Shift Light in MX5

Ajay · Postby **Ajay** » Thu Dec 27, 2007 2:08 pm

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

marcusus · Postby **marcusus** » Thu Dec 27, 2007 2:42 pm

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.

kula · Postby **kula** » Thu Dec 27, 2007 4:40 pm

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.

Garry · Postby **Garry** » Thu Dec 27, 2007 9:00 pm

I converted my light to a buzzer. I found the light useless in bright light with the roof down

green_comet · Postby **green_comet** » Thu Dec 27, 2007 9:47 pm

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.

Ajay · Postby **Ajay** » Fri Dec 28, 2007 9:05 am

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..?

green_comet · Postby **green_comet** » Fri Dec 28, 2007 9:44 am

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.

Steampunk · Postby **Steampunk** » Fri Dec 28, 2007 11:16 am

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

or

Pivot

TieNN89 · Postby **TieNN89** » Tue Jan 01, 2008 10:55 pm

1red5 wrote:Pivot

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.

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

Alex · Postby **Alex** » Tue Jan 01, 2008 11:34 pm

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

Steampunk · Postby **Steampunk** » Wed Jan 02, 2008 12:44 pm

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.

TieNN89 · Postby **TieNN89** » Wed Jan 02, 2008 1:00 pm

but the gtech hangs off the windscreen

Steampunk · Postby **Steampunk** » Wed Jan 02, 2008 1:35 pm

Yes..., yes it does

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?