Interior Exterior
Q:
I am the 74 year-old grandmother who owns and drives a new Elise. I find it impossible to read the water temp. gauge in the day . I would like to fit an aftermarket water temp and possibly an oil temp or pressure gauge . I've just had the awful Touring Pack radio/CD removed with the Porsche Bin in its place- very happy (saved 10 pounds). I was thinking the dash top speaker would be the place to put the new gauge binnacle in. Would be grateful for any help.
A:
The water gauge in the Elise is super sensitive and reads water temperature better than any gauge I've ever owned. It is a little tricky to read but if it gets too hot (like you forgot to put water in the car, as I once did) it will blink and you will hear the double fans come on in the front of the car.
But if you prefer....call your Lotus mechanic for advice.
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Gauges in the air vents maybe?
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It'll change the whole look of the Elise dash...
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I like having the new gauges in the trickster bracket (available from blackwatchracing). I also installed a lit up analog clock in there, because my radio has such a small one I could not see it. I have a SPA Design Oil Temp and Oil Pressure gauge along with the clock.
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Here's the cleanest I've seen - gauges in the center air vents (scroll through the thread for some ideas):
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I like having the new gauges in the trickster bracket (available from blackwatchracing). I also installed a lit up analog clock in there, because my radio has such a small one I could not see it. I have a SPA Design Oil Temp and Oil Pressure gauge along with the clock.
Pics ?
A:
I have trouble seeing the temperature and also the radio display too due to the glare. If I wear dark sunglasses it is even worse.
I wore polarized fishing glasses that you use to see fish thru water once when driving my other car with a LED display and it made the colors all rainbow like, but everything else looked normal, it was really strange.
It got me wondering......Does anyone know if wearing a certain color tint of sunglasses would make it easier to read the gauges or if their is a way to replace the background color of the LED display so that their is more contrast. During the day the display is always washed out.
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Pics ?
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I concluded you just can't see the LCD stuff with sunglasses. Get used to peering over them to see, or use different gauges.
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I have both the SPA Design gauge in the air vent and the gauge bracket in front of the console.
The console gauges are readable but you do really have to take your eyes off the road and move your head to see them.
The SPA gauge is right there and only requires a glance.
For important information I would use the SPA gauge. I believe you can configure them in any combination. You could do a water temp/oil pressure which is pretty much all you need for the street and the sensors for these are fairly easy to do. Getting the cables to the vent is time consuming so be prepared for a bill approaching $1k including the gauge.
Contact SPA Design USA.
http://www.spatechnique.com/
They are very helpful, can answer all of your questions and custom fabricate the harnesses in the proper length.
p.s. I have trouble reading the OE temp gauge as well as the idiot light functions and I'm many years your junior.
I concluded you just can't see the LCD stuff with sunglasses. Get used to peering over them to see, or use different gauges.
I believe you can adjust the contrast and backlight on the SPA gauge. Never had a problem but then again I have the hardtop on.
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Since nearly all sunglasses are polarised as are the LCD's you're out of luck there, its not the colours hiding it,.. if the sunglasses aren't polarised they're not much good.
a backlight might help a tad, but unlikely, LCD's suck for cars. OLEDs baby.
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Ahhhh, sunglasses....I was thinking sunlight.
Not as important in the East. And my eyes aren't as sensitive to light as they used to be.
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I have a friend that installed a three-gauge panel in place of his radio. If I remember correctly, the gauges are Autometer and he had water temp, oil pressure, and oil temp gauges installed. Since you already have removed your radio, this might be an alternative if you don't mind also losing the Porsche box (sacrilege anyway ). If you're interested, I'll see if I can get a picture of his installation this weekend.
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LCDs and sunglasses are usually polarized in the same direction. I don't have any trouble reading the gauges unless I cock my head at an angle.
Have you guys tried turning up the brightness?
Likewise with the radio. I have godawful muddy yellow as the color, but the contrast is excellent.
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Likewise with the radio. I have godawful muddy yellow as the color, but the contrast is excellent.
The owner's manual says to set the radio color to match your instrument panel lighting so it doesn't look QUITE so aftermarket.
xtn
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I have a friend that installed a three-gauge panel in place of his radio. If I remember correctly, the gauges are Autometer and he had water temp, oil pressure, and oil temp gauges installed. Since you already have removed your radio, this might be an alternative if you don't mind also losing the Porsche box (sacrilege anyway ). If you're interested, I'll see if I can get a picture of his installation this weekend.
I wanted to use a windshield pillar for same guages. How did he do his instaltion.
mort
Carnutdr@yahoo.com
A:
I have a friend that installed a three-gauge panel in place of his radio. If I remember correctly, the gauges are Autometer and he had water temp, oil pressure, and oil temp gauges installed. Since you already have removed your radio, this might be an alternative if you don't mind also losing the Porsche box (sacrilege anyway ). If you're interested, I'll see if I can get a picture of his installation this weekend.
I've removed my radio too, and plan to put gauges in its place. I have some ideas of how to mount the gauge panel into the radio opening, but I'd like to see his solution to see if it's simpler than mine. I plan to use a 1/8" thick plate of brushed aluminum to mount the gauges, but the tricky part is attaching the plate to the dash somehow. I'm planning on oil pressure & oil temp, still undecided on the third gauge.
Francis
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add a oil pressure wsrning light.....it is more usefull than the rest because when you are driving fast, the last thing one is looking at is a gauge.
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add a oil pressure wsrning light.....it is more usefull than the rest because when you are driving fast, the last thing one is looking at is a gauge.
That's a good idea. Might be nice if it pulsed on and off to catch my attention, too.