Installed Digital Outside Temperature and Voltmeter Gauges

[4Runner4Leon]

I installed one of those in the stock clock location on my old ‘96 a few years back and ran the temp probe to the hood latch support. There is an opening halfway up, and I stuck an adhesive backed piece of foam over the hole and poked the temp probe through it pointed forward. This kept the probe from touching anything metal and getting false readings. It would still read higher at a stop with no air flow, but that’s pretty much guaranteed to happen in just about any location. Driving just a couple mph would always give an accurate reading since the temp refresh rate on the display refreshed about every 5 seconds.

Yeah, I did more experimenting, and found that the entire front end area of the truck gets hotter at a long stop. Wheelwells, cowl, behind the bumper, all go up as much as 30F relative to actual ambient temperature. So I think I'll just accept not having any confidence in the numbers when idling at a traffic light. I might make one final attempt and see what the temps are like towards the rear of the truck, but I think that at a long enough standstill, there's too much convection and radiation to shield any sensor from that excess heat.

 

[4Runner4Leon]

lookin' good my man!

for gauges, check out www.powerwerx.com

before you order anything, let me know and i'll split shipping costs with you!!

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/2889282-post79.html

Thanks man! I'll take you up on this if my current gauges crap out. So far so good though .

 

[thenightman]

If temps hit triple didgets, does the decimal just disappear to make room? This is a cool mod. I have a limited, so I already have a temp gauge, but for this price I am thinking of putting one in my beater Corolla, just for the cool factor.

 

[4Runner4Leon]

If temps hit triple didgets, does the decimal just disappear to make room? This is a cool mod. I have a limited, so I already have a temp gauge, but for this price I am thinking of putting one in my beater Corolla, just for the cool factor.

Funny, you should ask, I just realized today that that's exactly what happens, which is why I would not cover up the last digit as I suggested earlier - you'll need it for the triple digit temps!

 

[Rockdawg84]

This is great! Now I need to begin to collect parts for another project. LOL

 

[turbodudey2]

I’m working on installing a very similar thermometer setup too. I got a mini LED thermometer from Amazon and a 10 meter length of k-type thermocouple wire.

Thanks for posting the info about engine bay heat soak. I’m also trying find a good location for accurate readings. I was thinking back near the rear quarter somewhere.

 

[4Runner4Leon]

Thanks for posting the info about engine bay heat soak. I’m also trying find a good location for accurate readings. I was thinking back near the rear quarter somewhere.

I ended up mounting the probe right behind the grille. That seems to be the best location - obviously plenty of air flow when moving, but also enough fresh air being sucked in by the fan to overcome the soak back when stopped at a light. I can be sitting still for several minutes and not see any increase in temperature, so that's good enough for me.

 

[calnhob]

As Tim would say "sick mod"! You need to package that up and starting selling.
-Wei

 

[calnhob]

Hey Leon, finally got my hands on a 99 Center Cluster Finish Panel with all the parts to do the conversion. Going to shoot a video of the process based on your post.

How did you 3D print the right side of the Center Cluster Finish Panel? I might have access to a 3D printer.

 

[diverscale]

top notch, pro job! WOW !! I love it

 

[4Runner4Leon]

Hey Leon, finally got my hands on a 99 Center Cluster Finish Panel with all the parts to do the conversion. Going to shoot a video of the process based on your post.

How did you 3D print the right side of the Center Cluster Finish Panel? I might have access to a 3D printer.

Sounds good, looking forward to your video!

I used my 3D printer to make the gauge holder - I can send you the CAD file if you want.

My digital temp gauge did finally give up the ghost, and unfortunately I couldn't find an identical replacement to save my life. So after hours of searching, I finally capitulated and bought the Celsius version of the gauge. It's a bit of an adjustment, but I just remember that 15C is 68F, then add/subtract 9F for every 5C - easy peasy .

 

[calnhob]

Sounds good, looking forward to your video!

I used my 3D printer to make the gauge holder - I can send you the CAD file if you want.

My digital temp gauge did finally give up the ghost, and unfortunately I couldn't find an identical replacement to save my life. So after hours of searching, I finally capitulated and bought the Celsius version of the gauge. It's a bit of an adjustment, but I just remember that 15C is 68F, then add/subtract 9F for every 5C - easy peasy .

Yeah, send me the CAD. I'll see if I can print it out. I use one of these temp guages, not as elegant as your solution but it works.

 

[4Runner4Leon]

Yeah, send me the CAD. I'll see if I can print it out. I use one of these temp guages, not as elegant as your solution but it works.

Sure - please PM me with your email address. Let me know what format you want for the file.