Engine temp alarm

Dedman

Dedman

Forum Member
Joined
Dec 3, 2012
Messages
766
Location
Perth Western Australia
Car Year
1999
Car Model
Forester
Transmission
5MT
I am very interested in some kind of audible warning for my sf forester when the engine temp goes higher than normal.
I was out four wheel driving when my water pump shat itself and I only noticed the temp in the red after a long technical hill climb :eek: who knows how much of that hill climb it was in the red for....
When driving technical stuff offroad it is very easy to miss the temp rising as I am usually pretty focused on the terrain. This makes me thing an audible warning for high temp would be very useful. Im not sure why manufactures do not have such a thing from factory....

Has anyone though about how one would do this or have done this to their vehicle?

Cheers
Dedman
 
https://offroadsubarus.com/archive/index.php/t-630.html

https://www.ausubaru.com/forum/showthread.php?p=118258

https://www.4x4earth.com.au/forum/electrical/23522-how-install-engine-temperature-sensor.html

-----------------

https://www.arb.com.au/products/arb-battery-systems-power-solutions/redarc-management-systems/

LCA1224.jpg
 
A "high temp" adio alarm would be a good idea, not sure how to go about it. Perhaps idw can come up with something.

PigSti said:
https://www.arb.com.au/products/arb-battery-systems-power-solutions/redarc-management-systems/

LCA1224.jpg
Click to expand...

This is an excellent "low coolant alarm", used to show if you split a hose, etc, making the engine dump the coolant. Usually if this happens by the time you notice the gauge either showing in the red (steam produced) or in the blue (sensor out of water & not reading), the damage is done.

The best way to install the sensor for this is with a sensor adapter in the top radiator hose, bit like a sleeve with a threaded hole in it.
 
bit behold me, could use a thermo fan's probe (or diode depends what type). then you'd need to screw around working out what change in resistance equals what temp, and then probably use a small logic board to trip a relay to trip a buzzer. There's already products that do that though, I've seen them on trucks. Could also use the engine temp reading from the obd II to trigger for a set reading using an arduino board (think altronics has an obdii arduino kit, there's plenty of open source software)

But doesn't the dash have an overheat warning light? easy enough just to have that trigger a buzzer and tap the back of the loom. A combination of a heat triggered alarm + pressure switch would be ideal, I'll give a mate a call he's a truck driver, you can have all sorts of weird warning gauges and crap in prime movers.

As for installing a sensor, the last couple of thermo fans i put on cars, just poked the sensor probe under the hose and put the clamp back on

EDIT: reading one of those threads pigsti posted, had a good point to monitor oil temp for an alarm instead (from el_freddo)

https://www.jaycar.com.au/productView.asp?ID=KG9140, can just attach that to the block/head

https://www.jaycar.com.au/productView.asp?ID=KC5376
 
Last edited:
Thanks for the links Pigsti, I am liking the look of that low coolant alarm. But will be investigating further

idw said:
Could also use the engine temp reading from the obd II to trigger for a set reading using an arduino board
Click to expand...

I dont think that our foresters are actually obd II compliant. The US ones are as they had to be by law which is the reason why they have the ej25 in them
 
The SG is definitely OBD II, the SF series 1 is definitley OBD I, not sure what the later SF is...very disappointed a ScanGauge wont work on ours :(
 
i think the sf5 facelift model (yours) is. I'll borrow my mates scan gauge and we can check if you want. The second jaycar kit is the easiest option i'd think.
 
^Sounds like a plan. I have never got anything out of the OBD port whenever I have hooked stuff to it and it only seems to have about 4 wires going to it.
 
I read somewhere it use's some subaru only protocol on mine, dunno though. Make a copper crimp to go around the probe, and attach the probe to the block that way, don't copper anything the the probe that'll wreck it. The copper will give you a better heat reading between the block and probe as well.
 
Last edited:
yarney said:
I have one of there in all of my cars mine is TM2.
The good thing about it is you don't need to touch any hoses or radiator and is quick to install

Jan
Click to expand...

I had an UltraGauge (uses the OBDII port) fitted to my XS Forester but never used the alarm feature built into it, I just had the temp set as the main gauge on Page 1.

UltraGauge features fully configurable alarms for every gauge. Both low and high alarms may be set and the trigger value of each alarm is completely configurable.
UltraGauge continually compares real-time gauge values against configured alarm values. If the alarm thresholds have been exceeded, an audio and visual alarm will occur.
The alarm window will display the set value and the current value. While the alarm is occurring, the particular alarm may be easily suspended and will no longer trigger for the remainder of the current driving cycle.
The alarm siren may also be disabled to provide only visual alarms. Alarms may also be globally disabled so that both visual and audible alarms are disabled.
An alarm may also be assigned to trouble codes or pending codes. Should a trouble code or pending code become posted while driving, an alarm immediately occurs.
This can aid in the diagnosis of intermittent problems.
Click to expand...
 
NachaLuva said:
Do you know if this will work on an SF Forester?
Click to expand...

If you have an OBDII port and the vehicle is OBDII certified then it should work, I can't stick my neck out say it will work as I no knowledge of the SF model.

I did however find this via a Google Search:

I wouldn't bother with OBD2, if your'e car doesnt have a 2nd oxygen sensor or the intake air temp sensor, it wont be OBD 2
Click to expand...
I bought an ebay code reader and it wouldnt connect to my car. I read somewhere that in Australia, non turbo Subarus didnt get OBDII till around 2004, turbo models got it around 1999, but ive read conflicting articles also.

In the GenIII FSM, it describes the use of SSM (subaru select monitor), but nothing about OBDII
Click to expand...
Gannon or RSR555 on the AUSubaru Forum might be able to help you out further as one of the replies above is from Gannon.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top