oil, heat, and battery gauges

Torque pro (or another app) with a phone/tablet and OBDII reader. Lots of different phone mounts available.

All I have is a "flip phone" and don't want to have to use that type of system for this...I was thinking 3 gauges kind of thing...would the dealer be able to do something like that? Japan shouldn't have "shorted" us on something as critical as that.(?)...should be able to click on systems then select item/s...(that would have been to easy huh?)

[email protected] said:

All I have is a "flip phone" and don't want to have to use that type of system for this...I was thinking 3 gauges kind of thing...would the dealer be able to do something like that? Japan shouldn't have "shorted" us on something as critical as that.(?)...should be able to click on systems then select item/s...(that would have been to easy huh?)

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No, the dealer is extremely unlikely to enter into a custom project like that. If you find someone to do it, it would likely cost much more than a small tablet and OBD II reader. Just the labor to run wires from the 12v battery to inside the cabin would cost more than the tablet solution.
What was the last car you owned that had those types of gauges? I can't remember the last time I saw those from the factory on a family sedan.

I have a 1994 GMC 1500 pickup truck with those now...I upgraded the engine, speedometer with all those gauges in a cluster that actually fit the original dash space...You're right though manufacturers no longer want to put gauges in newer cars of today...we'll let me ask this: is there an "idiot light" or at least some notification that the Clarity will give if the engine should overheat or the oil pressure get to low (or high) or the 12 volt battery going bad?...surely Japan engineering wouldn't allow that to be happening on ANY of their cars and the driver not be aware of it...

Thanks 2002, actually very nice they give a pre warning on the coolant temp.

I assume this will pop up on both screens?

Trolle said:

Thanks 2002, actually very nice they give a pre warning on the coolant temp.

I assume this will pop up on both screens?

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These type of messages pop up automatically on the instrument panel display. A duplicate of some messages also appears on the infotainment screen, but they don't pop up in the middle of the screen like they do on the instrument panel, instead a one line header for the message appears at the top of the infotainment screen and you have to tap on it to view the message. And it seems to me that a lot of messages appear only on the instrument panel, but I can't say which ones because I generally only see messages on the instrument panel since it is more likely to get my attention, even if I am not looking at the instrument panel when the message pops up it still catches my eye.

You should be able to find an older smartphone from a friend or family member, or buy one for $10-$20 that can load the free Torque Lite app, and buy a OBD II bluetooth scanner that connects to the phone for $15 or so.

Hey, thanks guys, good conversation and I'll take all of this under advisement...No more than I drive in my retirement years I'll probably just trust that a message would come up somewhere to let me know about any critical status...I spoiled myself by putting in an upgraded instrument cluster on my 1994 GMC pickup...I also had a 2014 XTS Cadillac that had things covered better also but of course cost was a much larger factor with that...don't get me wrong though I like this Clarity still after a year and 4 months...to bad Japan didn't advertise them like they should have, they probably would have sold many more...