Scion xA aero mods

[NeilBlanchard]

The best I can say is that the zigzag tape on the mirrors made it quieter - but the video mirrors make that a moot point. I don't think the zigzag tape made any real difference to the MPG, though.

[NeilBlanchard]

Another year goes by, and I have to replace the stock mirrors to get an inspection sticker.

Originally Posted by NeilBlanchard

Okay, I have replaced both the video cameras and the video monitors of my video mirrors -- here's the earlier installation:

http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...tml#post105631

These new "backup" video cameras are pretty small, though they have lenses that are too wide (~170 degrees); in that they make objects appear farther away.



The other nagging concern is that for some strange reason, the molded plastic bit at the 'Y' in the cord where the video signal and the 12v power wire split -- gets quite hot! At first, it gets hot enough to burn my fingers! After a little while, it seems to be cooler, but this is concerning enough that I have ordered some different cameras. These newer ones also have lens angles closer to the first set (~120d vs ~100d) which is probably a very good thing.

Here's the installation:


These monitors look a lot better than the previous units -- these stay clearly visible in bright (and hot) sunlight. Their main problem is they do not just turn on when the car is turned on; and they have to be manually powered on.

I also like that they are wide screen -- this "re-expands" the image from the very wide angle video cameras, and helps correct for the horizontal compression of the barrel distortion of the image.

Does anybody know of a way to "fix" the power on issue on the monitors, so they just turn on when the ignition is turned on?

I'll probably get time tomorrow to put the video cameras back on. It has been weird driving with those *giant* things hanging off the doors. They don't show very much, but what they do show is clear. They suck in the rain, and there is a lot more glare at night.

[orbywan]

Originally Posted by NeilBlanchard

Another year goes by, and I have to replace the stock mirrors to get an inspection sticker.



I'll probably get time tomorrow to put the video cameras back on. It has been weird driving with those *giant* things hanging off the doors. They don't show very much, but what they do show is clear. They suck in the rain, and there is a lot more glare at night.

There's two ways you may be able to make the monitors come on when you have power in the line. Look in your monitor manual, brief as it may be, and see if there is a 'reverse-on' trigger wire. It will show the wire being hooked up to the backup light circuit. IF it has one all you have to do is run your ignition power to this wire and it will come on anytime you turn your key on, or put power to that wire.

The other possibility is once in a while the monitor manufacturer will give you a third video input (on a two channel monitor) that does the same thing. If you hook either one of your camera connectors to the odd input (usually a male or female RCA) and you power your cameras up via the ignition, the monitor will come on anytime it senses a video signal.

A third possibility is to contact whoever sold you the unit and ask them if they can ask the manufacturer if there is a way to do this. About 80 to 90% of monitor manufacturers have some way to do this.

As far as lens selection goes, I've had 6mm lenses (that's about a 50 degree field of view) on my side cameras on my Saturn for about 2 years now and I love'em. I'm working with a manufacturer now who offers 6mm, 8mm, and 12mm sidecams, but they've got a slight glitch in them. If they ever get them right I'll try the 8 and 12mm versions. Might be a tad close but I'd love to find out.

[NeilBlanchard]

Thanks for this - these monitors have a plug with a pigtail that only includes the two video in connections and the 12v power plug. I have them plugged into the video 1 input. If I can (dig into the dash) to swap them to the video 2 input, I will try it to see if the monitors turn on automatically.

On my CarBEN EV5 I will be getting high(er) resolution cameras and monitors, and hopefully the cameras have about 90º of view rather than the 120º+ that the current monitors have.

Two additional points about my video mirrors: the cameras are 4:3 and the monitors are 16:9 (or 16:10) and I can toggle them to "stretch" the horizontal to fit the screen - and this has the benefit of "correcting" some of the wide angle barrel distortion. If the cameras were less wide angle, then they would be much better.

The second point which is not necessarily obvious: video mirrors do not need to be changed for different drivers.

[RandomFact314]

Finally got my Xa a SGII

I've also been running 4% taller tires but I'll let ya know, my MPG has seemed to go down atleast 2mpg.

Gotta get rid of these tires and get some LRR regular sized ones and see how close I can get to 40mpg

The past month has been really rough on me, the store next door to my job was doing construction and I had a total of 8 nails/screws in my tires, ruining like every fuel log

[NeilBlanchard]

You are adjusting the distance driven upward for the odometer reading with the larger tires, right? It may come down to the tires themselves; and also new tires often have higher RR than worn ones because of the deeper tread.

Oh I had a flat on a Saturday, and plugged it myself, and then got a flat the very next Saturday - in the same tire, with another screw! Unbelievable.

My winter tires are going on this Saturday, along with a major service. My xA has about 156,000 miles on it. I pumped in the 351st tank of gas the just last week.

[RandomFact314]

Originally Posted by NeilBlanchard

You are adjusting the distance driven upward for the odometer reading with the larger tires, right?

Yeah I do ODOmiles x 1.04 = actual miles

The SGII isn't calibrated yet but it keeps saying all my trips are in the 39-41mpg range. Guessing that can't be right, coming from about 33mpg. Suppose we will see soon

[RandomFact314]

Originally Posted by RandomFact314

Yeah I do ODOmiles x 1.04 = actual miles

The SGII isn't calibrated yet but it keeps saying all my trips are in the 39-41mpg range. Guessing that can't be right, coming from about 33mpg. Suppose we will see soon

Got to calibrate the SGII, it was like 16.x% off.
Got 33.7 mpg my first week of SGII. Hoping to figure out how to squeeze more than just 0.5mpg out of my car with the SG
These tires HAVE to go

[BamZipPow]

Have you given any consideration on installing yer wide angle mirrors on the inside? I have both my stock mirrors and a pair of wide angle mirrors on the inside and it works out great fer me. When there's any precipitation on the outside mirrors and window, the internal mirrors only have the precipitation on the window to deal with. Just something to consider.

[NeilBlanchard]

Yes, but the sight lines are much tighter without the mirror sticking out from the side of the car. The video mirrors are the primary thing I use, and the small mirror is just there to cover my old habit of looking there, and for when the car is turned off.