Good Morning. The CX-5 comes with a tachometer (of course) and a water temperature/coolant reading. I am wondering if anyone has hooked additional
after-market gauges, such as oil pressure, transmission fluid temp, etc on dash. If so, which did you add? Were they mechanical or electrical? And how difficult was installation? Did they readily hook up to obtain proper readings? Were special fittings necessary? I know Bosch makes a full line of accessory guages.

Thank you. RMV

 

I STRONGLY recommend that you not do any engine/transmission add-ons, for however long your powertrain warranty is in effect. Even a catch can is potentially something that a stealership can use against you to deny a warranty claim. Magnusson-Moss protects us on DIY routine maintenance, but not for mods. Keep in mind that Mazda has complete control of what they will cover under warranty, and you would likely need to take it to court if you want to fight a warranty claim denial because of some mod that you did. Not ever worth the possibility of getting into a mess like that IMO.

 

Thank you very much. So I guess that answers my questions as to adding after-market gauges. It also answers a question I was going to ask in due course, regarding an add-on transmission fluid cooler. Of course, if you should add a trailer hitch and do any towing of a trailing cart, etc. (up to 2,000 lbs permissible according to manufacturer, that is likely to heat up your trans fluid, possibly significantly. Without a gauge, you don't know how much towing is heating your fluid. And, if significant, the natural step would be to add a trans cooler (with a thermostatic control).

But if any of that will get you in trouble with the Warranty, I guess one doesn't think about going that route. Again, without a gauge measuring trans fluid temperature, you would not know what towing is doing to your fluid. And then without a trans cooler added, no way to ameliorate.

Just some observations. Thank you, Reuben

 

Fortunately, a somewhat more advanced OBD live data reader will provide transmission fluid temp. The OBD PID is called TFT, and is available via some phone (or laptop) apps such as Torque Pro. However, free OBD apps are not likely to provide the true TFT (some of them actually use the ECT value for transmission temp). You can also buy a standalone unit capable of providing the extra OBD live data, however those readers cost quite a bit more than a phone app plus the required $20 adapter.

You can also display the OBD data on the infotainment screen via a facility such as Andriod Auto. Unfortunately, engine and tranny oil pressure are not available via any non-proprietary OBD reader that I'm aware of.

 

Because the MAZDA WARRANTY as well other manufacture warranty are misunderstood. Advise from several law groups the auto manufacture must give a definitive reason for a denial on any warranty. This means if requested they must provide conclusive reason if requested a OEM part to fail because of some add on like gauges. A catch can is a poor example mainly because it is modifying the emission control system.

Reading the Transmission temperature from the PID is not as accurate to get a good determination and a better location is an independent sensor in the pan where the transmission fluid has just returned from the cooler. This way you can look at the 2 temperatures and get a good idea what is going on.

The oil pressure is easy to use a independent sensor using a sandwich adapter at the oil filter. But this may be one of those things that you do not want left on in case there is any engine issue that may need to be a considered under the warranty. As I started with this post, it could be argued that the sandwich adapter a contributing element in a problem and cause for a warranty claim denied.

I might also point out that a very informed warranty rep if they see that you are using the ECU to read values while normal driving and not for diagnostic many warranty claims could be denied. Access the ECU and reading multiple PIDS could slow down their normal speed (not likely) and there fore could thetically cause ECU operating problems. Far fetch but never the less.....

 

The models with the Turbo engines (AWD) have an oil cooler standard. FYI.

My 2¢

 

Thank you so much M5XGuy. Very much appreciate your reply. I have Torque Pro and set it up with the CX-5. Previously I used it with my 2008 Chevy Cobalt where it was very useful. Don't believe I am getting trans fluid temp on the CX-5 but will check again. Am getting the usual stuff such as ST Fuel Trim, LT Fuel Trim, MAF Ratio, etc. Of course, on a new CX-5 the Fuel Trim readings are very much within bounds. I will look into your other suggestions, such as Android Auto. Getting info on my car screen would be great!!

As for trans fluid pressure, don't care all that much about that, but would like to know what happens to trans fluid temp if one should pull anything attached to a hitch behind a CX-5. Thank you again, Reuben

 

Thank you very much Sir. Fortunately I have the naturally-aspirated 2.5L. Was happy to pass on the Turbo. I am sure it is a thrill, but I have enough HP and Torque for me with the base 2.5L. Thank you again. Reuben

 

Or maybe the Turbo would have given me a leg-up on towing anything behind the CX-5, while generating its own complications and engine stress issues.

 

Ah yes, some additional information is going to be needed here. First off, I use Torque Pro installed on a Windows PC, running under an Android emulator (my older eyes don't like cell phones). Next, when I mentioned the TFT PID to you, I neglected to say that TFT was installed as part of a separate (free) Mazda Skyactiv plugin, and did not come with the native Torque Pro app. I was just assuming that this plugin must also be available from the app store for Android phones. However, after searching for it on a phone, it appears that's not the case.

I can't understand why the creator of the app would only provide an APK download for Windows Android, but not for the platform that has so much more usage. But perhaps it's out there, and I'm just not finding it. Or maybe a different Mazda Skyactiv plugin exists, and has the valid TFT PID for our vehicles. I did send an email inquiry to the app developer website support address, but don't expect anything to come back from that - my experience with Chinese software support in the past has been totally abysmal. So apologies for the confusion, and hopefully this will turn up for you somewhere soon.