active tach/speedo idea...help me with this

[Clip]

you may remember my latest "help me with this" thread, its the one about supercharging that turned into a big ol' argument :biglaugh:

anyway, here's this week's "help me" topic: an active speedometer that would work in unison with the tach.

the needles would move in synchro with each other, perhaps using a tach unit that has been rewired for a speedometer module. as you push the shifter into first gear, you'll see the speedo gauge face instantly go into action changing it's display to the minimum and maximum speeds for that gear. say first gear goes from 0-30 and as you push into second gear, your speedo changes from 20-60 and the needle moves around accordingly.

i know most people would consider this rice and there's no real use for it, just a cool task to accomplish. it would be useless for automatics and from one car to the next, as each would have to be calibrated to match the setup. anyone have any other thoughts?

 

[lowbudgettarga]

That is a really cool idea that I'd love to see someone complete then I'd want to ride around and watch it. But I sure wouldn't want it in my car, I'd get way too confused.

 

[swaq]

I think it would be cool just to have "pie slices" with LEDs highlighting a range on the speedo depending on what gear you're in. That would probably be easier to set up, and more intuitive anyway.

 

[Syris]

id like an alternative to the damn stock speedo never wanting to work

 

[lagged]

id like an alternative to the damn stock speedo never wanting to work

try fixing it

 

[Big Wang Bandit]

I think having some small led "pie" slices would be very cool.

 

[lagged]

I think having some small led "pie" slices would be very cool.

yup.. and not to hard to program either!

 

[Big Wang Bandit]

not at all. It would probably involve somtihng with the shift gates.. I may just be thinking the confusing way but hey...

 

[cjsupra90]

Well I guess that it would be possible but you would have to use either digital or LCD number readouts on the gauge face cause the scaling of the numbers would have to constantly change every time you shift and the speedo computer that would have to be built would have to know what gear you are in at all times. Now yeah, I guess that you could add switchs or what not on the shifter that trigger when the shifter is positioned in a particular gear. I deffinitly dont see this wourking on auto trans cars cause of the slip that accures in the trans on autos.

 

[lagged]

not at all. It would probably involve somtihng with the shift gates.. I may just be thinking the confusing way but hey...

no way. use the digital speedo signal. (IIRC the device converts the analog signal that the speedo uses to digital then sends it to the ECU).

it would be extremely easy to do the LED pie thing on the speedometer.

 

[cjsupra90]

no way. use the digital speedo signal. (IIRC the device converts the analog signal that the speedo uses to digital then sends it to the ECU).

The digital output is from the speedo head unit and is just a magnetic reed switch. One 12v pulse per rev of the speedo cable. Another way of looking at it is 1000 pulse per mile, of there abouts. It is used in the ECU and for the cruise control system.

 

[Clip]

well hell, i like pie. maybe having the colored panels going from green to maybe one or two segments yellow and then red after 100 or so. i like it. then say we add a surprise. once you get past 130 a red segment lights up with a smiley face inside it.

 

[swaq]

Yay for everyone liking my suggestion

 

[CRE]

I think a changing face with either scaled arm or digital arm would be sweet. Not the easiest thing to fab, but it'd be damned cool.

 

[IJ.]

If you could squeeze this thread you'd get Saki !

 

[Big Wang Bandit]

^ Owned. How long did it take you to think of that one.

 

[IJ.]

As long as it took me to read this thread

 

[lagged]

As long as it took me to read this thread

fair enough.

 

[IJ.]

Would be cool on a 89+ it'd go really well with the Transformer body styling !

 

[CRE]

I think, if done properly it would give a nice, clean and very high-end feel to the MK-III.... I'm thinking a complete backlit, monochrome LCD though, with the other guages to match.

Now, the simple addition of LED's which indicate a gear range does make me think of most of the craptastic honda ricers around here... but it would complement their riveted on abs bodykits; dragging, zip tied on underlighting kits; 5 spoke hubcaps; etc.