I haven't found where anyone has investigated modifying the oil and water gauges built into the dash for accurate readouts. This has been done on other cars that have the same type of blunted results we get to make a proper gauge.

Does anyone know where Mazda is messing with the signal ? Such as, does the sender operate in a linear fashion but the ECU or gauge doesn't ? We got around this in VW turbos by finding a new sender and adding a component to the dash gauge.

Thanks.

 

off the top, i think the oil pressure we could, i think mazda has a real gauge, and they just used a switch, so if we put a sender in, it would work.

the coolant temp gauge i do not know. its either a centering circuit, like the older mazda's or the signal comes via the ecu?

i could be wrong, BTW. it should be easy to figure out

 

I got around the coolant one with a GOODbox, wish I could do something like this for the oil pressure gauge...

 

They are dummy gauges dummy. And this topic has been discussed, to death.

 

9k,

I was recently digging into this same topic for the NB Miata, and they are successful. (Turning the NB oil pressure gaug)

I suppose the further advancement of our cluster makes this method not feasible?

 

Yeah the Miata guys were able to make it work but our cluster is much more complicated. But we can get Paimon right on that and see what he can figure out .

Plus, IIRC the Miata guys have to take apart the cluster and rewind the motor or some **** right? Either way, it would have the potential to be a total disaster on such an expensive cluster. All just to get oil pressure which is essentially a useless gauge really. If you lose oil pressure, you will be screwed anyway by the time you noticed it on the gauge.

 

they were able to "linearize" i think its called the gauges on the FD, but thats ancient technology lol. most people said it wasnt really worth the hassle anyway.

 

Stop with the attacks guys. Both sides could use a dose of understanding.

I cleared out the personal stuff. OP, if you want to use this as current discussion as you attempt it, feel free to continue this thread.

Discussions regarding the advisability or viability must remain civil or I will close it down.

 

I find that it's much EASIER and COOLER to just install a set of Defi gauges ... it beats ANYTHING Mazda can offer and it's more accurate.

only downside is cost, Defi is NOT cheap. but they are good.

 

Yes sir.

Some of the gauge solutions look very nice and expense is not the issue. I would just like to keep everything in the car functional as it is. If I want other gauges like a wideband or oil temp I'd like to leave areas for those.

To shorten the question based on what I now know, has anyone checked the CANBUS output before the gauges to see if its linear ?

 

Fastdruid found the following. The temp sensor would have to be linear and modified afterward by the PCM or gauge but he doesn't state which, the oil pressure sender is the unknown. He states the PCM and gauge together are the problem. I am not daunted by the rewiring the car around the PCM or modification of the cluster to get what I'm after if needed.

 

The CAN data stream does have the coolant temp. I do not think oil pressure is reported.

 

there is no oil pressure sensor on RX-8.

factory coolant temp sensor is located right behind the thermostat housing.

It's not just Mazda who does these "center temp" thing, most if not all manufacture does that. because studies show (I forgot where I read it from) that most people have NO idea what is "normal" and what is "dangerous." if it displays digital numbers it will freak them out.

and if the gauges is too "real time", meaning it will move 1 step for every 5 degress Celsius increase/decrease, people will STILL freak out and ask dealership "is there something wrong with my car"?

there are just too many morons out there who is not supposed to drive in the first place.

so, they just make the gauge center, and will only move again if it reach 110 or so. the point is, if your car can reach 110 Celsius, that simply means your car has a problem, if you don't do something, u go kaboom.

most idiots will ignore the gauges even when it's important stuff like boost gauge. most owners ignored them, it might have a boost creep or leak and they just don't know why. all they know is oh, the gauge is moving, so it's good, right ?

I still prefer to use Real gauges like Defi, super accurate, real time info. can't beat that. That's what aftermarket is for, right ?