Piggy back CTS

[bootie]

Afternoon everybody.

I had to buy a small cheap runaround for out here, found a nice Mitsubishi Colt with the 1.5 3 pot merc diesel. Only problem is there is no temp gauge. I find that I do need to know what the engine is doing temp wise especially on the fairly steep climbs around me.
Now it has a CTS plugged into the thermostat housing, I was wondering if I could utilise the wiring from that for a stand alone digital temp gauge, pod mounted on the dash somewhere?
If I piggy backed the wiring would that, could that affect the signal to the ECU and throw some funnies into the fuelling?

I do have on of those inline units I can fit to the top rad hose but it is quite a distance from the awkwardly placed thermostat housing, ideally these should be placed as close to the engine as possible, yes?

Can someone with electrickery knowledge help me out here and point me in the right direction.

I should add there is a warning light in the dash console which tells you when the temp is too high, as yet I have not found the location of that and don't know whether it is an oil temp warning or a coolant temp warning, manuals for these are really hard to come by, plus the Mitsubishi dealers nearby don't have a word of english and my Spanish is woefully inadequate!

Cheers
Jon

[Doctor Gollum]

Light will be coolant temp and probably fed from the ecu... Without knowing the voltage/resistance values between cold and hot it will be difficult to arrive at a meaningful gauge... This assumes too, that the ecu doesn't react to the circuit being intercepted

[Sir Tigger KC]

http://www.ownersmanualsforcars.com/manuals.category.413/Mitsubishi-Colt-Owners-Manuals.html

Any good?   

[bootie]

Nice try but only got google ads all the time wanting me to download PDF merge software.

I thought about the interference, so it looks like
i'll be cutting a top hose tomorrow!

Much appreciated.

Jon

[Sir Tigger KC]

Have you tried the Mitsubishi forums? Looks like there are a few dedicated to the Colt. 

[bootie]

Yes I have, not a very chatty bunch..... unless you happen to own a Mivec/Ralliart fast thing, one whiff of oil burner and it goes very silent.
Most of the links to manuals end up dead or in Russia with ladies!

[Sir Tigger KC]

Yes I have, not a very chatty bunch..... unless you happen to own a Mivec/Ralliart fast thing, one whiff of oil burner and it goes very silent.
Most of the links to manuals end up dead or in Russia with ladies!

Oooo didn't find any of those!    Must try harder! 

[Nick W]

Is there room for a T-fitting where the CTS fits? Then you could fit the one for your gauge on the engine where it would do the most good.

If you have an old android phone you could use it, a bluetooth OBD adapter and the Torque app to display the engine temp

[bootie]

It's been a while but I wanted to report back and answer some of the posts.
The thermostat housing is one of those plastic jobs all incorporated so no option for fitting a T piece.

However, I was pointed to this http://www.gearbest.com/obd-diagnostic-tools/pp_216817.html?wid=21

Now fitted and worked straight out the box. Good thing is the diagnostic port is up under the dash on the drivers side, nice and easy to route the cable.
Well impressed and a nice inexpensive addition for any newer cars without a temp gauge.

Jon

No need to cut any hoses or find a route through the bulkhead for wires.