Gear indicator

[StevieDB9]

ok, so does anyone who knows more about electronics than me (i.e. everyone) have any idea if it is at all possible to wire up a circuit to have a digital gear display on the dash?

 

[HDi fun]

You'd either have to wire up some elaborate microswitches on the selector gate or take the information from the ECU if, indeed the ECU even has such information. If your car doesn't have cruise control then it's likely that microswitches are the only way.

Why do you need it though? Rev counter should give you enough information.

 

[StevieDB9]

hmmm, all gobblygook to me

nah, just thought it would be a cool gimmic, make the dash look like a rally car :cheesy:

 

[turbonutter69]

What do you mean digital gear display? Something that tells you what gear your in or a shift light?

 

[StevieDB9]

current gear, i.e. exactly the same thing as you find on most motorbikes

 

[turbonutter69]

Ok but that would be just pointless. I assume you would just need to buy something that does just that and that will have instuctions with it.

 

[HDi fun]

Buy an automatic and let the car get on with gear selection would be one option.

 

[StevieDB9]

only as pointless as the light to indicate that your headlights are on

 

[turbonutter69]

only as pointless as the light to indicate that your headlights are on

But that light isn't that pointless when you've been driving at night and it gets light and you forget to turn the lights off when the sun rises. You only have to look down at the gearstick to tell what gear your in.

 

[HDi fun]

I have automatic lights :-(

Sadly gearbox is manual

 

[StevieDB9]

alright, lets say i cant be arsed looking at the gearstick, as a mental excercise does anyone know how it could be done?

 

[turbonutter69]

You would have to buy something like a shift indicator. Try racelogic

 

[StevieDB9]

cheers, i was thinking maybe some type of "x-y" differentiator using potentiometers but dont know much about electronics

 

[HDi fun]

cheers, i was thinking maybe some type of "x-y" differentiator using potentiometers but dont know much about electronics

You don't need to go anywhere near that far as the gears are discreet items ie. 1-2-3-4-5-6-N-R

You just need a set of switches on the selector arms or the gate. You have no need, for example to record gear 1.27, for example. It's one position or one of the others.