The Show Off Your Cockpit Thread
 

This thread is for anyone who wants to show how they've Feng-Shuied their cockpit to ease hypermiling.

When I started ecomodding a while back I kept wondering about how and where to attach all the buttons, switches and LEDs in a way that is both functional and wife-approved. Luckily, the CD changer under my radio was kaputt, so I removed it to (1) use less electricity, (2) keep it out of the reaches of anyone who might want it. (Actually, I don't mind someone taking it, but I don't want to replace my window in the process.) So I used the space under my radio for my ecomodding console, and now that it's more or less done I'd like to show it off so that others may get some inspiration.

I used the carcass of a dead radio to make sure everything would fit nicely.

http://ecomodder.com/forum/attachmen...1&d=1288705780

Starting from the left:

• A mom-off-mom switch for engine starting and stopping,
• An on-off switch for the alternator (not used),
• Two mom-off-mom switches for opening/closing the two active grille blocks,
• An on-off-on switch for the DRLs (on-off-auto).

There is also a small blue LED to signal when the DRLs are on, and a larger blinking red LED that was supposed to signal when the radiator fan kicked in, but now only signals when the engine kill button is pressed. There is still room for another two switches when the time comes.

http://ecomodder.com/forum/attachmen...1&d=1288705780

The insides (pardon the mess) are wired through connectors which allow the whole box to be easily taken out of the car (and worked on in a warm, dry place). I plan to get the mess cleaned up and add a small diagram of which wire show go where, in case my failing memory gets the better of me.

My ScanGauge rests in on the ashtray, under which is the OBD socket.

http://ecomodder.com/forum/attachmen...1&d=1288705780

I'm thinking about a semi-clear piece of plexi, hinged at the top, to cover the buttons from curious eyes and fingers when I'm not driving.

And here's the start/stop button in action.

Congrats for the cleanness of your switches box :thumbup: at least when it's closed ;)

Sadly I don't have a free space to cleanly mount my switch :(

May I open a "Show off your ugly cockpit" thread ?

Denis.

...how does that saying go? "...NEATNESS is next to..."

Oh, c'mon Groar. First the Uglyback, then the Uglycover and Uglyteeth, now the Uglycockpit. Where is your self esteem??

My travelling environment, glad I gave it a quick hoover last week

http://ecomodder.com/forum/attachmen...1&d=1288826572

Anyone want to play spot the VAG part ? The wheel is an obvious one... Note I drive on the correct side :D so the wheel is on the right, and mods seem to be at a minimum. But wait, there is an SG2 poking its head over the steering column.

http://ecomodder.com/forum/attachmen...1&d=1288826431

Why yes, there it is. Note that the SG supplied sticky pad has long since given up so I replaced it with one intended to stick number plates onto the outside of the car, but as you can see the toxic state of my interior has made it fail.

No it wasn't as late as the clock suggests, I must work out how to change it for GMT after BST.

All of this looks neat until...

http://ecomodder.com/forum/attachmen...1&d=1288826572

Yes I did take a Dremel to my dashboard to get the wiring to fit. I actually got fed up of banging my knee on the door to this cubby hole.

I did miss out a pic of the insulating tape holding this cover closed, but you get the idea.

@Arragonis:

http://ecomodder.com/forum/attachmen...1&d=1288829674

Ah, so much better.



Here's my toggle switches, which fill space formerly occupied by blanks in all North American Insights. From left to right, it's fuel injectors, clutch switch (assist/regen disable), DC/DC converter, and MIMA enable. The only one I use with any frequency is the one on the far left, which enables EV mode, forces DFCO, or just does light anti-theft duty.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4076/...8421e4f8_b.jpg

This is the only picture I have of my MIMA display, which is just eleven LEDs wedged between the steering cowl and the dash.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4149/...2e3cfbd4_b.jpg

Pictures of my ScanGauge, MPGuino, and BCMGauge will have to wait until the latter two are installed. I also have a momentary kill switch on the gearshift and a MIMA joystick + 2 buttons zip-tied to the handbrake lever.

LOL, Robert you need some gas and juice in that thing.

;)

regards
Mech

Looking nice guys, hopefully I can dig up a photo of where I left the IRX when I split from the country :thumbup:

I'm still looking for the "Mom-off" switch... where do you find one of those? And do they really work? My Mom can be a bit annoying when I EOC... :(



:D

LOL, you beat me to it!! :D

Actually, the only Mom-off I've heard about is the permanent variety;) Notice mine are Mom-off-Mom, so going from Mom to off brings Mom back sooner or later... Mom is never too far away...

Arrgh, now all my dials read backwards - help....

I'm working on an anti-noise device, one of those ones which puts out the negative signal of annoying sounds to cancel them out. Unfortunately I worked out that modern processors aren't powerful enough to handle signal processing involved in the Mrs giving me the list of things I haven't done yet.

Sorry :(

http://www.groar.org/EcoModder/MeganeUglyCockpit-o.jpg

In disorder for the visible part :

• the kill switch and the stop solenoid fuse
• the monitor for the passenger rear view camera
• the pad for the 6 tones siren
• the voltmeter
• the 10 blue LED string

Denis.

What's their purpose, Denis ?

None ;)
I love blue, it was cheap and it shows that I'm able to have something wasting energy (currently less than 1W) while having great mileage, the radio isn't enough as everybody is using one...
It is also to have some sort of Jacky touch as I don't have any carboard tuning anymore ;)

The siren was installed last week and I used it twice already, once against a pedestrian (while FASing in city) and once against a blond trying to drive while she was phoning...

Denis.

Here's part of my cockpit:
Left: Volts Middle: Vacuum Right: Water temp
http://img138.imageshack.us/img138/9901/img0113g.jpg

Old pick at night with the old Voltage gauge
http://img62.imageshack.us/img62/4893/gaugesnight.jpg

Volts gauge is for monitoring when the ECU is switching on and off the Alternator (VX turns it off as much as it can)

Vacuum Gauge to help keep it in lean burn.

Water Temp to just help watch how grill blocks affect engine temps.

Air temp gauge that is plumbed into my air intake to monitor incoming air temps from the WAI.
http://img607.imageshack.us/img607/6...484945orig.jpg

And a shot of the rest of the cockpit:
Phone holder in center vents, iPod touch holder made by TomTom that turns it into a GPS system, and a farther back shot of the gauges.
http://img46.imageshack.us/img46/436...484956orig.jpg

I will be adding an LED to show when the cooling fan is on, but I already know what temp it turns on and off at and can tell by the water temp gauge, but we all know that more LEDS are fun!

All the new gauges are LED backlit so they draw very little current.

LED tail light project is getting put on the front burner again so I can get it finished this winter as well.

I love this thread. I think Groar gets the most 'Customised' or 'Most Lived In' award so far...

That's because his wife has her own car...

So does mine.

Hang on. :rolleyes:

I just found a forum with a picture of the cockpit of the Citroën GS:

http://ecomodder.com/forum/attachmen...1&d=1289394883

Now, imagine getting an ecomodded cockpit straight from the factory!!

I love the car drawn on the dash board to indicate where is the problem : so 3rd millenium, as it was dream in the 70's, ie so Space: 1999 :D

Denis.

My Jeep has a little Jeep picture on the lower info screen kinda like that. Lights up the tires based on what 2wd/4wd mode you're in, etc. Also shows open doors, as well as a few other things.

Citroen dashes from the 70s and 80s are the barmy thoughts of a madman - or indeed Robert Opron - the one man I wish my 'hero' (the guy to my left) had partnered with.

http://www.automovilismoblog.com.ar/...bert-opron.jpg

And the car (GS) ain't bad either.

http://www.automovilismoblog.com.ar/...Citroen_GS.jpg

*goes off to consider Citroen GS(A) with 3cyl TDI/6sp conversion.

The only thing my car has is a SGII. I need more lights and switches.

The one of the shifter with the fork in the back ground has my kill switch on it, and my bicycle shifter throttle hold. (they are located on the aluminum mount on the shifter not on the fork) The previous owner's dog chewed the shifter all up. I used a pocket knife to remove the sharp bite marks resulting in a very custom shifter knob.

the other is the cluster and guino. The cluster is out of a civic EX with an auto. note the neat lights by the temp and fuel gauges. The plastic bezel was broken while trying to trouble shoot the dash issue, in 25*F.

funnier than frank lee
 

piwoslaw, you are funny!!!! and in that sublte 'frank lee' kinda way!!!!

give that there is a language/translation hadicap on your side.........
........you're actually funnier than frank lee!!!!!!!!!:thumbup:

arragonis, this ones for you!!!!!

http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/v...s/IMG_5426.jpg

http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/v...s/IMG_5425.jpg

oh what the heck.......
http://s678.photobucket.com/albums/v...0Vaden%20Plas/

02 Infiniti Q45 Sport Ecomodded dash:
http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/v...comodder-1.jpg

http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/v...terdashb-1.jpg

I'm sure he'd feel much better if you messed up the dashboard a little, like so:

http://ecomodder.com/forum/attachmen...1&d=1290431843

Frank Lee, hmmmm, I don't know if I should take that as a compliment?:confused:
Just kidding. Thanks, MC:)

Is that a Jag dash above?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v7...d/DSC_2830.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v7...d/DSC_2852.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v7...d/DSC_2862.jpg

Neil -

Great use of the empty space in front of your steering wheel.

CarloSW2

Well, to the common folk it 'could' be called a Jag......:eek:

but to 'the few, the chosen, the beloved' it is know simply as a VDP. ;)

(Vanden Plas edition):thumbup:

Do those screens dim?

Vanden-plas you say ? Substantial improvement there once the wheel moves to where it belongs. But picnic tables, ding-dong. Hmmmmm. That Jag is lovely, but I'm more an SIII XJ6 fan - SWB Series 1 4.2 please, in teal blue.

However I'm afraid this little VDP beauty is more my budget.

http://carandclassic.co.uk/uploads/c...in/1116917.jpg

Cracking colour. Also has picnic tables.

http://images.classiccars.co.uk/c/46...999e6b6022.jpg

Hard to see though.

A friend of my dad rescued one of these which had stood in a garage for 10 years - typical old bloke having died and wife hadn't got round to selling it. It was a 1.3 Auto (0-60 measured on a sundial) and he serviced it and ran it for 10 years without it ever failing.

I afraid to ask if thats the factory coluor!!!!!!!!

lol

Having driven an 88 XJ40 series XJ6 Vanden Plas a few times, they're pretty awesome cars, if a bit underpowered. The instant fuel readout is in a great spot though, as it's easily visible when driving.

THe 99 VDP that i have is the 4.0L V8 it has 290hp very strong. I can still get 26mpg on the road if I stay below 62mph

The newer ones have far more power. However, the 190hp 3.6L I6 with tall gearing in an 88 is fairly underpowered. The geared them lower in 89 for better power, as the 88 was the first year with an overdrive auto, but kept the original gearing. The 88 therefore gets better mpg. It'll lock the TC around 55mph minimum, at which point it's turning a bit under 1500 rpm, IIRC.

I didn't have to pay for a Jagy just to have picnic tables:)
http://ecomodder.com/forum/attachmen...1&d=1290581560

Nor do you have to put up with a Jag's excessive fuel consumption & weight :thumbup: