Temp gauge mod

[tonupteabag]

I am trying to find out if i can use the earlier mod for the 2nd gen on my KZN185 will it work or not? or has anyone got a write up for a KZN185 and what the resistor values need to be?.

[si tate]

I think that mod was just for the second gen but I could be wrong, most of us 3rd genners just add another temp gauge so you have 2 working together.

[BUSHWHACKER]

It'll be the same for the 3rd gen.
In fact the same for all Toyota temp gauges of the '90's.

[tonupteabag]

Cheers vince i'll get that done tomorrow, I was hoping it would be as i got five of each resistor needed so i have done the one on the 2nd gen and a spare temp gauge just in case it's needed, cheers for the input Si

[LCR225]

What gauge is that out of interest? I'm looking to put one in mine and thats the style I had in mind. Cheers.

[si tate]

What gauge is that out of interest? I'm looking to put one in mine and thats the style I had in mind. Cheers.

Got it from here.

http://www.rspec.co.uk/

[markp2]

I think this one is pretty much the same and a bit cheaper http://www.mcgillmotorsports.co.uk/i...&productId=890

[Bogus]

I think this one is pretty much the same and a bit cheaper http://www.mcgillmotorsports.co.uk/i...&productId=890

NO, NO, its not the same, the outer ring on the McGill one is temp, the numbers in the middle are volts, you dont want that one. Much better to have one with nice big numbers showing temp in the middle.

[biosurf]

Got it from here.

http://www.rspec.co.uk/

I have the same one. Nice and bright and visible.

I'll confess to having momentarily crapped myself once when I glanced over on the motorway to see it reading 137!!!

Then I noticed the decimal point between the 3 and the 7 (it toggles between water temp and voltage every now and again)

[Bogus]

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/New-52mm-DIGIT...item56449fe949

I got one of these, and would like to report that its just fine and dandy

[si tate]

I have the same one. Nice and bright and visible.

I'll confess to having momentarily crapped myself once when I glanced over on the motorway to see it reading 137!!!

Then I noticed the decimal point between the 3 and the 7 (it toggles between water temp and voltage every now and again)

Haha I did exactly the same thing, makes your heart skip a beat for a second.

Where did you connect the wire for your voltage reading, mine is to the ignition live but I'm getting erratic readings sometimes & it's not an earth problem.

[biosurf]

Tony was kind enough to fit for me and I'm not at home at the mo to have a gander.

[tonupteabag]

It'll be the same for the 3rd gen.
In fact the same for all Toyota temp gauges of the '90's.

Vince i need some advice if you can mate,
I have done the gauge modification and i am not getting the readings as accurate as the ones from here http://www.toyotasurf.asn.au/techsite/tempgauge.htm
The problem being is at 90 on the after market gauge i have fitted the stock gauge reads at 3/4's up the gauge when it should be halfway, any way i have checked on the similar mod for the 80 series land cruiser but they were using 56 ohm 3 watt 1% and a 110 3 watt 1% resistor, the mod for the surf uses 56 ohm 5 watt 5% and a 120 ohm 5 watt 5% resistor could it be the resistors i have got are cheap chinese ones and the tolerance is way off, as the ones used for the land cruiser are military specification and have little margin for error, or could the sender be at fault due to age? any idea's would be appreciated

[Apache]

Hi mate. Went to bed early last night which is why I didn't reply to your PM.

First thing, check the resistors are what they say they are with a DMM. If they are, and all else is correct, don't expect too much accuracy from the meter used to measure temperature. If its all working properly, use the position the gauge sits in with the mod fitted as your 'normal', and any significant deviations above that as 'ooer missus getting hot!'

TBH, given the low quality of standard fit automotive gauges and senders, I'm amazed that any two read the same! It would be possible to tweak the resistor values to make your gauge indication more where you want it, but it probably isn't worth the effort.

As far as using milspec resistors goes - not worth it, given the inaccuracy of the standard gauge.

[tonupteabag]

Hi mate. Went to bed early last night which is why I didn't reply to your PM.

First thing, check the resistors are what they say they are with a DMM. If they are, and all else is correct, don't expect too much accuracy from the meter used to measure temperature. If its all working properly, use the position the gauge sits in with the mod fitted as your 'normal', and any significant deviations above that as 'ooer missus getting hot!'

TBH, given the low quality of standard fit automotive gauges and senders, I'm amazed that any two read the same! It would be possible to tweak the resistor values to make your gauge indication more where you want it, but it probably isn't worth the effort.

As far as using milspec resistors goes - not worth it, given the inaccuracy of the standard gauge.

Cheers Andy, i don't think i'll bother messing about with it, it will be up for sale soon anyway so i'll leave it and explain to the new owner instead
cheers tony