MR2 Roadster Owners Club

The Workshop => Audio / Security / Electrical => Topic started by: mulaz on July 27, 2014, 14:30

Title: Dashboard Temperature clock Mod
Post by: mulaz on July 27, 2014, 14:30
Got myself a spare dash clock and fitted a £6 temperature gauge from ebay into it
 m http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/400503383824? ... 1439.l2649 (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/400503383824?var=670103420475&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649) m

the probe is fitted under the front bonnet next to the bulkhead... and yes that was the temp yesterday. Hottest i have know here in durham

(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5588/14570377008_8ac311ce4e.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/ocwZsG)10525750_10152594932439491_42537860275983048_n (https://flic.kr/p/ocwZsG) by jarrow mulaz (https://www.flickr.com/people//), on Flickr
Title: Re: Dashboard Temperature clock Mod
Post by: Anonymous on July 27, 2014, 16:01
I would have thought mounting it on the front bulkhead would be a bit like putting it in an oven, this would give the exceptionally hight reading you have, is there any place to mount the sensor to give a more accurate reading? somewhere nearer the outside but away from the air flow and enclosed space under the bonnet which gets very warm.

Liking the idea though   s:wink: :wink: s:wink:
Title: Re: Dashboard Temperature clock Mod
Post by: mulaz on July 27, 2014, 16:18
Yes Les you are right it does act as a oven
but i have found it to be near as dam it when driving and also when temps are normal uk temperatures.

wanted to do this mod as a warning of ice in the winter months

Will mess around with this with another unit as they are as cheap as chips to buy
may extend the probe as it is only around 0.5m and try placing it behind front bumber
Title: Re: Dashboard Temperature clock Mod
Post by: Joesson on July 27, 2014, 16:27
I also like your idea. Good thinking!
An indicated temp.gain would likely be due to the greenhouse /oven effect within a closed space.
Behind the front bumper is a good thought also how about in the plastic section in front of the windscreen, this would be a shorter cable run.
Some questions:
Which size / colour display did you get?
Are the OE clock push buttons now redundant?
Title: Re: Dashboard Temperature clock Mod
Post by: mulaz on July 27, 2014, 17:55
i used the 0.36" in yellow without shell and found them to be a perfect match to the original colour.

when i 1st did the mod i managed to get the 2 right buttons to adjust time / function
but when messing around the buttons stopped working and the unit stopped on temperature only.

Not that bothered as i have a clock on my double din head unit. but going to do it again and get it working so i can swap back to time

if i was to do this again.
pull off heater knobs
pull face plate off
remove clock and open up
just a few clips
gut clock of all electronics

Cut open the clock back as temperature unit is just slightly thicker
and use heat glue gun to stick all back together  s:) :) s:)
Title: Re: Dashboard Temperature clock Mod
Post by: Joesson on July 27, 2014, 18:27
Thanks for that Mulaz.
Title: Re: Dashboard Temperature clock Mod
Post by: Anonymous on July 27, 2014, 19:27
Nice mod!

A lot of car have the sensor in the wing mirror housing
Title: Re: Dashboard Temperature clock Mod
Post by: mulaz on July 27, 2014, 20:46
unit glued onto original board after removing display
Found that i couldn't get the smoked display back on
 (https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2917/14573343380_7d64b7c714.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/ocNcg3)20140619_063927[1] (https://flic.kr/p/ocNcg3) by jarrow mulaz (https://www.flickr.com/people//), on Flickr


Button that adjust display setting
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5577/14573584957_08e6acac6f.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/ocPr5a)20140619_062202[1] (https://flic.kr/p/ocPr5a) by jarrow mulaz (https://www.flickr.com/people//), on Flickr

best would be remove all original electronic then glue in the new unit

(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3890/14574074697_4fca5fbe07.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/ocRWDX)20140727_205719[1] (https://flic.kr/p/ocRWDX) by jarrow mulaz (https://www.flickr.com/people//), on Flickr
Title: Re: Dashboard Temperature clock Mod
Post by: Fin on August 18, 2014, 20:51
Saw this, liked the idea and had a go myself   s:D :D s:D  
Pretty happy with the result, but I have found one strange thing which is probably (for that read definitely) me not being able to work out the wiring   s:evil: :evil: s:evil:  
I have taken the original clock out completely, and replaced with a flat piece of perspex (I wanted blue). Everything seems OK, except that the clock is permanently "on", even when the ignition is off   s:? :? s:?  
It comes with a red wire (live) a black wire (earth) and a green wire (I don't know!!). If I connect it to the far left (earth) and far right connectors (live), it works but the display is constantly on? No other combination seems to work   s:( :( s:(  
Anyone got any ideas?
Title: Re: Dashboard Temperature clock Mod
Post by: mikews on August 18, 2014, 20:53
Could you take the live feed from something that's ignition live I.e cigar lighter ?
Title: Re: Dashboard Temperature clock Mod
Post by: Fin on August 18, 2014, 21:16
That is definitely an option, and I had considered it. I've already extended the sensor wires so I can put it in the void behind the nearside scuff plate inside the wing.
So I guess it's no hardship to extend the live as well.
Title: Re: Dashboard Temperature clock Mod
Post by: Fin on August 19, 2014, 12:58
Took the live feed from the stereo switched live in the end. Nice and easy.
If anyone does this, and wonders what the green wire is for... it's for the voltage reading  s:D :D s:D
I think I may have to re-make mine sometime though, I'm not happy with the way the glue (goshdarn that superglue!!!) has marked the front (usual acetate problem).
Otherwise, a fantastic idea for a mod. Well done Mulaz   s:bowdown: :bowdown: s:bowdown:
Title: Re: Dashboard Temperature clock Mod
Post by: Dougster7 on August 30, 2014, 20:57
I like this mod! Great idea  s:) :) s:)  I had a look at it on eBay and wonder how you toggle between temp and time as the buttons would be behind the dash panel? How did you do this?
Title: Re: Dashboard Temperature clock Mod
Post by: Fin on August 30, 2014, 21:28
Mulaz was clever enough to rewire his, as shown in post 8 above.
I wanted a blue finish, so I glued in a new flat front. (I'm useless with a soldering iron!)