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Date:         Thu, 17 Dec 2009 02:25:25 -0800
Reply-To:     quadrat <quadrat@COMCAST.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         quadrat <quadrat@COMCAST.NET>
Subject:      Re: Audible Idiot "Light"...EE Inventor Wanted
Comments: To: Richard Koerner <rjkinpb@SBCGLOBAL.NET>
In-Reply-To:  <83404.99839.qm@web83607.mail.sp1.yahoo.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

Just keep an eye on your left mirror. As I understand it, The Check Engine Light on a VW van consists of flames coming out of the engine compartment.

OK, so it is not Phryedae, and I very sincerely hope it does not become Fry day, either. Best of luck with the audible warnings!

Ron

-----Original Message----- From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of Richard Koerner Sent: Wednesday, December 16, 2009 4:55 PM To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM Subject: Audible Idiot "Light"...EE Inventor Wanted

Volks,

I'm pretty anal about my cherished Vanagon.  Always looking...always listening...follow the recommended maintenance activities by the book and then some.  Yet...it happened to me on my recent half-country trip from San Diego to Brownsville, Texas.  The dreaded "red lights" suddenly noticed in the instrument cluster; in my case, broken water pump/alternator belt.  I saw the lights and immediately pulled off the highway.  Were they on for seconds or minutes?....surely not more than a minute or two.  And I may have squeaked by...no apparent engine or gasket damage, but time will tell on that one.

What we need is a simple fix.  A small "box" of electronics, wired in so as to detect any of the red LED's coming on (oil pressure, alternator, coolant temperature), with a LOUD piezo speaker blasting you to "get OFF the road and shut down IMMEDIATELY!!!.   Doesn't have to speak words....just be obnoxious.

Sure, the idiot lights do provide some measure of alert.  But the vast windows of the Vanagon provide plenty of reasons for not driving while staring down at the instrument cluster, especially on a bright sunny day.  We need a backup system...Audible.  Airplanes have these kinds of things, even "stick shakers" to try to convince you to avoid a stall.

So....any Electrical Engineers out there?  I'm a Mechanical Engineer...I can't do it, but it's easily within the realm of some EE.  Maybe it's already been done.  I'd pay $50-$100 for such a contraption...peace of mind...and freedom to keep looking out the windows.  Sound interesting?

Rich 85 Vanagon not a Westy but I love it to death San Diego


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