How Acurate is the Factory NAS Temp Gauge

LRNAD90

Well-known member
So I know the coolant temp gauge in most cars for at leas tthe last decade tend to be more analog warning lights, they come up to the middle and stay there betweehn a range of temps, and only go high after that has been exceeded.

So is the NAS Defender's guage this way? I would tend to believe it is not. Even though it generally sits pretty much straight up and down, I have seen it swing just right of the middlle mark when stuck in heavy traffic in August heat, typically witht he AC still going. I've seen it creep up to 3/4 once before, and it prompted me to pull over open the hood and let her cool down before continuing on.

So I'm sure someone knows the actually answer, analog idiot gauge, or actual instument?
 

jymmiejamz

Founding Member
Callsign: KN4JHI
In my experience, they a generally kind of accurate. Typically they sit just slightly left of center, but this varies by gauge. A 94/95 NAS gauge usually moves above the middle around 215F from what I remember.
 

1of40

Well-known member
Last summer I took my NAS from VA to CO, but before I went, I installed a helper fan and toggled it inside the cabin so I could turn it off/on when I need to. I was somewhat concerned about how my cooling system would behave at a 14K ft elevation. I also ran an OBD2 app so I could tell what the temps were from the ecu. When the temps crested 200 degrees the needle moved slightly. I've luckly not had it go over 205.
 

LRNAD90

Well-known member
In my experience, they a generally kind of accurate. Typically they sit just slightly left of center, but this varies by gauge. A 94/95 NAS gauge usually moves above the middle around 215F from what I remember.

Yeah, mine sits pretty much Straight up and down. Guess the question is when do you get worried, 3/4, or when it actually hits the Red mark...

Last summer I took my NAS from VA to CO, but before I went, I installed a helper fan and toggled it inside the cabin so I could turn it off/on when I need to. I was somewhat concerned about how my cooling system would behave at a 14K ft elevation. I also ran an OBD2 app so I could tell what the temps were from the ecu. When the temps crested 200 degrees the needle moved slightly. I've luckly not had it go over 205.

I've sometimes contemplated wiring in a switch to be able to run the AC's aux pusher fan, without actually running the AC, but never actually did anything about it, maybe it would be a worthwhile 'back-up' thing to have..

Moved slightly from the middle I assume?

OBD2 App? I'm assuming you drive a '97, no such option for me..
 

LRNAD90

Well-known member
FYI, found on ECR's site after Uncle Doug mentioned having seen it before..

NAS Defender 110 temp. gauge

And there is the answer, it looks like it was only the '93 110's that had the conditioner..

"This change duplicates exactly the later Defender 90 temp. gauge, a system that was designed without any signal conditioning. "
 
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