Shift light Mod on OEM Tach?
 

anyone know how this can me done? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VlURHNt8H7g

i searched and didn't find much on NAM, thought someone here might have some info on how it can me done... thanks for the info:thumbsup:

To me, that's not really a shift light. All it is doing is lighting up the redline when revved to that area.
I've always known a shift light to light up at a pre-determined RPM, so that you can shift while watching the road/track without having to look directly at the tach.
I would rather use this...
http://motoringfile.com/2005/09/21/j...ift_indicator/
BUT, wire it to an existing or add-on LED, I wouldn't want that thing sitting on top of my dash.

Actually that is a very good shift light. It varys the display depending on revs, just like the expensive ones.

I have no idea who did it or how, but it looks to be a fairly involved hack.

Thanks for the input guys :thumbsup:

If you can figure this out let me know. I would be really interested in doing this.

Have you driven a car for an extended period with a shift light? I find them to be very annoying and inaccurate (I had one on a 1982 VW Scirocco...I think it was related to vacuum pressure, not just RPMs). While I sometimes wish there was one for my son (who is learning to drive on my MINI...I swear that kids would drive across the country in 1st gear if I didn't tell him to shift!), I otherwise find them to be a nuisance. Just my 2 cents.

I think the YouTube video and the JCW Shift Light works the same. It's just located differently.

While I can't comment on how the YouTube shiftlight works, the other in-tach shiftlight video I've seen is programmable. The shiftlight progresses Green, Orange, Red as the RPM increases up until you reach the programmed redline, at which all the lights blink to indicate redline. All the colored lights quickly tells you if you're getting near redline. The unit is programmable, to whatever redline you have; there's also two other modes, one that flashes one light (instead of a series of lights), or all the lights-on once you've reached redline (no progressive lights).

The JCW shift light isn't programmable (I think), and looks a bit dorky sitting on the dash.

I have all the parts I need to make one myself, but I haven't figured out how to stuff the component inside the tach (not much room inside). It's a slow work in progress.

As far as annoyance, you can always wire an on/off switch if it is bothersome.

There's been other posts on NAM and Mini2 that have extensive discussion on this, search and you'll find out what others have attempted.

Thanks for all the info

Weird, I can't find the thread. I totally remember that video from someone on NAM who custom-built that shift indicator. I believe he tapped into some electrical line that carried the signal of the RPMs (analog signal, I believe), and tied that into an array of LEDs in the tachometer so that as the signal increased the lights would start lighting up from the end.

keep us posted
I would be interested in getting the info as well

and look at other options

well I'll do some more searching through the fourms, i'm sure it'll turn up sooner or later... thanks for all the input :thumbsup:

yup... thats some one from nam... i remember the post a few months ago

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...le+shift+light

heres the thread

AWESOME!! thanks you so much :thumbsup:

I have this, it's nice. :)

I like it!..... buuut I shift at 8 so how would that work... :P

:eek2::eek2:

8000RPM redline!!

I also was trying to figure out how to install a shift light. I found this one at Summit Racing Part no. sum-g2945, price: $32.95(www.summitracing.com. It has a simple three wire install, positive, negitive and tach feedback. It is also adjustable from 3000 to 12000 rpm no pills req.

My question is:
How do I get a tach signal? When I saw the JCW shift light I was hopeful, but I still haven't seen a how to install.

Any help out there?

Doesn't the white/red wire that you splice the JCW intake into carry the tach signal?? :confused: How else would it know to open the flap at 4500 rpm?

had one of these when i had my wrx, works like a charm.
http://www.fastwrx.com/plugandplays.html

here's another one only smaller
http://www.machv.com/tinledshifli.html

... and I thought 7800 was good, although I tend to shift around 7500.

Oh yeah, I forgot, we're running pretty much the same software <g>

Steve

so has anyone had any sucess with this

It's nice up there, isn't it? :nod::grin:. Must say, though: I beat ya there :razz:. Cheers d00d!

RMP 6k in yellow/orange
 

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