No Temp Gauge on V

[The Edge]

Just noticed that today as I picked up my Versa. I read about the overheat(red) and Cold(blue) indicator lights but that's very strange not to have a temp gauge especially on a SL

[BenzTech Gone Versa]

Yea. Its gonna stay blue when you start the engine until its at a specified temp. and the blue lighht goes out.when red ......stop engine you are overheating!Very simple system,wish it had a gauge!

[motoguy128]

I think it saves on dash clutter and a little blue light is pretty idiot proof and more repeatable. Its easier than watching for a particular mark on a little gauge. I know that I don't get full heat in the winter until the light is blue.

[Ever Victorious]

Not idiot proof enough for me. A so-called "idiot" would probably not know that it is abnormal if the blue light comes on after the vehicle is up to temperature. Someone who has driven old, high-mileage cars with analog temp gauges knows that if your car gets up to temp, then your temp gauge plummets, it's as severe as if it spikes.

[Jaesin]

My good friend who bought the car asked me a week or so after I got it, "Does your washer fluid light come on each time you start the car? I need to get that checked out."

Heh, had to explain to her that the oil temp is cold. We got a good laugh out of it.

[JPack]

It's another way for Nissan to save a few bucks.

I'd rather them not put in the block heater and have a proper gauge instead.

[Clipsed]

My good friend who bought the car asked me a week or so after I got it, "Does your washer fluid light come on each time you start the car? I need to get that checked out."

Heh, had to explain to her that the oil temp is cold. We got a good laugh out of it.

LMFAO DOH! I bet she felt silly and turned red when you guys told her huh!

[The Edge]

I think it saves on dash clutter and a little blue light is pretty idiot proof and more repeatable. Its easier than watching for a particular mark on a little gauge. I know that I don't get full heat in the winter until the light is blue.

I thought when the light is blue that means that the engine is cold so how do you get full heat when the blue light is on.

[Ever Victorious]

I thought when the light is blue that means that the engine is cold so how do you get full heat when the blue light is on.

Typo, probably.

Although I do know a case where you'll get full heat for a little while if the bulb is blue.

If your coolant return hose from your heater block is blown or leaking.

The hot water will get to your heater block, but not back to your thermostat.

[proxim2020]

I wish I did have the gauge. I'm coming for a car that blew a water pump, radiator, and a few hoses so I would like to know what the temp is doing. Although the car had a temp gauge it wasn't accurate, probably due to age. It would be nice if I could keep an eye on the temps to see if it jumps around or stay constant.

[motoguy128]

I thought when the light is blue that means that the engine is cold so how do you get full heat when the blue light is on.

Sorry, I mistyped, I meant that full heat is available when the blue light goes off.

I think the temperature gauge in this car is a little different than older vehicels. I think the blue light and red light are determined by the ECU. It would recieve a temperature on the engine side of the coolant loop before ht thermostat, not on the radiator side. The thermostat might also be electronically controlled.

I would think the white smoke bellowing out behind the car in the event of a burst coolant line would be an adequate indicator you have a problem. I don;t need a needle to tell me that. I would challenge that you'd notice a needle climbing the scale rapidly, before you'd see the red light. When the red light comes on, I suspect hte ECU goes into limp mode and retards the ignition, lowers the rev limiter and richens the mixture to help cool the motor and reduce the load.

[proxim2020]

In all of my cases, never did I see a trail of white smoke. As to coolant leaked out, you could only see a slight rise in temp. This was on the highway. Each time I would pull over, slow down, get off the freeway, then I would start to see the climb and know something was wrong. Then I would shut the engine off, put the car in neutral, and cruise until I came to a stop in hopes of stopping the damage slightly until I stopped to look at what's going on. Also, an attentive driver would easily notice the temp if it moved slightly. I check my gauges constantly, about every 2 or 3 secs. This would be dependent on gauge size. My Honda's temp gauge was a decent size, I think an inch and a half so you could easily see spikes or falls.

[Slither]

I pop the hood every few weeks and check the resevoir level. I have an earlier V and correct coolant level is marked on bottle by green pen! Seems it wasn't molded on the plastic.

Worth doing a visual cause V's engine all-aluminium(?) easily damaged by overheating...

<<<play it safe like a Cadillac Northstar owner and check your fluid levels often>>>
Modified by Slither at 4:10 PM 4/15/2007

[Ever Victorious]

I would think the white smoke bellowing out behind the car in the event of a burst coolant line would be an adequate indicator you have a problem. I don;t need a needle to tell me that. I would challenge that you'd notice a needle climbing the scale rapidly, before you'd see the red light. When the red light comes on, I suspect hte ECU goes into limp mode and retards the ignition, lowers the rev limiter and richens the mixture to help cool the motor and reduce the load.

I too did not notice white smoke "billowing" out. I saw a whisp of white smoke, which could have (and was) easily mistaken for normal water vapor on this sub-freezing day that my particular problem occurred. My only indication was that the temp gauge suddenly went from normal to 0 in a matter of a little over a minute and my heater suddenly started blowing ice cold air.

Why did I not see or smell anything? Because I was doing 65MPH, and my air was on recirculate with the windows up. When the coolant was leaking, it dropped directly on the cat, and was vaporized nearly instantly. And in the time it took the car to pass the 10 feet from the cat to the tail pipe, the air turbulence under the car dissipated the cloud.

[proxim2020]

So what does it take to slow down a Dodge? One of these numbers

http://www.texastinkle.com/Ima...3.jpg http://www.texastinkle.com/Ima...4.jpg http://www.texastinkle.com/Ima...5.jpg

This is what I got last night about a 10th of a mile from home. I was sooo close to making it! That's my upper radiator hose with a nice 6in split. It was dark out and I didn't see any smoke, but I did see the little needle rising slowly above it's normal level. I immediately shutdown the truck but let the acc power on so I could signal my way off the highway. About 10 secs after I shut off the engine, the truck finally dinged to let me know the temp was too high. I have AAA so I got towed home the rest of the way. There's no way I could push that truck or steer without PS. The tow truck guy laughed because it was the shortest tow of the day.

[Clipsed]

I have AAA so I got towed home the rest of the way. There's no way I could push that truck or steer without PS. The tow truck guy laughed because it was the shortest tow of the day.

DUDE YOU COULDN'T DO IT WITHOUT PS!!??? No way, I drive cars without PS all the time, my friends take em off their riced out cars so they can go faster with less play. But yea it is pretty hard pushing without PS.

[proxim2020]

It's a very very heavy truck, over 5,000 lbs with 285's on the wheels. The tow truck guy pulled it on the flatbed a little and tried to adjust the wheels. He was yanking on it trying to get the wheels to turn and then turn to me and said "Wow, that's some hardcore steering." I almost ran into a car on the other side of the road when I turned off because I could barely turn the beast with the PS off. Two guys can get it rolling, but to takes the same amount of people to turn the wheel.

[Clipsed]

haha o0o ok I see!