I picked up my brand new Tucson 2.7 GLS Automatic only yesterday.

It is wonderful, far, far better than I was expecting, I am so pleased with it.............so far.

Imagine my horror whilst driving today when I saw that my Instrument Cluster did not include a temperature gauge!!!!!!!!!

I NEVER thought to look during my test drive or whilst looking in detail at a model that they had in the showroom, I just assumed it was there like it is on every other car I have seen....................including cheap Russian Lada's! [I am a British ex-pat living in Russia].

What is the reasoning behind its omission?

I have a temperature warning light on the dashboard, comes on when you turn on the ignition but goes out when running. How am I ever to know if there are problems in the cooling department, it's too late when the warning light suddenly appears?

Maybe it is for cars only sold to Russia but I would have thought that Russian-winters require such a warning that things are not well in the cooling department?

Perplexed,

Jeff Gordon.

"Jeff Gordon" is a famous name in American NASCAR racing. Do you drive fast and turn left a lot? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

I heard that the new ones would lack a temp gauge, like many GM cars in the 1970's, but I can't imagine why, for the reason you mentioned. It's best to know when a major problem is developing rather than see you already have one. Check with your dealer and make sure it's okay to add an aftermarket gauge.

Sorry about the pun. I live about forty miles from the Talladega track. Some things just come naturally.

Hi.. Juz got my new tucson fresh from the showroom here in the philippines.. I picked it up at the showroom last April 28 only to find 2 weeks after that there's no temperature gauge installed..

Im kinda disappointed with this tucson since there's no temperature gauge.. Even cheap cars come with temperature gauge. Its very useless installing only a warning light since it will only inform us that its already overheating. It aint gonna warn us that overheating is about to occur.. I find it totally useless.. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/angry.gif) I think its best to install aftermarket tachometers with oil, fluids, and most especially Temperature Gauge...

This post has been edited by Disenchanted: May 12 2009, 06:34 AM

there is in fact quite a few makes and models on the market now that use the warning light system rather than a gauge (at least in europe) fiat for example have had this system in use for a long while. there is no cause for any worry if you own a vehicle that has the warning light system as long as the light does not come on while you are driving, which of course would indicate a problem the same as a temp. gauge reading high. if fact if there was an overheating problem you would likely notice a light coming on rather than a gauge neadle going up.also the light will come on well before any serious overheating issues occure
BTW all the latest model tuscan's do not have a temp. gauge fitted

the gauge was omited and replaced with a light, due to the fact that the wast majority of drivers notice that the car is overheating when it is too late, and is already in the red for a while.
a red light is therefore more visable

I think theyed would make it in such a way that it comes on when the temp starts to rise past the halfway point...
not as others have said when it's actually about to boil over then it would come on . that would be really stupid...
I hope Hyundai would be smart enough to do it properly...

Maybe it's just a case that your last car suffered from overheating constantly and now not having the guage is causing you guys to panic , the light should come on if the coolant level drops below the (cold add marker ) and or if the temp reaches around the high side of the 1/2 mark on the heat range set ,one would think !

IMHO, it would make the most sense to have a gauge and a warning light, similar to the low fuel light we have now.

The coolant warning light would light if the temperature was high and, maybe, if the coolant level was low. Why not, aside from the usual issue of cost? The ECU could control the warning light, maybe make it flash as the temp increased, and flash faster the higher the temperature got. The gauge would make it easy to follow a trend and the light would attract the necessary attention when it needs to.

I can't believe this couldn't be done!