Engine temp gauge

[nickdeck]

Anyone else wish the CX-5 had one? I know it's got the idiot light, but I like having an actual gauge to keep me aware of potential problems before they become extreme.

If there is an actual gauge and I've missed how to see it, please feel free to call me an idiot, as long as you also tell me where it's located.

 

[erhayes]

No Temperature gauge seems weird to me in a vehicle that is susposed to be a drivers Car. I want a real tempeture gauge and an oil pressure to.

 

[SayNoToPistons]

There is no point in having a factory water temp gauge as opposed to the blue/red coolant temp light we have now.

 

[paris1]

On the other hand, if Mazda had included temp and O/P guages on the CX-5, they would likely be no better than the ones used on the MX-5, which are not real guages at all, but rather vague indicators of whether the engine's vitals are within an acceptable range or not.

 

[CX-SV]

CX-5 has blue light and a 2 phase red light for temp warnings. For most drivers this is plenty of useful information without an inaccurate gauge. 12 months of ownership, still not missing it. All my other cars have temp gauges btw.

 

[xtrailman]

The new Rav4 can show the temperature on the built in screen, are you sure the cx5 doesn't have one, i find a temperature gauge useful when towing.

 

[nickdeck]

The reason I miss an actual gauge goes back to a '95 Mazda Millennia that I used to own. It had a gauge, and I would regularly glance at it to see what it read. Yes, it might not have been absolutely accurate, temp-wise. But I became used to where that needle usually sat. At some point, it started showing higher temps than usual, but not in the danger zone, which alerted me to something being abnormal. Took it to a mechanic, who determined that the radiator (after about 100,000 miles) needed to be replaced, it was clogged up beyond repair.

What that meant to me was that instead of the situation becoming worse and the car breaking down on the highway, I could do something about it before that happened.

It's not a huge deal, and I really don't expect problems from a brand new car, I'd just prefer to have a gauge. With all of the tech that's built into this car, I find it odd that they didn't include one.

 

[paris1]

The reason I miss an actual gauge goes back to a '95 Mazda Millennia that I used to own. It had a gauge, and I would regularly glance at it to see what it read. Yes, it might not have been absolutely accurate, temp-wise. But I became used to where that needle usually sat. At some point, it started showing higher temps than usual, but not in the danger zone, which alerted me to something being abnormal. Took it to a mechanic, who determined that the radiator (after about 100,000 miles) needed to be replaced, it was clogged up beyond repair.

What that meant to me was that instead of the situation becoming worse and the car breaking down on the highway, I could do something about it before that happened.

It's not a huge deal, and I really don't expect problems from a brand new car, I'd just prefer to have a gauge. With all of the tech that's built into this car, I find it odd that they didn't include one.

Consider this nickdeck, while there is a fair amount of "tech" in your GT (much of which you paid for by opting for that trim level), there is some serious cost cutting in evidence on the Sport and Touring models largely because of the manufacturing disadvantage Mazda has of only building cars in Japan where it must do continuous battle with the currency exchange rate. Compare this to the level of gadgetry Hyundai/Kia manage to stuff into thier cars and you begin to see the advantages of US manufacturing and favorable currency rates.

 

[CX-SV]

The reason I miss an actual gauge goes back to a '95 Mazda Millennia that I used to own. It had a gauge, and I would regularly glance at it to see what it read. Yes, it might not have been absolutely accurate, temp-wise. But I became used to where that needle usually sat. At some point, it started showing higher temps than usual, but not in the danger zone, which alerted me to something being abnormal. Took it to a mechanic, who determined that the radiator (after about 100,000 miles) needed to be replaced, it was clogged up beyond repair.

What that meant to me was that instead of the situation becoming worse and the car breaking down on the highway, I could do something about it before that happened.

It's not a huge deal, and I really don't expect problems from a brand new car, I'd just prefer to have a gauge. With all of the tech that's built into this car, I find it odd that they didn't include one.

Certainly a valid concern and good example.

Which is why the CX-5 warning lights would probably give the same type of helpful warning before breaking down (first the flashing red light warns of higher temps than usual, later the red light turns solid when problem becomes very serious).

 

[loximoto]

Probably my opinion will shock many guys here: last time a temperature gauge was useful to me was in 1985 with my Mini Morris. Since then, I've been taken a look at those kind of gauges maybe 10 times in the next 28 years and 6 cars I have owned , thus I can't say I miss it in my CX-5.

 

[sxa]

I think the current indicators are good enough, as it has been pointed out it will alert you when gets get abnormal before things really overheat and cause serious damage. Flashing red for my personally is something I will see faster then the temp gauge.

 

[nickdeck]

Certainly a valid concern and good example.

Which is why the CX-5 warning lights would probably give the same type of helpful warning before breaking down (first the flashing red light warns of higher temps than usual, later the red light turns solid when problem becomes very serious).

OK, thanks. I wasn't fully aware of the various conditions of the temp lights. Good to know.

 

[JohnJr]

I would notice the flashing lights before the gauge...so I am happy. That is one thing that annoyed me with Honda...their engine lights goes off to indicate oil change or maintenance. I would notice it immediately but then didn't know if their was a problem or just time to take it in.

 

[STE92VE]

I'll take the blue "cold" engine light any day over the total lack of engine temp indicator in the 2009 BMW.

 

[IHeartGroceries]

For those interested in seeing more precise engine peramters, perhaps look into some of the monitoring apps, such as Torque, and use them with a Bluetooth OBD-II scan tool and your mobile device.
Although, perhaps a little overkill for somebody who for some reason wants to monitor as something as boring and static as ECT.

No, but really. Engine temp. is only one of many useful PIDs availvable on scan tools.

 

[erhayes]

My CX 7 has a real temperature gauge and I can watch it go up and down.

 

[CX-SV]

My other cars have temperature gauges, I can watch them go up and down (even if I rarely do). The temp solution in the CX-5 is well designed to insure driver notices when the engine is not at ideal operating temperatures.

 

[CXVille]

Many vehicles with temp gauges (as others have indicated) are less than accurate, or as the manufacturers call them "buffered". If you want real temp gauges, get something that reads it out of the OBDII port, like the Torque app or the ScanGauge II.

 

[SayNoToPistons]

^ This, hence my first post (and same post in another thread. They are purely dummy gauges. Often it is too late when it pins the hot point.

 

[nickdeck]

Please re-read my earlier post. I'm not necessarily interested in the exact temp of the coolant. I'm interested to know if the temp is different than what the gauge usually shows, and any gauge will show that. A car's coolant temp should run pretty much the same all the time. If, for whatever reason, there's a change, I like to know it.

I have zero interest in hooking up something to the OBDII port, even if I knew where it was.