Custom shift lights?

[firstorbit84]

Has anyone thought of installing custom LED shift lights in the three blank holes above the cluster on the right? According to the owner's manual, it looks like they don't do anything.

They could be green, yellow, and red and light up at different RPMs. Perhaps, green under 5k, yellow 5k-6k, and red 6k+? I haven't driven the car enough to know what really useful RPM ranges would be, so feedback would be helpful.

They would need to tap into the speed sensor somewhere, and some custom circuitry would be necessary, but I think they should be realtively easy to retrofit.

Plus you'd definitely need an on-off switch somewhere, as having them on all the time would be annoying. However, these might be useful for those that like to drag race, auto-cross, or otherwise track their cars. Or just want a "hey-that's-cool" mod. Plus it would give those three holes purpose, as I hate non-functional parts of a car (especially when they look like they should do something).

 

[ThatTmoGuy]

IMHO it should go yellow, green, then red IE almost there DO IT! and too late.

 

[firstorbit84]

good idea, and maybe even get the green to start blinking right before the red light comes on (like "last chance")

 

[nocoolnames]

That's a neat idea, I have no clue how to go about it so I'll be following along.

 

[Eric Smit]

interesting thought. :O


-Eric Smit

 

[Swordsmith]

If you're pushing the engine those shift changes come up way too fast in first and second to bother trying to read blinking lights, this would only be handy if you were going to go faster than 88 and would need a "time to go to fourth" light. But by then time has stretched out so you have all the time you need to monitor the RPM gauge itself. Also, to catch flies with chopsticks, pluck bullets from midair, and ponder Einstein's conundrum about ice and women.

Oh wait, maybe this isn't true if you aren't driving an alcohol powered funny car.

The solid lights I'd like, although I'm not clear where you're talking about putting them. Aren't all those spots taken by actual emergency lights (most of which I've already lit up at least once, and that's not counting every time I turn the car on)?

 

[Bogus]

The 3 blank holes on the top right are the ones in question.

 

[Preloader]

You can have generic trigger pins on the ECU assigned as on/off signals at set RPM levels. I brought it up to BNR, he wasn't interested and just suggested OTC ignition pick-up module with an aftermarket shift light.

 

[Swordsmith]

Ah, thanks Preloader, I can't really see those three with my current steering wheel position... probably I put it there because those light holes didn't do anything!

What I'd really like, as long as we are dreaming, would be to replace the current SHIFT ^ indicator with something showing what gear you are currently in. I get a little CDO (OCD, only in proper alphabetical order like it SHOULD be) about shifting into first multiple times at a stoplight. I'd imagine auto people would really like to know what's going on in that slushbox too. Or maybe not, would they really be auto people if they wanted to know how the sausage was made?

At any rate the SHIFT^ thing seems to be hopelessly wrong for any purpose, it's not powerful, it's not economical, its... what?

 

[Bogus]

Ah, thanks Preloader, I can't really see those three with my current steering wheel position... probably I put it there because those light holes didn't do anything!

Same lol

 

[dblackston]

What I'd really like, as long as we are dreaming, would be to replace the current SHIFT ^ indicator with something showing what gear you are currently in. I get a little CDO (OCD, only in proper alphabetical order like it SHOULD be) about shifting into first multiple times at a stoplight.

Im the same way, I will constantly sit there and pull it in and out of first. Seeing as how my commute is super boring I have tried to follow the shift indicator and shift only when instructed. That was a joke and finally gave up when I had people passing me lol it was dumb to say the least.

 

[Preloader]

This is why I'm apprehensive about installing an aftermarket shift knob that will delete the reverse lock out. Can you imagine obsessively trying to confirm that you are indeed in first and not reverse if you feel like holeshotting when a light turns green?

 

[Eric Smit]

I never have an issue finding first over reverse.


-Eric Smit

 

[ThatTmoGuy]

I get a little CDO (OCD, only in proper alphabetical order like it SHOULD be)

 

[Bogus]

I have OCD but not that intense lol