Nifty electronics mods

[davey90]

might look into this Viper Smartstart system thingy. Looks interesting

[proficience]

Originally Posted by davey90

might look into this Viper Smartstart system thingy. Looks interesting

Some cool gadgetry for sure, but more 'party tricks' than things that would be useful on a day to day basis IMO. I think it would easier to walk up to the car and start it, than take out my phone, load up the app, hit the button, then wait 20secs for it to happen... probably won't work in underground/multistorey carparks either (cellular connection)... Worth $400+? I'm not too sure.

Each to their own :P

[LeftFootBrake]

The other thing I forgot to mention would be to have the cruise control on/off toggle switch actually do something useful rather than just be its current pointless and useless PIA. So maybe mapping it to a garage door remote frequency would actually give it a point of existence.

[proficience]

Originally Posted by LeftFootBrake

The other thing I forgot to mention would be to have the cruise control on/off toggle switch actually do something useful rather than just be its current pointless and useless PIA. So maybe mapping it to a garage door remote frequency would actually give it a point of existence.

Haha! That's a pretty cool idea, but I'm sure that manual switch override will prove useful in the extremely unlikely case of a malfunction to the unit.

Do you have it (the master switch) on all the time? I just turn it on when I do use it - which is almost never.

[fuddbutter]

My 1978 BMW had remote start, was super usefull, esp on cold mornings.
Hit the start button before as i am getting out of the shower in the morning, buy the time i am dressed and out the door its all nice and warm, ready to drive away

I'd also use it after work so the car is ready to drive soon as i get in (helpfull when 5min difference in leaving can add up to 20min later getting home)

[LeftFootBrake]

Originally Posted by proficience

Haha! That's a pretty cool idea, but I'm sure that manual switch override will prove useful in the extremely unlikely case of a malfunction to the unit.

Do you have it (the master switch) on all the time? I just turn it on when I do use it - which is almost never.

Yep, I'm forced to turn the master switch on immediately after ignition as I use cruise control all the time. I like avoiding driver distractions such as having to check the speedo relentlessly (in draconian Australian capital cities). I see everyone around me in fixed speed camera zones drop 10-20 under the posted limit and just sigh (normally it's only about 10 indicated, but then indicated speed is 5-10% over actual in most modern cars).

I do a lot of cancel/resume operations as I read the speed of the traffic ahead when using it in the urban environment.

About safety, I doubt the electronic master switch is on different circuitry, so I expect a malfunction will be malfunction. Even if it's not, I can't imagine a scenario it would be the only answer to or the one the driver would actually think of. So, I expect the answer would be they're reusing the 20 year old parts bin or they're just not very good at design. If they really want malfunction protection, make the master switch a physical one (not a toggle) so I can just set it and forget it. I maintain the current approach is just silly. It's far from a deal breaker but also far from hard to fix.

[Z86]

Yeah the cruise control thing annoys me. I also use it everyday, and often I'll stop somewhere. do what I have to do, get back on the road and set my speed and nothing happens... damn have to turn the bloody thing on again.

[proficience]

Originally Posted by LeftFootBrake

If they really want malfunction protection, make the master switch a physical one (not a toggle) so I can just set it and forget it. I maintain the current approach is just silly. It's far from a deal breaker but also far from hard to fix.

Oh wow! So it's not an actual physical switch (just noticed this arvo driving home from work. That's not good at all! My old Civic FD had a physical switch so I just somehow assumed the same. That is crap... I've never heard of it before (but my knowledge is limited)

[450hp/tonne]

Originally Posted by LeftFootBrake

I think one of the advantages of HIDs is that they have a really long lifespan. Not sure if it's operating hours or power cycles that contribute most to it, though?

Main factor is cycles. Hours have a less significant effect.

[LeftFootBrake]

Other additions (extracted from here)...

• Setting cruise control does not disable sports mode; it merely overrides it.
• Selecting manual mode turns on sports transmission mode automatically (if off and we discover manual/sports-on is different to manual/sports-off).
• Better cruise control algorithms for holding speed up hill and down dale.

[Surok]

speaking of cruise control...

i have a new camry sportivo and i cant figure out how to use the cruise control!

in my falcon it is so simple and even in the SLK its simple..i am going to have to read the manual in the camry :'(

so im guessing the 86 system is the same :////////

[LeftFootBrake]

Actually, it's pretty standard in my experience: On/Off (stoopid implementation), Set/Decel, Resume/Accel.

EDIT: I forgot an important one most people don't use enough: Cancel. You don't have to use the brakes and can make for smoother transitions.

Of course, the ergonomics is much better on all this if the controls are within finger reach rather than being on a separate stalk. But unfortunately, it is what it is.

[LeftFootBrake]

Actually, you know the mod I want the most?

Digital Indicated Speed = Actual Speed

That would be righteous. And what a crazy world we live in when I have to make that an aftermarket request. (And please don't bother telling me why it's so; I don't need to hear it.)

[Surok]

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZrAW-F3Ck0"]2011 | Toyota | Camry | Cruise Control | How To by Toyota City Minneapolis MN - YouTube[/ame]



:// maybe i was going too slow for it to work