How To Make Tach Light Up Red At Redline?

jjw205 · Jan 22, 2015

Been trying to figure out a way to do this, and finally found a video showing it. Any ideas to make this happen?

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acrazyjohnny · Jan 22, 2015

instead of the check engine light he could have leds around the rpm gauge. so instead of check engine coming on leds do

Cooper-97gst · Jan 22, 2015

I ran into this video a whIle back and would love to do this too.
If you do as johnny says that means it will light up to detect knock as well or if there's a code thrown. If there's a way to separate both functions I would be more inclined towards that.

jjw205 · Jan 22, 2015

Yea there has to be a different way, I don't think that's how he has it set up. Maybe some type of 2-color LED that is somehow triggered by something. I could probably trigger it in ECMLink but I just don't know what bulbs to use or how to set them up.

eclipsyco · Jan 23, 2015

I don't know how that's done but this is how I would do it...
Get a cheap shift light then remove led and split it into 4 or 5 led with wires(I don't remember how many bulps behind the tach right now) and stick them next to stock bulps (this means you have to drill the cluster) shift light's led are brighter than stock bulps so when hitting redline it would look like a transition from stock to bright red.

Arthris · Jan 23, 2015

Go to auto parts store and look for side emitting led strips. I know walmart has them, not sure ifnthey carry red but look around. The reason for this is the stripe already has the neccasary resister to drop the voltage for the LED. Pop open cluster find a way to rout the strip. Now you can either use the MIL or you could run the ground of the strip to the unused pin for the purge canister or fuel pressure regulator then set link up to ground that at ur shift rpm. The hot sude of the strip just needs 12V so you can tie that to anything you want

jjw205 · Jan 24, 2015

chrisverneuil said:
Go to auto parts store and look for side emitting led strips. I know walmart has them, not sure ifnthey carry red but look around. The reason for this is the stripe already has the neccasary resister to drop the voltage for the LED. Pop open cluster find a way to rout the strip. Now you can either use the MIL or you could run the ground of the strip to the unused pin for the purge canister or fuel pressure regulator then set link up to ground that at ur shift rpm. The hot sude of the strip just needs 12V so you can tie that to anything you want

That's probably the only way to do it. I will give that a try and I'll post up some pics if it works.

jjw205 · Jan 26, 2015

Anyone have any other ideas besides tying up an output from the ECU? The guy in the video had a 420A, so there has to be another easy way. I don't want to use my last solenoid output on this if I can help it...

tmoney20g · Jan 26, 2015

RPM activated switch power-relayed to a lighted halo behind the bezel ?

http://www.jegs.com/i/JEGS+Performance+Products/555/40824/10002/-1

ZyXEL · Jan 29, 2015

You can use RPM signal (a wire goes to the cluster) and a simple shift light schematic to trigger the led strip under the gauge.
Here's the info how to prepare the gauges (make them white) http://www.dsmtuners.com/threads/how-to-light-gauge-cluster-with-leds.274519/ and as long as you don't need needle to turn red- you can just put your red led strip alongside white one and it will override

FilmerDude · Feb 10, 2015

Maybe a shift light pulled apart with the LED in the Tach area. That's my guess and would seem to be the simplest way to do it.

spyderdrifter · Feb 11, 2015

Most accurate way would be the way tmoney20g mentioned. However owns the one I the video should recalibrate theirs, turns red 1000rpms below red line.

PANICiii · Feb 15, 2015

That would be a pretty cool mod

ZyXEL · Feb 17, 2015

spyderdrifter said:
Most accurate way would be the way tmoney20g mentioned. However owns the one I the video should recalibrate theirs, turns red 1000rpms below red line.

There's no point of revving that high (all the way to the redline). In my opinion- you just need to know where most of the power is and then calibrate it to light up slightly more above that point.

steelcurtaindsm · Feb 19, 2015

I like the ideas of a cluster shift light. Gona look deeper into this.

ZyXEL · Feb 20, 2015

You can always use any free light in the cluster (I have AT cluster and maybe will use it in my MT talon- so AT lights in the middle of it are free to use). I believe ABS light has additional slot for a bulb etc. so if you don't want to disassemble your cluster- this approach can be used

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How To Make Tach Light Up Red At Redline?

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