Shift Light for auto

[VXIIwagdf]

Some time ago asked about a "shift light" for my auto VX II Lumina. Have now fitted one.

My prob was that I'm used to a manual, I would change back gears manually (for roundabout or something) then forget to stick it back in "D" since it is so quiet. Hate the extra wear and tear and waste of fuel doing 80 in Melb. in "3".

Have fitted a shift light which flashes automatically if I leave the shift lever in 1,2,3. I've mounted the light on top of the steering column. Total cost about $8

If anyone's interested I can post some pics etc

[hsvpgts]

please post pic's

[WAGON MAN]

Sounds good.....please post pic's

[Shounak]

Some time ago asked about a "shift light" for my auto VX II Lumina. Have now fitted one.

My prob was that I'm used to a manual, I would change back gears manually (for roundabout or something) then forget to stick it back in "D" since it is so quiet. Hate the extra wear and tear and waste of fuel doing 80 in Melb. in "3".

Have fitted a shift light which flashes automatically if I leave the shift lever in 1,2,3. I've mounted the light on top of the steering column. Total cost about $8

If anyone's interested I can post some pics etc

WTF? Why not just leave it in drive?

Don't say it's because you're used to changing gears, because I've driven a manual for a while and I know drivers who only drive manuals and they leave the selector alone in an auto..

Driving an auto like an auto and a manual like a manual solves the problems..

The only time I shift like a manual is on the freeway to overtake, even then it's just marginally quicker to put my foot down for a downshift..

But yeah, WTF's the point in shifting to 2nd or 3rd gear approaching a roundabout when the car does it for you???

[glassjowned]

I have this problem a fair bit also, but driving maybe 30-40kms at full speed at a time. I use 3rd for going up and down this hilly section, as you would in a manual.

I also change down when there's a change in speed limit, just because I prefer not to brake, and if you drive a manual you'd know that taking your foot off the accellerator will slow the car down better than doing this in an auto.

Now I know it may be a shock to some of you, but how people wish to drive their cars is their choice.

[blaze]

yer man i think ur tallkin crap there n just went ahead n installed 1

[Shounak]

I have this problem a fair bit also, but driving maybe 30-40kms at full speed at a time. I use 3rd for going up and down this hilly section, as you would in a manual.

I also change down when there's a change in speed limit, just because I prefer not to brake, and if you drive a manual you'd know that taking your foot off the accellerator will slow the car down better than doing this in an auto.

Now I know it may be a shock to some of you, but how people wish to drive their cars is their choice.

LOL.. Hills I understand, but wtf with the change in speed limit? You prefer not to brake, so you leave it in 3? That would only work if you're going at a higher speed and it's basically engine braking.. Like instead of using your brakes to slow you down whilst you're in 4th gear in a manual, you shift to 3rd gear and let the revs and speed come down..

It would work in an auto if you're doing about 90 and you're in Overdrive. Shifting to 3rd will slow you down, in the same way it would with a manual.. Driving along at 55km/h in 3rd gear (in an auto) won't prevent you from braking, unless you then put in 2nd gear to slow down..

I fail to see how while you're driving around in 3rd gear (at decent revs), you don't have to brake, leaving it in 3..

And it's not a shock to me at all.. If you wanna drive your car in a way that is absolutely pointless, go for it.. It might be questioned if you post it up on a public forum though..

And just to clarify, I'm not questioning engine braking.. I'm questioning doing it at roundabouts..

[glassjowned]

Yeah, I'm only talking about speed limit changes that are 100>80 and 80>60/50.

Eg: Passing through a town on my way to work I will drop it back to 3rd and back in to drive when I have slowed down enough, but I might just forget to put it back into drive and will end up driving the rest of the trip in 3rd.

So, only to slow down a large amount, I don't do it in city driving, most of my driving is country.

[accentstencil]

Yeah, I'm only talking about speed limit changes that are 100>80 and 80>60/50.

Eg: Passing through a town on my way to work I will drop it back to 3rd and back in to drive when I have slowed down enough, but I might just forget to put it back into drive and will end up driving the rest of the trip in 3rd.

So, only to slow down a large amount, I don't do it in city driving, most of my driving is country.

I often do it myself, like if i'm going down a long hill in a 60 zone, rather than braking every 10 seconds, then before I realize it I'm on the freeway doing 110 in 3rd because I forgot to put it back into drive.

[wrx884]

i agree with shounak i cant see the point either...... tho i dont see how u should b 4gettin ur in 3rd wen ur kinda still thinkin ur drivin a manual?? wouldnt u feel u need 2 change gears??? wouldnt u notice the revs r alot higher or do u drive with ya stereo full blast lol????

[glassjowned]

I'm not saying that its because I'm used to driving a manual, that was the first guy.

And yes when I drive alone my stereo is turned all the way up, but also as the original poster said, it is quiet, and I can't 'feel' the revs like I could in my old manual.

[Shounak]

Spot on wrx.. I was wondering the same, any manual driver worth their salt will know to change up gears.. Changing up gears is much more intuitive than down shifting. It's pretty much the first thing you learn..

But if forgets he's in 3rd and keep driving and wastes fuel etc, I would hate to see him in any late model manual car. But I thought the tacho would've given it away anyway..

Who knows..

If I feel like driving a manual (which I regularly do), I just steal one of my mates cars..

[253@7k]

When driving I check my gauges about every 10 mins, how could you not tell when your revs are up??????? Do you guys just ignore the dash?

[accentstencil]

When you drive a manual you are changing gears all the time, when you shift down in an auto for the occassional hill once in a blue moon, it's easy to forget. And who watches their tacho every second in an auto.

[wrx884]

seems like it lol........... even tho if ya stereo is up u can still feel the revs in the pedal well thats how i can tell mayb its diff 4 others????

[blaze]

do u also put ur foot down on the foot rest thinking its a clutch? yep i find it pointless aswell, wanna change gears goin straight up and down go buy a quick shifter

[wrx884]

thats it ur only meant 2 really use 1 foot 4 the brake n accelerater neways but not every1 drives like that tho still.... pointless haha

[accentstencil]

I wonder why GMH gives us the option of selecting 1st, 2nd, 3rd and Drive. Why not just do away with these unnecessary selections and just give us Drive. The answer can be found in chapter 4 in the owner's manual. But hey, what would they know?

[VXIIwagdf]

I bought two items, from Tandy - a microswitch ($3) rated for 12 volts and a flashing LED ($5) set up for 12volts. The LED was designed to imitate a security system LED, so it came ready to mount with it's own wiring.

1. Remove centre console completely - this forum has details.
2. Connect 600mm wiring to microswitch (solder it) 2 wires
2. install micro switch onto a flat plate approx 70mm x 20mm
3. install flat plate as in picture labelled "microswitch" This pic show the lever in the D position, pulling it back from there immeditately activates the LED. The switch needs to be very precisely placed and I found that making the holes in the flat plate larger than I needed and using very short big headed self tappers gave me all the adjustment I needed. However - there is a hole in the lever which the actuating arm of the microswitch can drop into, so I had to put washers under one end to raise it to avoid this.
4. run one of the wires to earth - there are a couple of convenient screws when you pull down the fuse panel cover
6. Mount the flasher unit - I put mine on top of the steering column using an old Ford Headlight switch. The upper part of the cover can be removed by carefully squeezing it up MAKE SURE nothing is going to stick into the wiring below when you put it back.
7. run the red wire to the power at the fuse box.
8. connect the remiaing wire (white) to the other one from the microswitch.

It took me a bit over half a day to do it.
Couple of refinements
I did find that the raw LED was too much at night so as you can see in the pic I've put a "plate" over it (bit of interior light cover). Found that made it too faint in daylight especially when the sun was directly on it so it now has a bit of plastic tube over it to prevent direct access by the sun. I have to say, I am very pleased with the result. It works a treat.

[blaze]

now ur always gonna remember ur in an auto

[WAGON MAN]

I much prefer the set up in my Berlina (triple window dash cluster)

It displays whatever gear is selected ....

VXIIwagdf.......Atleast your happy with your auto light

[Jamie_87]

seems like it lol........... even tho if ya stereo is up u can still feel the revs in the pedal well thats how i can tell mayb its diff 4 others????

thats spot on in my opinion, u can feel the revs through the pedal when u got it in a lower gear not to mention alot more responsive

[VY2ENJOY]

From the title I thought you ment a light that lets you know when your engine had reached a pre-determined RPM, that would be handy to know how to fit.

[VXIIwagdf]

Looked at the possibility of going to the three window with the selector display, but according to my resaerch and info from Bob on this forum it would cme to thousands of dollars changing the the BCM the gerabox, the wiring loom and the dash.

Someone said they check their gauge every 10 minutes??? Wow. Why do you think I did this - So I would be wasting fuel for even 5 - which is probably how often I check mine.

[vivian]

please post a picture! is there anyone interested in LED auto light? MSN: yf10@yufengltd.com