I just purchased and installed an Autool X50 Plus meter to display the coolant temperature on my XK. (I cannot believe Jaguar did not provide that information on the display.) It plugs into the OBDII port and can display coolant temperature, battery voltage, ignition timing, fuel trim %, speed, RPM, and the full OBD data stream. Some of the parameters, such as coolant temperature, RPM, and speed can be set to turn the display red and give an audible alert when the limit is exceeded.

It is a little larger than I would like, but is not huge. See the picture below. The 195 F displayed is the coolant temperature.

With the ability to accurately monitor battery voltage I should be able to determine when the battery is dying and replace it BEFORE it causes a myriad of problems with the car.

It will also read OBDII DTCs and erase them.

~$30, including shipping, from various vendors on ebay. The X50 is metric only and X50 PLUS will display English or Metric units.

 

It appears to be displaying a single value. Does it automatically rotate through the items to be displayed, or do you need to step through them manually?

 

It displays four different parameters at one time. One large numeric value, that I set to temperature - 195 in the above photo. There are two much smaller numeric displays below the large number, and a bar graph at the bottom. I set the two smaller numeric displays to show voltage and speed and the bar graph to show fuel economy, I think.

If you want to see other parameters you need to change the setup. My main concern is temperature. The other displays are a minor benefit. if I am having a problem with the car then I can go into the set up and view them. Unless I am having a problem with say an O2 sensor I don't really car about its voltage and associated fuel trim.

 

That's pretty cool. I like the 3 instrument display. I have a Glowshift EGT / Boost / Trans temp gauge in my '71 F350 and would love to have something similar in the XKR. I'd probably do coolant temp and o2 feedback for each bank.

 

Couldn't see that when looking at the picture via my phone, now I see them. Thanks for clarifying.

 

What holds the display on the dashboard? If it just sits there, does it slide around under cornering?

Thanks, looks like a great idea.

 

I brought these up in a different thread a couple weeks ago, but I couldn't find the non-metric versions.

 

[QUOTE=AlexKeyWest;1676579]What holds the display on the dashboard? If it just sits there, does it slide around under cornering?

Finding a place to put it is a problem. I have a dash mat/cover over the leather dash. Velcro on the bottom of the gauge holds it in place. It can fit on the top of the steering column but is REALLY in your face then. I am looking at making a bracket for it to fit on top of the mirror or way forward on the center console just above the carpet on the transmission hump.

 

I'm bringing this string back to express my thanks for the recommendation! I just bought the X50 Plus unit from a Chinese vendor for $25 on eBay, and it arrived 10 days after the order date.

I like the feature allowing adjustment of the battery voltage reading. At the default setting, the display was reading around 0.5V low compared to my Fluke 87 DMM measuring voltage at the cigarette lighter socket, so I increased the setting from 100% to 103% and the display is now within 0.1V of the Fluke meter reading.

It is interesting to see how much the alternator voltage fluctuates during normal driving. The range is from 14.5V to 13.4V.

It is also fascinating to see how much the coolant temp moves around. Now that ambient air temp is ~100 degrees F, the engine coolant temp ranges from 195 degrees F to 208 degrees F after the engine has warmed up. I was surprised to see how quickly the engine reaches operating temp.

I just have the display sitting in the left corner of the dash, adjacent to the windshield. The cord is tucked into the space between the dash and the A-pillar trim, which holds the display reasonably well in place. If that is not enough for you, you can use double-sided tape.

 

A newer model X60 from the same manufacturer is now available on Ebay. It has a round case on a pedestal base. I'll buy it after I decide which model looks best in my XKR and XJ.

 

I went for the scan gauge and although there isn't a way to integrate it , it solves the concern for both a WT and Volt gauge.

 

I'm using an old Verizon cell mated to an OBDLink LX....I don't use the ash tray anyway so it is a good place for it to rest. If I could find something dedicated that could sit in the same location with a compact form factor that would be the berrys though.


We're on the road right now so, yes, the consol does look dirty....what can I say?

 

Torque Pro displayed on the touchscreen

 

I want but worry it would be something beyond my ability to do.

 

That round gauge has potential for an A pillar mount...

 

Last summer I bought a Autool X50 Plus after reading this thread. It worked as advertised for about 2 weeks, then after a 3 hour run across the Upper Peninsula of Michigan I stopped for gas near the Mackinaw Bridge. Went to restart and car was totally dead, absolutely nothing electrical worked. Read manual, tried key in back-up manual spot, still nothing. After 20 min red parking brake light came on, 10 more min start button would get a few lights showing. Then after another 10 min the emergency start procedure in manual worked and we got home. Next day local Indy shop checked and found no codes stored. Response to start button was erratic for a month then gradually back to normal, never any codes and no more X50+. After 6 month sleep it has been normal this year although snow and road salt didn't clear until a month ago so only 800 miles so far. Battery is 3 year old OEM from dealer, always use CTEK, voltage always 12.6 when measured. 2008 XKR, later models with revised electric systems may behave differently.

Indy shop advised they have seen random electrical problems using cheap Chinese OBD devices on Jags and Subarus. Apparently you get what you pay for.

 

Nice Sean - now fess up and explain how you did this...

 

 

Please do share how you got the readout onto the touchscreen!

 

I've since moved on a bit and added touch screen capabilities but this is what I did originally. It's Torque Pro displayed through a cheap media box ( I think it was a Tronsmart):

https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...-camp2-175877/