect that you could hit ice and drive accordingly, even if your thermometer says "36" there could be ice in the shade around the next corner. Most people don't need a digital thermometer to know if it is "near freezing".
If the temp is below 40, you should expect that you could hit ice and drive accordingly, even if your thermometer says "36" there could be ice in the shade around the next corner. Most people don't need a digital thermometer to know if it is "near freezing".
Where did you get that? What's absurd is some one from your locale giving cold weather driving instructions to people living in snow zones, as in your next quote:
It's downright hilarious to have, first, someone from CA give us instructions on how to tell if it's cold outside:
And now, you, living less than 500 miles from the equator, also are telling us we don't need a thermometer to know it's near freezing!
I can't stand it!Seriously, though, here in the PNW, we have unique road conditions due to the relatively mild winter weather (temp wise), heavy precipitation and growing population. ODOT has even placed road side reflectors that will turn from white to blue at the freezing point on specific sections of highways. Actually, sandcruiser, your instructions are pretty good. But, living here, where the temp will hover near the freezing mark and road conditions can change in a matter of minutes, I can tell you that having a tool to accurately give the outside temp is a good thing. True, it pays to err on the cautious side in your driving. I'd rather have someone honking at me from behind for driving too slow as opposed to being rescued from sliding off the road.
Last edited:
sandcruiser
....back in the saddle again....
I agree that cold-weather driving tips are probably more reliable coming from someone living in Vermont than someone living in Costa Rica.
And despite having grown up in North America, I'm not a very experienced driver in icy conditions, so my advice is really just my opinion, and maybe off base.
I can tell when the temperature is near freezing without a thermometer, I assumed everyone can. But I can see how driving along somewhere with the radio on* and the heater running, you could easily transition from 40-something degree weather to 20-something degree weather and not really notice.
I like this mod and think that if anyone wants to install something similar because it is a fun project or because they are just plain curious about outside temps.... cool. No skin off of my back.
*I know that the radio doesn't affect temperature, but I was trying to sketch an image of a carefree driver who may or may not have been focused tightly on the outside of their vehicle and thus could miss cues about temperature
And despite having grown up in North America, I'm not a very experienced driver in icy conditions, so my advice is really just my opinion, and maybe off base.
I can tell when the temperature is near freezing without a thermometer, I assumed everyone can. But I can see how driving along somewhere with the radio on* and the heater running, you could easily transition from 40-something degree weather to 20-something degree weather and not really notice.
I like this mod and think that if anyone wants to install something similar because it is a fun project or because they are just plain curious about outside temps.... cool. No skin off of my back.
*I know that the radio doesn't affect temperature, but I was trying to sketch an image of a carefree driver who may or may not have been focused tightly on the outside of their vehicle and thus could miss cues about temperature
Gabe, did you get your order yet? I ordered 2 of these back on Feb. 18th, also. They said 10 days and I'm still waiting - how 'bout you?
Edit: They just arrived in today's mail (3-6)
Mine took a couple weeks to get here, longer than they originally promised but for the price I can't complain.
In this area the weather can change on your rapidly. An old joke is "if you don't like the weather wait a few hours." I've seen it go from over 60* during the day, sunny, clear, and nice to below freezing and raining (or even worse freezing fog) literally within a matter of hours. Fairly rare, yes, but it happens.
When you get rapid temperature drops like that, conditions can change from near optimum to dangerous faster than most people would believe. Virtually every time that happens I see someone on the side of the road, in a fender bender, or been nearly hit myself by idjits too many times to count.
What makes it even worse is that most of the time the roads don't freeze around here even with the temps hovering right above (or even below) freezing. So people get used to being able to drive around however they like, regardless of temp, unless they see indications on the road (IE: snow).
So, knowing the temp within a few degrees is quite useful. Yes I will drive more carefully at 2 *C than I would at 30 *C, but I would drive way more carefully at -1 *C than I would would at 2 *C.
My choice for location, on this extremely low cost mod, may not be popular, but it works for me. I didn't have to extend the sensor lead. As you can see by the pics, I put it in the driver's door. It's not difficult to see, for me anyway, and being there is no back light, location, for me, was down on the priority list. At night I can use my cellphone or small Maglight to view, if desired. The sensor is inside the exterior rear view mirror housing. Threading the wire through, using the existing mirror motor wiring channel was the biggest challenge, but do-able with some dis-assembly. My only regret is my gouging up the door rest with the chuck of the Dremel tool I used to cut the hole. Plainly visible in the pics, I might be able to buff it out a little. But, before I saw it, I was so jazzed that I didn't stray outside the lines I had marked to cut the hole. For door panel removal, thermometer housing is popped out of hole and will fit sideways back through it to allow panel removal without interference.
Does anyone know where I can buy just sensors? I have the temp gauges (internal/external) from an HJ61 so I just need the sending sensors. I don't think I need OEM Toyota to make it work but anyone who knows would certainly be a big help.
Agreed, extending the wires can give you a false reading depending on its design. That just happened to me when the HVAC Guys installed a freeze alarm and made the wire longer without telling me. I was getting temps that were high by almost 10 degrees. Once they put in a new sensor and probe that was not modified, the temps were within 1 degree of accuracy.
Installed mine a few days back, figured I'd share.
Wired it into a 3 position switch (1, 2, and off). Bought several of these (they're cheap enough) and just hacked the wire off an extra one to go into the switch.
One thing I noticed is that even before I modified them, the two gauges read several degrees different. One had a slightly longer wire than the other, but even though my probes have different lengths of wires going to the switches, and you have the switch in there, the actual temps recorded hasn't seemed to have changed. The one that read a few degrees low still reads about the same after the mod. Go figure.
Anyway, the lower position runs through the firewall and along the washer fluid spray line to just about the center of the engine bay. It's a fairly stable area temp wise, and tends to be on the warm side as there's not much air flow through there.
The other probe I'm not sure what I'mg going to do with it, maybe route it into the drivers side mirror for outside temps or just keep it in the cab for interior temps. Or route it out into the engine bay. I'll figure something out.....
Wired it into a 3 position switch (1, 2, and off). Bought several of these (they're cheap enough) and just hacked the wire off an extra one to go into the switch.
One thing I noticed is that even before I modified them, the two gauges read several degrees different. One had a slightly longer wire than the other, but even though my probes have different lengths of wires going to the switches, and you have the switch in there, the actual temps recorded hasn't seemed to have changed. The one that read a few degrees low still reads about the same after the mod. Go figure.
Anyway, the lower position runs through the firewall and along the washer fluid spray line to just about the center of the engine bay. It's a fairly stable area temp wise, and tends to be on the warm side as there's not much air flow through there.
The other probe I'm not sure what I'mg going to do with it, maybe route it into the drivers side mirror for outside temps or just keep it in the cab for interior temps. Or route it out into the engine bay. I'll figure something out.....
Just discovered this thread and I guess I am posting up, more out of interest in keeping this thread at the top, rather than really contributing anything to what has already been said.
Last December I started out alone, on a new-to-me trail (the Stampede Trail outside Denali Park, Alaska, in the Sean Penn "Magic Bus" movie ). I have done a lot of winter camping and planned on spending the night (3 stoves, 2 heaters, 30lbs of fuel, 2 sleeping bags, 2 tents, full set of chains, one small dog in case of a real emergency!). During the 4 hour drive to the trail head, I was watching the inlet air temp on the scan gage move between -10f to -8f. Stopped to top-off my gas tanks before leaving the road, and asked the gas station attendant what the temperature was. He said -30F !!!
I could not believe it. I was shocked that air coming into the engine compartment @ 70 mph could heat up 20 degrees before hitting the IA sensor. Apparently I was not out the truck long enough for the occational pee break, to let the cold really soak in. I suppose I could have used the old “stick your arm out the window” test and added a 70 mph wind chill !
Because of the temp, I changed my plans, and made it a day trip. I like an adventure, but I am generally not considered an idiot.
For my purposes, centigrade and anything with exterior batteries will not work.
Still looking for a 12v outside air temp in F.
Last December I started out alone, on a new-to-me trail (the Stampede Trail outside Denali Park, Alaska, in the Sean Penn "Magic Bus" movie ). I have done a lot of winter camping and planned on spending the night (3 stoves, 2 heaters, 30lbs of fuel, 2 sleeping bags, 2 tents, full set of chains, one small dog in case of a real emergency!). During the 4 hour drive to the trail head, I was watching the inlet air temp on the scan gage move between -10f to -8f. Stopped to top-off my gas tanks before leaving the road, and asked the gas station attendant what the temperature was. He said -30F !!!
I could not believe it. I was shocked that air coming into the engine compartment @ 70 mph could heat up 20 degrees before hitting the IA sensor. Apparently I was not out the truck long enough for the occational pee break, to let the cold really soak in. I suppose I could have used the old “stick your arm out the window” test and added a 70 mph wind chill !
Because of the temp, I changed my plans, and made it a day trip. I like an adventure, but I am generally not considered an idiot.
For my purposes, centigrade and anything with exterior batteries will not work.
Still looking for a 12v outside air temp in F.
Nice job, Gabe! I'll trade you my door mounted external digital thermometer (sensor wire already routed!) for your magic (e-locker) dial and system 
While the centigrade doesn't bother me (anything below 0* outside is probably bad, anything over 70* in the engine compartment is really bad), I thought I was going to be annoyed by having the battery and it not being wired in. Now I'm finding I actually like it.
For one, while it would be a tiny tiny tiny drain on my huge honkin' battery, it all adds up. So if I have a bunch of little devices like this, I might actually drain the battery if it sat for a couple days.
For another, I can always check the temp. When I get in, I can check and see how hot (or cold) it actually is outside, without having to flip the key on. If I stop and turn off the engine, I can still watch the temp climb. (Speaking of, you'd be amazed at how hot it can get in the engine compartment after you turn off the engine.)
I'm sure I'll be mildly annoyed when the battery dies and I need to get a new one (or perhaps a whole new unit). But it should last a year or more before I run into that, so I'm not too worried about it.
Nice job, Gabe! I'll trade you my door mounted external digital thermometer (sensor wire already routed!) for your magic (e-locker) dial and system
If I ever swap in portals, I might consider that.
Naw...you messed up your door too much installing it.
- Thread starter
- #33
Gabe,
I too had trepidations about the batteries. My first set worked for about a month, then went kaput. Replaced, and still going strong for four months now. Have already picked up some goodies from RadioShack to make a 12v to 3v DC convertor when I have the time (One IC, plus a few resistors). Intend to plug that into the Acc circuit, so only on when Acc or Ign are on. Have also picked up a small LED which I may install for the "lighting". Will post that when done, so others can follow.
Steve
I too had trepidations about the batteries. My first set worked for about a month, then went kaput. Replaced, and still going strong for four months now. Have already picked up some goodies from RadioShack to make a 12v to 3v DC convertor when I have the time (One IC, plus a few resistors). Intend to plug that into the Acc circuit, so only on when Acc or Ign are on. Have also picked up a small LED which I may install for the "lighting". Will post that when done, so others can follow.
Steve
I have this one in Tencha and other one in Marilu .. both cheap and with backlight
I am about to install the same unit.
What does the orange wire do?
And where did you tap into the power circuit?
Oh, one more thing, what does the switch in the lower far left of your dash do?
TIA,
Tapage
Club 4X4 Panamá
damn you got me .. I can't remember but will check on her tomorrow to see ..
I have a fuse box ( bluesea ) at engine bay and a protected gauge circuit
Control my rear LED camping / backup light ..
- Thread starter
- #36
Bringing the thread back from the dead, and newly improved! Well, my original LCD temp gauge went with the ATM console when I converted to the Diesel and 5 Speed. So, I was looking on what to do to have an improved gauge. The conclusion, was a green LED combo 12v, clock, temp gauge replacement for the factory clock. It was a cheap one on Amazon, and I needed to add an extended sensor, but in the end it looks and works great. Modified the clock housing to make it all work. If folks are interested, I can post up more info.
Today the skies cleared from the storms, and my son was amazed that it read negative! Thank goodness for heated seats and a good heater.
Today the skies cleared from the storms, and my son was amazed that it read negative! Thank goodness for heated seats and a good heater.
