Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Modifications General Mods Add-on idiot light for coolant temperature on v6?

With all the water pump failures on these engines the shortcomings of just having a temperature gauge becomes very apparent. The fact that it also has a separate wp belt (which can break without immediate warning) is also a concern. Most cars run the wp and alternator off of the serpentine belt so if that belt goes at least you will get alt idiot light on immediately, before car overheats.

Has anyone done a mod to add an idiot light in addition to, or in lieu of, the gauge?

If you dont watch the gauge, would you watch a tiny red light sooner?

Rigging one up would be simple once you found the voltage for a specific temperature range. You could even make it a buzzer or ignition kill if so inclined.

Personally I'll just watch my gauges until I remedy the problem of the stock pump.

Good point ... but with the stock temp gauge being so flaky, it seems like a good idea to build something like this.

IMHO, light is much more likely to attract attention in time. I thought of doing this also, to give me more warning in case the wp goes. Say monitor the head temp in a hot summer months and traffic, and then place the waning signal 15-20 degrees than the highest "normal" reading.

That's the beauty of idiot light it catches your attention, assuming you look at speedo frequently. Audible would be better of course.

Time from normal to danger temp, without coolant circulation, relatively short at highway speeds about 2 minutes (or 2 miles at 60mph). Impeller failure and wp belt failure have same result.

Haven't had time to think this thru' but I'm thinking that simple way would be to have fan relay work light (possibily low coolant light). Might require diode(s) or relay, but would also have to consider that a/c turns on fans.

Just look at the guage, i'm sorry but i don't see a need for something like this. I was taught to look at the gauge just about as much as you look at your speed. Sometimes more, sometimes less. If the serpentine belt goes, you would know b/c whole car would screw up. Gauges aren't super accurate though, so a good fix would be a thermostat that opens at lower temps and a device to measure actual temps of coolant and have guage for you to see. You could add a light, but that's just a waste of money and time.

I got lucky when my waterpump failed. I was at a light and I heard the fans kick on. Out of instinct I looked down at the temp guage and saw it skyrocketing towards the red. If I hadn't heard the fans turn on, I doubt I would have looked at the guage. Plus, once the pump quits, it doesn't take long for the motor to overheat. I'd probably see a red light that's in my field of view much quicker than a quickly moving temp guage heading towards the red.

Well alt light would come on and you lose power steering and a/c , but wp would still work 'cause it has separate belt.

SVTNupe
That was my experience also, which is why at highway speeds (therefore you can't hear) if fan comes on and works a light your attention would be drawn to gauges.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't the Zetec have the water pump driven by the serpentine belt, and not a seperate one?

True. However we are talking about the Duratec engine.