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Shift Light in MX5

Posted: Thu Dec 27, 2007 2:08 pm
by Ajay
Hey Guys,

i know some of you are going to be like \"why do you need a shift light, listen to the engine\" but even still.. i want one...

now finding the shift light isnt a problem as ive found a Nice one with blue illumination but its the mounting im trying to figure out.

i already know about the cigarette lighter spot but trying to think of somewhere different..

if anyone has any pics of a shift light installed in an mx it would be great if you could post a pic :) or let me know your thoughts

thanks heaps in advance for your info :)

Cheers
Ajay

Posted: Thu Dec 27, 2007 2:42 pm
by marcusus
Surely somewhere on or around the instrument cluster would be the logical place? You want to be able to see the light going off even whilst your eyes are on the road.

Perhaps you can mount it on the top of the steering column plastic, or kind of in front of where the odometer is in the instrument cluster? Dunno about the legalities of those mounting positions though.

Posted: Thu Dec 27, 2007 4:40 pm
by kula
i have a turboXS one i will install on my steering column cover..
its low profile, bright LED will be fine, and doesnt get in the way of any instruments.

Image

Posted: Thu Dec 27, 2007 9:00 pm
by Garry
I converted my light to a buzzer. I found the light useless in bright light with the roof down

Posted: Thu Dec 27, 2007 9:47 pm
by green_comet
I have an LED mounted in my cluster, it is connected to an RPM switch that makes it light up.. Cheap, easy, and looks neat.

Image

Posted: Fri Dec 28, 2007 9:05 am
by Ajay
Kula, that light looks hot!..

but GC i love how yours is done.. was that one of the AWD kits that already came with the light ready to wire up?.. where do you adjust the revs part from.. meaning how do you set what RPM you want the light to go off..?

Posted: Fri Dec 28, 2007 9:44 am
by green_comet
I bought the cluster with the shift light already installed, but wired to nothing. I went to Jaycar and bought an RPM switch, and wired it to read from the tacho, and wired it to the light. You set the RPM inside the switch using a screwdriver, its not all that hard.

Posted: Fri Dec 28, 2007 11:16 am
by Steampunk
Then there's one of these you can mount anywhere on your windscreen ... but I think it may defeat the purpose as I am assuming you want a more \"stealthy\" shift light

G-tech

Image

or

Pivot

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Image

Re:

Posted: Tue Jan 01, 2008 10:55 pm
by TieNN89
1red5 wrote:Pivot

Image
Image


That looks alright

But

"No Wiring Easy installation to cigarette lighter with no need for signal wiring."

how does it know when to go off?

kula wrote:i have a turboXS one i will install on my steering column cover..
its low profile, bright LED will be fine, and doesnt get in the way of any instruments.

Image


does this have a warning light? or does it just light up when to shift

Re:

Posted: Tue Jan 01, 2008 11:34 pm
by Alex
AZNTieN wrote:"No Wiring Easy installation to cigarette lighter with no need for signal wiring."

how does it know when to go off?


maybe they can measure the feedback from the cars electrical system, I know badly grounded audio systems can change the static pitch as the RPM changes so could be similar

Re:

Posted: Wed Jan 02, 2008 12:44 pm
by Steampunk
SM wrote:
AZNTieN wrote:"No Wiring Easy installation to cigarette lighter with no need for signal wiring."

how does it know when to go off?


maybe they can measure the feedback from the cars electrical system, I know badly grounded audio systems can change the static pitch as the RPM changes so could be similar


G-tech, Pivot, and a couple more manufacturers can "sense" RPM's via cig lighter.
This is a question for an Auto Electrician and I can only assume it is able to pick up minute increases and decreases in electrical strength/pulses.

I have the G-tech as pictured, and you have to "program" the unit; it asks to rev your engine to 5,000 then press "OK", then rev to 3,000 then press "OK". This then gives the unit reference points.

The LCD can show a simulated tachometer dial, and both the needle on the display and on the instrument cluster is dead-on.

The G-tech is WAAAY cool as is has dozens of other features.

Posted: Wed Jan 02, 2008 1:00 pm
by TieNN89
but the gtech hangs off the windscreen

Posted: Wed Jan 02, 2008 1:35 pm
by Steampunk
Yes..., yes it does :P via easily removed suction-cup.
It is a chunky unit, but it does MANY other things, shift light being but a feature. Have you checked out the website in the link I posted?

Posted: Wed Jan 02, 2008 1:59 pm
by TieNN89
yes i have it does logging as well

that unit you put up no longer available so yeah

so if this sticks to your windscreen is there any wires at all?

Posted: Wed Jan 02, 2008 2:20 pm
by kula
TXS one is also a knock warning light...