Ash Tray Switch DIY complete

[sailwind]

Finished my two ashtray mods this weekend, think it turned out well. Thought I share it with fellow enthusiasts.

I ran the V1 concealed display to the ashtray where many ppl had it, wasn't too difficult and fits perfectly. The real project was installing my garage opener switch into the ashtray position, where the cigarette holder used to be. I used a round momentary switch from radio shack, which is almost an exact fit for the opening.

The garage door opener casing was cracked open and I soldered the connections which led to the momentary switch. The taped up IC board was put under the gearbox cover. Trial runs showed it had the same range as in free air.

Nice way to save $135 to pay for a factory UGO. The true payoff is knowing doing it yourself :). Let me know what you guys think.

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[racerdave]

Sounds cool! Do you have any pics? Part numbers?

[sailwind]

Sounds cool! Do you have any pics? Part numbers?

The push button momentary switch is Radio Shack Part Number 275-644.

My digital camera was out of batteries when I was doing the install :dunno: . I'll reverse engineer it one of these days and post a DIY.

[Raffi]

I like the garage door opener switch install. :thumbup:

I'm not too crazy about the V1 concealed display unit being that low, as you need to look down to see what's going on - taking your eyes off the road, even for a split second, is not a good idea IMHO. But if it works well for you, all the more power to you! :D

[sailwind]

I like the garage door opener switch install. :thumbup:

I'm not too crazy about the V1 concealed display unit being that low, as you need to look down to see what's going on - taking your eyes off the road, even for a split second, is not a good idea IMHO. But if it works well for you, all the more power to you! :D

Yep, I agree with that the V1 is not in the most optimal location. I believe I read somewhere ppl have placed the V1 display under the tachometer, behind the instrument panel.

A picture's worth a thousand words, but can't find one right now. What I'm referring to are the 4 groups of lights under the tach/speedos. These are the oil warnings, lamps indicators, etc. On the second to the right group, it is completely empty and no display shows through it. Somewhere on the net someone has ripped out the instrument panel and put his V1 in there. It shines through the backpanel and shows up on the instrumentation panel, should be pretty awesome mod.

[Raffi]

Yep, I agree with that the V1 is not in the most optimal location. I believe I read somewhere ppl have placed the V1 display under the tachometer, behind the instrument panel.

A picture's worth a thousand words, but can't find one right now. What I'm referring to are the 4 groups of lights under the tach/speedos. These are the oil warnings, lamps indicators, etc. On the second to the right group, it is completely empty and no display shows through it. Somewhere on the net someone has ripped out the instrument panel and put his V1 in there. It shines through the backpanel and shows up on the instrumentation panel, should be pretty awesome mod.

I know what you're talking about, I've seen it too. Pretty neat, but then again, since you have to mount the detector on the windshield anyway, why not just use the display on the unit itself? I know the idea is to "conceal" the unit behind a sun visor, but it's pretty hard to conceal such a big black box. :dunno:

[doeboy]

I know what you're talking about, I've seen it too. Pretty neat, but then again, since you have to mount the detector on the windshield anyway, why not just use the display on the unit itself? I know the idea is to "conceal" the unit behind a sun visor, but it's pretty hard to conceal such a big black box. :dunno:

Yeah but part of the reasoning for the concealed display is so you move the lights somewhere else while keeping the box where it is so that people behind you can't "leech" off you for radar protection, and so smokeys can't really tell you have a detector visually from behind at night.

That setup in the instrument cluster is real slick... but the thought of cutting open the instrument cluster scares me... :eek:

[sailwind]

Yeah but part of the reasoning for the concealed display is so you move the lights somewhere else while keeping the box where it is so that people behind you can't "leech" off you for radar protection, and so smokeys can't really tell you have a detector visually from behind at night.

That setup in the instrument cluster is real slick... but the thought of cutting open the instrument cluster scares me... :eek:

Main concern for using the concealed display is because when a cop pulls up behind you, the V-1 main unit going nutz with flashing lights everywhere would probably interest him enough to pull you over. With radar detectors legal in california, the cop will probably wonder about whether what the black thing is since it doesn't even look like it's on.

Hopefully the lights can simply shine through that thin membrane in the instrument cluster. The guy may have opened up the concealed display's assembly and taped the red light/pattern in the cluster. I see ppl removing the instrument cluster all the time, got to try it one of these days :D

[doeboy]

Main concern for using the concealed display is because when a cop pulls up behind you, the V-1 main unit going nutz with flashing lights everywhere would probably interest him enough to pull you over. With radar detectors legal in california, the cop will probably wonder about whether what the black thing is since it doesn't even look like it's on.

Hopefully the lights can simply shine through that thin membrane in the instrument cluster. The guy may have opened up the concealed display's assembly and taped the red light/pattern in the cluster. I see ppl removing the instrument cluster all the time, got to try it one of these days :D

Removing the instrument cluster is one thing.... not too difficult to do... hacking the thing open that is one of the locations for storage of mileage info is a bit scary to me.

[Raffi]

Main concern for using the concealed display is because when a cop pulls up behind you, the V-1 main unit going nutz with flashing lights everywhere would probably interest him enough to pull you over.

I've never had that problem. :dunno: You could just flip the sun visor down to conceal the unit if you know a cop is behind you.

[doeboy]

I've never had that problem. :dunno: You could just flip the sun visor down to conceal the unit if you know a cop is behind you.

Yeah but who drives with the sun visor down at night? And also you'd have to know one is behind you... or at least suspect it and then flip it down.... with the concealed display, you simply don't have to worry about it.

[operknockity]

Yeah but who drives with the sun visor down at night?
In my previous car, I left the visors, but driver side and passenger side, down all the time!

[doeboy]

In my previous car, I left the visors, but driver side and passenger side, down all the time!

You're an exception to the norm.... :p :rofl: j/k :D

Seriously though... for me, I can't do that because I'm so darn tall.

[sailwind]

I've never had that problem. :dunno: You could just flip the sun visor down to conceal the unit if you know a cop is behind you.

If a cop pulls me over, I don't think I want to make any excessive "arm movements". He may think that I'm reaching for a gun and shoot first, ask later :D

[elbert]

If a cop pulls me over, I don't think I want to make any excessive "arm movements". He may think that I'm reaching for a gun and shoot first, ask later :D

You can usually tell right away you're gonna get busted. First thing I do when I see the cop car whip out is yank off the V1 and toss it into the passenger seat.