Just wondering if any of you ever got surprised by looking at your gauges and saw that the coolant temp creeped up on you when it was almost too late? I mean, sure as a driver you are supposed to be on top of all readings i.e. Oil Press, Oil Temp, Coolant Temp, Boost, EGT and so on and so on. But sometimes while paying attention things, you cant be 100% alert. Specially if some have their gauges in other places besided the gauge cluster or pillar.

Anyhow to get to the point. I would like to install a second Engine Coolant Temperature Switch with a higher temp setting than the stock switch. Some stock switches are set to have a closed circuit at about 196-203F which sends the signal to the fan relay which turns on the cooling fan.

Well the second ECT switch would be installed near the stock switch but with a higher temp setting and hooked up to a warning light (LED) in the gauge cluster. That way when you are driving and you happen to overlook your gauges, the second switch would reach its temp then warning light would go on and your attention would be drawn.

Not sure if all that made any sense but worth a thought and comments from you guys.

 

well how would you hook it up? Kind of like warning lights form Autometer and such?

 

If I recall correctly, the thermo switch that activates the fan completes a circuit to ground. You could just wire a warning light so that the B+ side is fed off the same circuit as the fan, and piggyback the ground side to the thermo switch. This would indicate when the fan comes on, whatever that temp may be. It sounds like you want a switch to close when the temp gets higher though. Like an 'oh ****' light. That would require another themo switch. Sorry I can't help with ideas for installing one.

Overall, and it doesn't satisfy your needs, I prefer an actual temp gauge over an idiot light.

 

I thought I had just the thing, but I checked a couple on-line parts places & couldn't find it.

1st gen Saab 900 has just what you want. The upper radiator hose is in 2 sections with a 'tee' in the middle. Cut about 1" out of your upper hose, put this tee in there with hose clamps. The branch of the tee is a fitting where you put a temperature switch. On the Saab the switch shuts off the AC when the temperature gets too high, so you'll have to use a radiator fan switch or something.

It's #12 in the picture, but they don't sell that part. (You could try a Saab dealer...$$$) #13 is a gasket & #14 is the switch.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Perfectionist &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">...Like an 'oh ****' light. That would require another themo switch. ...</TD></TR></TABLE>

LOL, Yah I guess that pretty much describes it in short. And yes the thermo switch would deff have to be for a higher setting than stock. Otherwise if I just tap off the stock one, then it would get pretty anoying having the light turn on everytime the fan turns on. But I know other cars have thermo switches with other temp settings. Thats why I ask you guys if you know of other vehicles diff switches.

 

-JimBlake, Thanks for that info. Using that tee souns like a good idea to put the thermo switch.

And, its a good tee to place in a coolant temp sensor for an Autometer gauge Two thumbs up from me bro.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by APEX CRX &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">well how would you hook it up? Kind of like warning lights form Autometer and such?</TD></TR></TABLE>

Sorry to leave you out bro. But yes, just like Perfectionist said it. All the switch does is make the connection to ground when the temp reaches its point. The LED (Any LED or Miniture Bulb) would be placed in the cluster. One lead would be connected always to the ignition hot wire. The other lead would go to the switches terminals. So when the temp gets too high (but not too high), the switch would make the connection to ground that the LED needs to light up.