Outside temp as safety device
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Joined: Oct 2003
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From: Duvall, WA
Outside temp as safety device
I just returned from a trip up to Leavenworth, WA for a holiday festival. The drive home is about 100 miles through the mountains. It had been warm all day and some of the snow had melted and on the way home the temperature started to drop.
We were driving along at about 60 mph when up ahead we see cars stopped in the road. We slow down and crawl up to the cars and the road is a sheet of ice. There were about 7 or 8 cars/trucks off the road, and it must have just happened a few minutes before we arrived. Lucky we let the dog play a little before we left.
Anyway, we still had about 70 miles to go and were pretty worried about the road. I put it in 4H and slowly proceeded. Someone in an SUV almost took me out coming the other way about 70 and not heeding everyone flashing their lights to get them to slow down. (That scared the crap out of me - in my 7 day old truck).
Anyway, about 2 miles down the road I notice the temp had risen from 30 to about 42 (strange in such a short distance). So I take it out of 4H and everythings fine. I watch the temp though and sure enough, the temp drops again. I drop it in 4H and slow down and sure enough about a mile down the road there are 3 cars off the road. After making sure everyone is ok we proceed, and the temp rises agian. Then about 20 miles later, the temp drops again. I do the same thing sure enough within a mile there are 2 more cars which spun out and rammed hard into the snow wall.
I have to say that right now that outside temperature gauge I thought was a luxury has suddenly become a great safety device. I won't get a vehicle without one from now on.
We were driving along at about 60 mph when up ahead we see cars stopped in the road. We slow down and crawl up to the cars and the road is a sheet of ice. There were about 7 or 8 cars/trucks off the road, and it must have just happened a few minutes before we arrived. Lucky we let the dog play a little before we left.
Anyway, we still had about 70 miles to go and were pretty worried about the road. I put it in 4H and slowly proceeded. Someone in an SUV almost took me out coming the other way about 70 and not heeding everyone flashing their lights to get them to slow down. (That scared the crap out of me - in my 7 day old truck).
Anyway, about 2 miles down the road I notice the temp had risen from 30 to about 42 (strange in such a short distance). So I take it out of 4H and everythings fine. I watch the temp though and sure enough, the temp drops again. I drop it in 4H and slow down and sure enough about a mile down the road there are 3 cars off the road. After making sure everyone is ok we proceed, and the temp rises agian. Then about 20 miles later, the temp drops again. I do the same thing sure enough within a mile there are 2 more cars which spun out and rammed hard into the snow wall.
I have to say that right now that outside temperature gauge I thought was a luxury has suddenly become a great safety device. I won't get a vehicle without one from now on.
Last edited by Zeusalicious; Nov 30, 2003 at 01:50 AM.
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Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 145
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From: Near Toronto, Canada
It is a welcome addition for sure. Back in '89, Ford had a similar gauge in my Probe but it was one notch better. It was built into the center of the dash and if you were driving in temps well above freezing, then the temp dropped to 2 degrees above, it would beep and flash to warn you that it was approaching the freezing point. If this happened and you were approaching an open bridge for example, you could be prepared for ice conditions. I have wished for a similar gauge for many vehicles since.
Last edited by PC Poppy; Nov 30, 2003 at 08:08 AM.
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Joined: Feb 2003
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From: Jacksonville, AR
My previous truck, GMC, had the temp display in the rear-view mirror. It, too, would dislplay "ICE" when the temp would get to the freeze point. I liked that, and really miss it in the Ford truck I have now.
I later learned that some european cars, such as BMW, had been using similar technology for several years. Unfortunately when one is zipping on the Autoban at high speed, a sudden warning of ice may cause more over-reaction than prudence.
Just like daytime driving lights, temperature indicators should be a part of all vehicles.
I later learned that some european cars, such as BMW, had been using similar technology for several years. Unfortunately when one is zipping on the Autoban at high speed, a sudden warning of ice may cause more over-reaction than prudence.
Just like daytime driving lights, temperature indicators should be a part of all vehicles.
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The 97 Volvo 850 that I'm getting rid of when my 04 Lariat SCrew gets here has a yellow light that comes on when the temp drops below 36F. The light is right next to the outside temp indicator which is right in the center of the dash at the bottom. The thing I always thought funny is don't people know water freezes at 32F? And perhaps a little higher on bridges if the sky is clear?