does the chevy sonic have a temperature gauge?

[firstorbit84]

You can also get the torque app and a Bluetooth obd adapter if you have an Android phone.

I wish the car had more gauges, but as long as you know what the idiot lights mean then you'll be ok

 

[Preloader]

The most valuable aspect of a temp gauge is knowing when the engine is properly warmed up after sitting. As seasons change so does the warm-up time. Even though the winters don't get middle-merica cold here, I'm already warming up faster now that the mornings are warmer.

I'd hate to sit in the driveway warming up passed 100F because I didn't have a gauge.:blankface:

 

[HADES20]

The most valuable aspect of a temp gauge is knowing when the engine is properly warmed up after sitting. As seasons change so does the warm-up time. Even though the winters don't get middle-merica cold here, I'm already warming up faster now that the mornings are warmer.

I'd hate to sit in the driveway warming up passed 100F because I didn't have a gauge.:blankface:

Same here what I usually do is listen and watch the rpm needle and for mine (1.8 6A) the engine rpms will drop to 1k or below there and you here the engine quiete not sure about the 1.4 though

 

[Preloader]

I'm running E85 in my 1.4T, I can't really trust the rpm idle to tell me when I'm good to go because the ethanol doesn't like to run cold. I just watch the Ultragage until I get to 95-100F before pulling away.

Also, I monitor the MAF temps with my Ultragage. It helps to see what affects mods like changing the air intake have on air temps coming into the turbo.
Case in point, I've seen the MAF temps drop 20F at bumper traffic speeds, just by wrapping my exhaust manifold in insulation. I would have had no way of knowing that without the Ultragage.

I guess I've forgotten or taken for granted how integral my UG has become in the scheme of my entire build. It's a must have, for the 1.8 or 1.4T.
Someone will likely chime in with a cell phone app alternative, but I'm old school and prefer hardware.

 

[firstorbit84]

i already suggested the torque app a couple posts above.

i don't use it all the time, only when i'm interested in driving hard and seeing how temps are reacting. or to get a feel for warm up times when the outside temp changes... the advantage of hardware is that its always plugged in and turns on automatically, as opposed to the app which i have to manually start each time. sometimes i'm just too lazy, in a hurry, or not interested.

also pre, you should be using oil temp to judge when the car is warmed up: >180

 

[HADES20]

Maybe they didn't include one because it once was the entry point to the brand and since there's spark maybe they next generation will have one

 

[qwed94]

Well anyone who knows this for sure may certainly chime in.
That last car I had-that didnt have a temp gauge-was a 95 Dodge Spirit. (It did have an OBDII ECM). It ran hot on me one time when my water pump failed. Anyway when the water temp went to (according to Dodge 230° F) I heard a very loud mans voice over the radio telling me "Your engine is running hot". incidentely that warning happened BEFORE the idiot light came on.

Now does anyone know for sure "either way" if our Sonics will do the same thing?

BTW a gauge is the very reason I blew up my old Metro that I had years ago. I had just got off work after working 72 hours that week, and was headed to the campground (where my family was already-we had a seasonal site with camper hooked up all the time), anyway I was sleepy tired, and was literally watching the road in front of me till I noticed a boatload of steam coming from my hood cracks. The temp gauge was buried HOT. A warning over the speakers would have saved me that day. Even a light could have caught my eye. But that gauge had never ever went over the 1/2 way mark since the car was new. So I sorta quit watching it very much.

Now Im not trying to justify the light. However a verbal warning, a light, AND a gauge would be nice, and cost GM maybe a few cents more. I bet less than $10 Incidentely I too do like the gauges, especially if they actually do fluctuate according to real temps, but a dead gauge is worthless. And a verbal warning is always real nice regardless of gauge package, give me a verbal warning IN ADDITION.

 

[sx sonic]

Verbal warnings are rare. I've never been in a car that had one and I've been in 5 that have over heated (4 for service, one was personal vehicle).

And to pala.... cars overheat about the same now as they ever did... its more common on higher mileage cars, just like the old days.

The positive with guages is 1. Intuitive drivers can prolong their vehicles overall longevity by operating the vehicle according to conditions ("temps at 100F be kinda gentle. Temps 160F I can run it hard" etc).

2. An attentive driver will catch a failure before an idot with a light (whoops meant idiot light). Temp guage not only saved my dads Olds 88 but also allowed me to milk home a car with low coolant with out destroying/warping the engine. A process of stop and go based on reading the guage.

 

[mowcowbell]

Definitely worth the investment to get a Scangauge or Ultragauge. Then, you never have to wonder what your engine is doing. The one thing I wish they had installed was a oil temp sensor so I could monitor that as well. However, very few manufacturers include that sensor... my old Toyota Matrix was also missing that.

I've noticed my coolant temps go anywhere from 222F and can drop as far down as 190F when I turn on the A/C. (1.4L engine)

Don't be concerned about having the device plugged into your ODBII port and missing out on the lame OnStar monthly engine status report. I've seen one, and the info is about useless.

I know if manufacturers offered a full gauge package as part of a option group, I'd pay for that every time! My '11 Dodge Ram 1500 Big Horn had a full gauge package that gave me everything including a oil temp and auto tranny gauge.

Darin

 

[firstorbit84]

I can read oil temp on the torque app

 

[Swordsmith]

My F150 has a series of gauges that are actually idiot lights: they read dead center unless something is really wrong then they bury the needle. Useless, worse than useless since they fool you into thinking you can see what's going on.

I've been playing around with Torque but thus far I prefer Ultragauge, which is simpler and clearer and doesn't have to be set up each time I get in the car, as someone said earlier, UG just is always there; Torque is more for when I actually want to check something out, or clock some 1/4 times or something like that which UG doesn't support.

 

[ThatTmoGuy]

Unfortunately you can't read oil temps with torque since the sensor doesn't exist on the car.

Setup time for me is solely opening up the torque app, you can configure it to automatically turn on Bluetooth and GPS, plus open on your preferred dash. It just takes a little longer initial setup.

 

[$ub$onic]

Oil temp should not be a issue in such a small car turbo or not.

 

[sx sonic]

Oil temp should not be a issue in such a small car turbo or not.

??? What does car size have to do with oil temp???

Edit- I suppose if your talking about towing trailers or large loads then oil temp would matter. Which someone is less likely to do in a small car

 

[firstorbit84]

Unfortunately you can't read oil temps with torque since the sensor doesn't exist on the car.

Setup time for me is solely opening up the torque app, you can configure it to automatically turn on Bluetooth and GPS, plus open on your preferred dash. It just takes a little longer initial setup.

Mine definitely gives me numbers for oil temp. And they're different than the coolant temp numbers so I dunno what it is showing me if there is no sensor?

 

[ThatTmoGuy]

I would check for you, but I can't drive mine yet :-(

 

[$ub$onic]

??? What does car size have to do with oil temp???

Edit- I suppose if your talking about towing trailers or large loads then oil temp would matter. Which someone is less likely to do in a small car

Your edit is spot on, besides that the sonic has a water to oil cooler. I wouldn't worry

 

[tmoney]

Pala - you must not have ever had a coolant leak or other radiator problem. The temp gauge will usually surge up (past its normal operating temp) a few times prior to actually over heating. That warning of the temp fluctuating does not set the idiot light off in most cars but it does let you know something is wrong. Also, Knowing precisely where the over heat point is can be your best friend if you are trying to get the heap home by limping along as SX Sonic said.

 

[trobin]

Yes, they have no gages.

Two reasons I bought the Sonic:
1. The car included a sort-of-spare tire, with changing tools.
2. Assembled within the 50 states. (Canada would have been OK, too.)
I had to accept the fact that the gages were missing.

The spare tire things are going away but it kept me from even driving one of the Korean twins.

 

[Izzytoo]

I do miss having the temperature gauge, because on my old car I used it to tell when it was safe to turn on the heater without getting a face full of cold air.