Checking temp

[dolphinsrok]

Hello, I have an 03 v6 cts (beleive they only made one v6 that year) and how do I check my temp? I scroll through all the 'info' options but can't find it, does it only come up if it's warning me?
Spoke to a veteran mechanic and he told me to sell it cause it's gonna cost me an armand a leg to maintain it. He said since there is no room to work in it they will charge me tons of money for labor for simple things like changing a hose. I told him look I paid 17,000 for this car which only had 20,000 miles when I bought it and the only thing I changes was the battery. I just shampooed my rugs yesterday and cleaned and put lotion on the seats, that pearl whie is shining lovely and only has 41,000 miles and I'm loving it. Only question is about the temp of the motor...

[dup's Cadi]

There isn't a temp read out on the DIC. 04 and up have them where the clock is in our cars.

[Sammy Z]

I have the 03 with the 3.2 engine 110k miles, I miss the temp gauge but I've never had a problem with overheating. The 3.2 engine gets a bad rap but it's a good engine. The timing belt has to be changed at 100k but the mechainic said it's better than having a timing chain because the chains streach then you have other issues.

The car is amazing, plenty of power and a I can get 32 on the highway with premium gas. Better than any car I've ever owned.

[rb0757]

You can always change the instrument cluster from an 2004 and that will have the temp gage, thats what I did, ordered it from ebay for 140.00 had to send it to a company in Mi to update the mileage pulled the old instrument cluster out popped the new one in and it worked like new, very easy to do. As for putting a chain on this engine, that won't work, it's designed for a belt a rubber belt. Sorry.

[Sammy Z]

I think you mis-interpreted the timing chain comment. Some people bad-rap the 3.2 becase of the timing belt. But the mechanic at the dealer told me the 3.2s run better after high milage because of the timing belt.

He said that the 3.6 with the timing chain stretches causing timing problems. He said he'd rather work in the 3.2 and it is a good engine.

[Sammy Z]

[quote=rb0757;1569806]You can always change the instrument cluster from an 2004 and that will have the temp gage, thats what I did, ordered it from ebay for 140.00 had to send it to a company in Mi to update the mileage pulled the old instrument cluster out popped the new one in and it worked like new, very easy to do.

How much was the update charge from the MI company? What was the total $ for the upgrade? Is the temp gauge accurate? My dealer's part dept. lied to me and said it wouldn't work, he said there is no wiriing there to give you the temperature readout.

[dolphinsrok]

thanks for all the info everyone. Is there an aftermarket temp gauge I might be able to use? Instead of doing the whole gauge swap? Just a simple temp gauge digital or analog

[rb0757]

THe name of the company the recalibrates the odometers is called Specmo www.specmo.com the gauge works fine the wiring is already in place just plug and play thats it, I've watched the gauge from cold start to normal operating temp and it does work, the dealer doesn't know what he's talking about

[GT!]

Originally Posted by dolphinsrok

thanks for all the info everyone. Is there an aftermarket temp gauge I might be able to use? Instead of doing the whole gauge swap? Just a simple temp gauge digital or analog

I don't really see the point in doing this. If the car is going to overheat a temp guage isn't going to stop it and there is very little you can do other than watch the needle and head to a garage. The guage may give you a few extra minutes warning, but only if you notice that it has risen above normal. If something does go wrong the temp can rise very quickly.

I would trade the analog clock for a temp guage, but I wouldn't stick an ugly aftermarket guage on my dash.

-GT