Cadillac & LaSalle Club Discussion Forum

Cadillac & LaSalle Club Forums => Technical / Authenticity => Topic started by: Big Fins on May 20, 2024, 12:45:55 PM

Title: Thermometer Calibration
Post by: Big Fins on May 20, 2024, 12:45:55 PM
Is the thermometer on the left side mirror able to be calibrated? Mine reads about 15ohigher than it should. No mention of it anywhere in FSM other than it's optional. Plus, I don't want to break it.

Nothing really earth shattering to worry about, but something like that plays on my OCD.
Title: Re: Thermometer Calibration
Post by: jagbuxx #12944 on May 20, 2024, 08:41:32 PM
No calibration that I'm aware of. On my '76 I swapped the thermometer portion with a know good one of the several I had salvaged from wrecking yards. It can be detached from the mirror housing if you are careful.
Title: Re: Thermometer Calibration
Post by: Big Fins on May 21, 2024, 04:40:28 AM
Thank you, sir. I guess I had better leave well enough alone.  :-\
Title: Re: Thermometer Calibration
Post by: TJ Hopland on May 21, 2024, 10:35:24 AM
Its it just pressed or glued in?
Title: Re: Thermometer Calibration
Post by: Big Fins on May 21, 2024, 01:46:24 PM
Quote from: TJ Hopland on May 21, 2024, 10:35:24 AMIts it just pressed or glued in?

No clue. On the forward facing side of the mirror stand, there is an opening where the probe sits.

The lens is still nice and clear and the wheel bright white. I tried gripping the sending probe with a set of needle nose, but again, I don't want to force it. Breaking it all would leave an ugly hole there.
Title: Re: Thermometer Calibration
Post by: jagbuxx #12944 on May 22, 2024, 12:35:12 AM
Quote from: TJ Hopland on May 21, 2024, 10:35:24 AMIts it just pressed or glued in?
if I recall it was glued-maybe with a putty? Don't try to tap it out from the front as it could crack the clear plastic housing. I recall that I was able to pry it out gradually with a razor blade around the circumference of the clear lens..
Title: Re: Thermometer Calibration
Post by: bcroe on May 22, 2024, 10:08:34 PM
The simple thermometers using a coil of bimetal
to turn the needle, may have a coil anchor that
can be turned.  This will shift the reading the
same amount everywhere.  Bruce Roe
Title: Re: Thermometer Calibration
Post by: Big Fins on June 19, 2024, 01:22:52 PM
Revisiting this...

I got it. At the front of the mirror where the sensor is, it's an open area in which you can get a small set of needle nosed pliers (think jewelers tools) into the opening. Grasping the sensor lightly, it can be turned in either direction to direct the temperature wheel to the red needle in the plastic housing.

It takes very little to move the dial to the correct setting. I used a digital meat thermometer that I know is accurate as my base tool and lowered what used to be a 15oF error in the reading.

Just in case you have one and want it to read correctly. I'll sleep tonight now! ;D

Title: Re: Thermometer Calibration
Post by: TJ Hopland on June 19, 2024, 03:57:18 PM
Interesting that its apparently that 'easy'.   Or maybe that is the problem, yours is just loose(ish) for some reason and that is how it drifted in the first place?     Now days you would just assume that the worker that was installing them just always puts them at 72 even if its 90 in the shop because they just don't give a crap but you would hope the work ethic was a little better back when these were made, maybe not tho. 
Title: Re: Thermometer Calibration
Post by: Big Fins on June 19, 2024, 05:59:43 PM
Ya think maybe that age has a say so in there somewhere? We'll never know.