[davidag]

Wouldn’t it be easier to cut and t piece the hose and fit a secondary sensor for the temp and have conventional temp gauge somewhere on the dash as something like a caterham kit car might have from somewhere like demon tweeks????

That of course would work, but the new sensor would be down stream of the thermostat. OK, so you would soon get used to what 'normal' engine temperature would look like, but it would always be lower than the actual temp.

Regards

 

[Siriushardware]

The X50 Plus has arrived but I am going to wait until Saturday morning before I try it just in case it fritzes up the CANBUS. I don't really want to do that, but especially not when I am just about to go to work or leave work.

 

[Siriushardware]

Update: Deep breath and plugged the X50 Plus into the diagnostic socket without turning on the ignition. The unit powered up and tried connecting through every protocol / data rate combination it knew (a surprisingly long list) and then announced that it could not connect.

Attempt #2: Turn the key to the 'live' position first, where the dash lights and indicator comes on - with the OBD2 connector already plugged into the diagnostic socket, plug the USB-style connector on the other end of the cable into the unit - unit turned on and very quickly paired up with the car - a few steps through the display mode menu and it was showing the coolant temperature on the large digits, but in Fahrenheit.

Into the menus and there is a global setting for Imperial / Metric units - changed that from default Imperial to Metric and the unit now displays temperature in degrees Centigrade. I don't know whether the Metric / Imperial setting can be defined individually for each property but I suspect not, so for the UK where we like our temperature in Centigrade and our distances in Miles, this could be an awkward problem.

Long story cut short, I went out on quite a long journey today, stopped in several places so the car was turned off and on again several times, the display unit started up every time in the same display mode as I had left it in. When I turn the car off the display stays on for a length of time determined by its power-off timer setting which I have set to the shortest possible time.

I was interested to see that the temperature rose to about early eighties and then stayed there (and this is also what the temperature readout on the 'hidden' menu says). The fact that it goes to a specific temperature and stays within 2-3 degrees of that temp suggests that everything is normal (ie, thermostat working). My previous car (diesel Astra G) also hovered in the early eighties.

So, it's a provisional thumbs up for the X50 Plus, at least for this 2013 Corsa D Diesel. I can't guarantee that it will work with your specific version, so I advise buying from a supplier that you can return the unit to if necessary.

 

[SXI_1.2]

I use the gauge in the hidden menu my fan kicks in at 105c why use a separate gauge?

 

[davidag]

Update: Deep breath and plugged the X50 Plus into the diagnostic socket without turning on the ignition. The unit powered up and tried connecting through every protocol / data rate combination it knew (a surprisingly long list) and then announced that it could not connect.

Attempt #2: Turn the key to the 'live' position first, where the dash lights and indicator comes on - with the OBD2 connector already plugged into the diagnostic socket, plug the USB-style connector on the other end of the cable into the unit - unit turned on and very quickly paired up with the car - a few steps through the display mode menu and it was showing the coolant temperature on the large digits, but in Fahrenheit.

Into the menus and there is a global setting for Imperial / Metric units - changed that from default Imperial to Metric and the unit now displays temperature in degrees Centigrade. I don't know whether the Metric / Imperial setting can be defined individually for each property but I suspect not, so for the UK where we like our temperature in Centigrade and our distances in Miles, this could be an awkward problem.

Long story cut short, I went out on quite a long journey today, stopped in several places so the car was turned off and on again several times, the display unit started up every time in the same display mode as I had left it in. When I turn the car off the display stays on for a length of time determined by its power-off timer setting which I have set to the shortest possible time.

I was interested to see that the temperature rose to about early eighties and then stayed there (and this is also what the temperature readout on the 'hidden' menu says). The fact that it goes to a specific temperature and stays within 2-3 degrees of that temp suggests that everything is normal (ie, thermostat working). My previous car (diesel Astra G) also hovered in the early eighties.

So, it's a provisional thumbs up for the X50 Plus, at least for this 2013 Corsa D Diesel. I can't guarantee that it will work with your specific version, so I advise buying from a supplier that you can return the unit to if necessary.

This is very interesting, so thanks for posting it.

I would say that it is not too important as to what units the temperature is shown in - it wouldn't matter if it were shown in beans, just as long as you know how many beans it normally runs at.

Have you got round to mounting the unit yet? It would be interesting to hear where you have placed it - better still if you can provide a photograph.

Thanks again for taking the time to discuss this topic.

Regards

 

[Siriushardware]

why use a separate gauge?

Um, because I can't be bothered to do the three presses / one long press and then several more presses at the start of every single journey, nor should I have to, GM should have provided a coolant temperature gauge right on the dash. As I explained in the first post I have had some narrow escapes on past cars with complete loss of coolant which were only caught in time because I immediately noticed that the temperature gauge was acting abnormally.

David, you're right that the indicated units don't matter too much as long as there is a relative reading which you can get the feel of as 'normal' so that you then notice when it suddenly isn't normal, but, small stuff like that irritates me. I'm used to looking at the temp in cars in degrees C so it would annoy me if I could not set it to degrees C.

I haven't 'installed' it as such and won't until I am completely happy that it does what it does with no unacceptable quirks. I was thinking that if I do install it I will put it just in front of the triangular grille section on the top centre of the dash because that little triangular grille is just a clip-fit and I could remove a small rectangular section from the edge of it to let the cable pass down through and then go down behind the radio unit etc to emerge beside the diagnostic socket which is just above the cup holders in front of the gearstick. (The supplied cable is quite long). If I ever wanted to remove the unit and restore the original appearance the only thing I would have to replace would be the little triangular grille.

 

[SXI_1.2]

Doesn't the Corsa have a high temperature warning light?

I have never had a complete coolant loss in any car I have owned 40 years driving) small water leaks yes but not complete loss, if you feel the need to fit a gauge fair enough but for me an occasional check using the hidden menue to make sure the fan is working and a visual check of the coolant level is enough for peace of mind.

 

[Siriushardware]

I have never had a complete coolant loss in any car

Unfortunately I have, so you may be able to begin to appreciate my paranoia in this respect.

Doesn't the Corsa have a high temperature warning light?

Yes, but, here's the thing. The coolant temperature sensor sits directly in the flow of the coolant so it can measure its temperature, as you would expect.

In the event of complete coolant loss there is no coolant for the sensor to measure the temperature of, so there will be no high temperature warning. For a human observer keeping an eye on the gauge, the clue comes from the fact that the indicated temperature fails to rise within the usual time or drops suddenly, if the loss occurs while driving.

 

[SXI_1.2]

I have looked through the forum and it seems we have a low coolant warning light and a coolant temperature warning light so there should be plenty of warning if something starts to go wrong, you prefer an extra gauge and that's fine i just wanted to let members know total loss of coolant is a rarity and in 99% of cases it would be gradual triggering the in built warnings.

So a few weeks ago I was going down the motor way only doing 60 and my coolant temp light started flashing. Pulled over and there was coolant in the engine bay and my fan had kicked in. I had some coolant with me luckily so I let it cool down for 15 minutes on the hard shoulder topped up and away I went nothing happened then. Today just been coming home not going fast or anything and my light flashed on again for about 10 seconds and went off. Pulled over again and the coolant was fine and the fan hadn't even kicked in.
Anyone had anything like this? Me dad thinks it might be the coolant pump not pumping round proper. Could it be the coolant tank screw cap? That's the only way I can think it got in the engine bay last time if air got on the coolant system and it's allowed it to boil.

Which light is it? The light to tell you its overheating or the light to tell you its low on water?

 

[Siriushardware]

I have looked through the forum and it seems we have a low coolant warning light

If that's true it seems a sensible move especially on a car which doesn't have a permanent gauge. I'll see if I can find out where that warning light is. Doesn't stop me from wanting a gauge though

 

[SXI_1.2]

I may be getting the oil and water warnings mixed up the first picture is the coolant temperature warning the second is low oil.

ENGINE OIL PRESSURE
1. The oil can picture with the line underneath illuminates yellow whilst driving to signify low engine oil level. Oil level should be topped up. See how to check engine oil for further information.
Image 2. illuminates when the ignition is switched on and extinguishes after a few seconds. If oil light (2) illuminate whilst driving, it signifies low oil pressure and lubricant in the engine is interrupted. This may damage the engine. Stop the car safely and turn off engine immediately. Check oil levels and if satisfactory seek technical assistance.

 

[Siriushardware]

Looking in the manual specific to my car year, this is the only item I can find about the coolant warning light, the 'thermometer' just under the fuel gauge as you say...

The structure of the manual is a bit disjointed, I have removed the entries before and after the item about the coolant warning light for clarity. While it does mention the high temperature warning it does not make any mention of a companion low temperature or low coolant level warning. If they aren't there, well, the low temp warning would be easy for the ECU to do with the existing resources, all it would have to do is 'notice' that the coolant temperature measurement is low when the engine has been running for >5 minutes, or that it is low when the engine has been running for at least the past five minutes. That would be enough reason to generate a warning.

Electronically speaking it would be relatively easy for GM to have incorporated a coolant low level detector at the design stage, it is a pity they did not.

 

[davidag]

If there is a low coolant level warning, I would imagine the sensor would be in the reservoir, I can't remember seeing one, but next time I have the car out of the garage, I will have a look.
Blessings

 

[caaa]

There is nothing in the coolant tank because I changed mine recently because it was very dirty and I didn't find anything.

 

[Siriushardware]

I can't find any reference in my 2013 manual to a coolant temperature low warning indicator or a coolant level low indicator, only to coolant temperature high which is the one which lights up under the fuel gauge during the ignition-on sequence. Of course these cars had quite a long production run and maybe very late versions of the 'D' did incorporate something like this.

davidag, since caaa and myself have now successfully tried one of these in our respective Corsas (and nothig exploded and the car didn't throw a fit) does that make you any more inclined to try one as well?

 

[davidag]

I can't find any reference in my 2013 manual to a coolant temperature low warning indicator or a coolant level low indicator, only to coolant temperature high which is the one which lights up under the fuel gauge during the ignition-on sequence. Of course these cars had quite a long production run and maybe very late versions of the 'D' did incorporate something like this.

davidag, since caaa and myself have now successfully tried one of these in our respective Corsas (and nothig exploded and the car didn't throw a fit) does that make you any more inclined to try one as well?

I'm rather too busy to do so at the moment, but will have a go later in the year - I do like your idea of mounting the unit. Is the display large enough to be seen so far away though? If it is, this has to be the ideal place to fix it to.
Blessings

 

[davidag]

There is nothing in the coolant tank because I changed mine recently because it was very dirty and I didn't find anything.

I had a quick look at my own, and agree that there is nothing there, or, as said above, no mention of it in the hand book.
Blessings

 

[Jezzasin]

I've got a small cheap Bluetooth dongle in the obd port and have torque Pro running on an old phone keeping an eye on temps that way till I get some gauges put in as it's a pretty dumb idea not to include a visible one on the dash

Sent from my ELS-NX9 using Tapatalk

 

[Siriushardware]

Is the display large enough to be seen so far away though?

When shown on the main numeric field the temperature digits are (rough guess) about 2.0 to 2.5cm high so yes, easily.

 

[davidag]

When shown on the main numeric field the temperature digits are (rough guess) about 2.0 to 2.5cm high so yes, easily.

Thanks for that