Since there is one of those idiot upshift for economy lights.. :(


http://images.rotarynews.com/images/Detroit2003_1/mvc01350.jpg

Is there a way to turn it off, short of actually unplugging the wire? I don't need a stupid computer to tell me when to shift.. Unless that's a shift/rev limiter warning light, in that case thumbs up! :D

I think it will be a fuse if anything.. you can probably pull it.

Keep in mind this isn't like shifting a piston engine.. you won't be able to 'feel' when to shift.

If its like all the other cars in the world that have a shift light you can pull the light out of the dash...they're ment to be replaced you know.

Plus, RX-7's(and the RX8, according to rotarynews.com) have redline buzzers...not any stinkin' light.

Michael

Originally posted by Hercules
Keep in mind this isn't like shifting a piston engine.. you won't be able to 'feel' when to shift.
Yeah.. that's why I hope it's a rev shift light with a buzzer. Otherwise I'm turning that off somehow..

Originally posted by Hercules
I think it will be a fuse if anything.. you can probably pull it... It wasn't a fuse in previous models, and I don't see any reason to put in a fuse just for the shift light now. There isn't a separate fuse for any of the other dash lights, is there?

One could hope that there might turn out to be some documented or undocumented "hack" that you could do to the programming of the ECU to defeat it. But short of that, we're probably going to have to find a wire or a bulb to defeat it.

---jps

you can't turn it off. Remember the flat torque curve? Hercules is right; you do not really feel when to change gears. You hit 7...8...9k rpm in no-time. dash light and warning chime will let you know when it's time to change!

Originally posted by rx-8@mazda
you can't turn it off. Remember the flat torque curve? Hercules is right; you do not really feel when to change gears. You hit 7...8...9k rpm in no-time. dash light and warning chime will let you know when it's time to change! I believe, and I might be wrong, that that dash light is recommended shift for economy gas mileage, and the chime comes on when you hit 9500 RPMs.

aslong as it doesnt make any noise before 9500 rpm :o

It's probably like the shift light for the 350Z.

On the Z, you can program the two settings, one when it blinks, and the other when it stays solid. That way it can tell you when you're about to hit redline.....

Sorry if this is a newbie question, but what do you guys mean you won't be able to feel when to shift? I'm a beginner 'stick' driver and was assuming it would be somewhat similar to the ones I've driven where you can basically learn to shift by the sound of the engine. Even if the torque curve is flat, I'm assuming that higher revs will make a louder/higher pitched noise, no?

Originally posted by gmui
Sorry if this is a newbie question, but what do you guys mean you won't be able to feel when to shift? I'm a beginner 'stick' driver and was assuming it would be somewhat similar to the ones I've driven where you can basically learn to shift by the sound of the engine. Even if the torque curve is flat, I'm assuming that higher revs will make a louder/higher pitched noise, no? See in a piston engine, pistons pound up and down. As the RPMs go up, the pistons pound faster and faster, which gives you more vibration in your throttle pedal and foot, and you know when to shift just by the 'feel' of it.

Rotary engines spin. The faster they spin doesn't increase any engine vibration. Think of this.. put a marble into a cup and spin it around. The faster it goes, do you hear any more noise? Not really. It's not reliable enough to get a 'feel' for shifting so the RPM gauge is big and bright as well as a warning buzzer and shift light.

You'll understand when you get behind the wheel of a rotary :)

But is it an economy shift light or a 'imminent doom' shift light?

Originally posted by pelucidor
But is it an economy shift light or a 'imminent doom' shift light? dunno.

Originally posted by Hercules
See in a piston engine, pistons pound up and down. As the RPMs go up, the pistons pound faster and faster, which gives you more vibration in your throttle pedal and foot, and you know when to shift just by the 'feel' of it. Eh? Not in my boinger. :) I used to know when to shift because the power would fall off about 500 RPM before redline, and the engine would start to sound a little wheezy. When I put my custom intake/exhaust setup on the engine, the tach swings to redline with no trail-off of power, and I find myself bumping the rev limiter a lot more often as I'm too busy to look at the tach on the autox course.

Haven't driven a piston engine yet that was rough enough to vibrate the throttle pedal, unless something was very wrong (like the time I almost drilled a con-rod through the block :D).

Hercules just hasn't driven a 200hp VTEC engine yet, that's all.. :p

But I'm sure the rotary engine is smoother due to the design.. Can't wait to drive it.

Originally posted by pelucidor
But is it an economy shift light or a 'imminent doom' shift light? It's an "economy" shift light. "Imminent doom" warnings have previously been buzzers in the RX line.

And even though it's a smoother engine, and with different sound characteristics, you can still "feel" when it is time to shift a rotary, especially once you get familiar with it.

---jps

It's still too early to tell if it's a redline Shift Up light or a fuel economy Shift Up light. The '86-88 2nd gens had the fuel economy Shift Up light that also lights at redline, but it's a simple matter to remove the Shift Up bulb.

It's actually kind of handy for novice stick shift drivers - my fiancee loves hers in her '87 RX-7 that she learned to drive a stick in.

Dale

warning sound = red line
dash light = optimum drive (balances performance and economy)

Just wanted to bring this topic back to the surface.

I heard some of you mentioned that in the Production model the Shift up, green light is gone and we just get the Buzzer at 9,000 right ?

Please Verify this for me please, thank you.

Originally posted by Smoker
I heard some of you mentioned that in the Production model the Shift up, green light is gone and we just get the Buzzer at 9,000 right ?I certainly never saw a "shift up" light during my extended test drive.

If you don't want to see it, use a black tape and cover it up.
When you want to see it again, just simply remove it.

Originally posted by ReX-8
If you don't want to see it, use a black tape and cover it up.
When you want to see it again, just simply remove it.
Not a very clean or elegant solution.

Originally posted by Hercules
Keep in mind this isn't like shifting a piston engine.. you won't be able to 'feel' when to shift.


I don't mean to be an ass, but that is one of the most ridiculous statements I've read on this forum yet. Have you owned/driven a rotary before ?!!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?

You can feel when to shift on ANY car !!!!

Hmm.. I havent noticed the shift light.. Either, I'm shifting all wrong, or we dont have it.

Sorry, dont know about the buzzer yet. Havent punched it quite yet.

yeah, can't say I'm sure about this shift light... I don't recall ever having seen it, and I've had mine for almost a week now...

If you can't "feel" when to shift, then you're either deaf (People have suggested its so quiet that you can't figure out where to shift... if you've ever heard a jet engine, you're fully aware that engines that don't have pistons still manage to make some noise), or, like someone said, there's something terribly wrong with the piston engines you've driven...

It is a smooth curve, but you know.... after a week (assuming you are comfortable on a manual anyway), you'll know speed-wise where to shift (both for balancing power, and for really running it)...

Besides, a little tiny light is hardly an indication when compared to the BIG TACH in front of your face...

No shift light on my car. I've driven it plenty at night, and that's something you'd notice in the dark. Rest assured, there's no annoying light coming to the US. Unless you're special...

Originally posted by ReX-8
If you don't want to see it, use a black tape and cover it up.
When you want to see it again, just simply remove it.
Not a very clean or elegant solution.

I don't have any light like that, just the redline buzzer.

Also, I CAN tell when I'm approaching redline, or at least time to think about switching gears. I can feel the third port opening up ~6200 RPM. It's nowhere near as jerky as a VTEC, but if you feel carefully you can notice.

Originally posted by Boozehound
No shift light on my car. I've driven it plenty at night, and that's something you'd notice in the dark. Rest assured, there's no annoying light coming to the US. Unless you're special...
I have never seen it come on, and I regularly go to 7k rpm. I believe it comes on sometime after the 7k.

The "imminent redline" buzzer is triggered at 8500 rpm, not 9500 or 9000.

If it were a fuel economy light, wouldn't it come on waaaaay before 7 grand? It sure feels like I can watch the gas gauge go down when I open it up - not much sense having a light that late...

so.... THERE'S NO LIGHT.

Originally posted by Boozehound
If it were a fuel economy light, wouldn't it come on waaaaay before 7 grand? It sure feels like I can watch the gas gauge go down when I open it up - not much sense having a light that late...

so.... THERE'S NO LIGHT.


I just noticed his location. Could this be a Canadian thing?

If its a fuel economy light, I would have seen it. After three tanks of gas, I am averaging barely 16 miles to the gallon. Must be a Canadian thing, eah.

Didn't mean to jump on anyone, I guess it makes sense if it's an international option. Chalk it up to the list of things we can't get our hands on - no wait, this is a good thing...

So... cut the blue wire... NO!!! wait... it's the red... yeah, always stick with red...

Yeah, I've never noticed this shift light and the manual doesn't say anything about a shift light.

Shifting: As smooth as the rotary is, you'll know when you're approaching 7000rpm's. It isn't THAT quiet. The engine noise cuts through the stereo and I listen to my stereo real loud. It still feels smooth, but you can definitely hear the engine.

Just to confirm, Canadian models do not have a shift light.

Well I just got finished installing a blue LED. I wired it to the Redline Buzzer, mounted it above the steering column, and faced it towards the dash (so it doesn’t blind me). The plastic that covers the gauges magnifies the light too. It also lights up with other warnings like lights on or key in ignition.

Picture of it on
http://www.z1n.com/public-files/rx8/images/Shift_LED.jpg

My Ride
http://www.z1n.com/public-files/rx8/images/My_ride.jpg

Originally posted by z1n
Well I just got finished installing a blue LED. I wired it to the Redline Buzzer, mounted it above the steering column, and faced it towards the dash (so it doesn’t blind me). The plastic that covers the gauges magnifies the light too. It also lights up with other warnings like lights on or key in ignition.

Picture of it on
http://www.z1n.com/public-files/rx8/images/Shift_LED.jpg

My Ride
http://www.z1n.com/public-files/rx8/images/My_ride.jpg

Z1, That's very similar to what I was considering doing, but rather than just a solid LED, I was looking at putting a flat smoked plastic piece on the face of the dash with a colored LED at each of the 4 poles. Then when I hit the red-line buzzer, the entire face of the dash would change colors. I thought it would be neat.

For 6 months, never see any shift light, I need one gear display because the car so smooth and I drove on 4th gear once without realizing I am still in 4th! passing everyone on highway home (he.he.). Any other car in wrong gear the engine and transmission will scream at you to shift....

Ajax, that sounds like a good idea. When I connected the wires to the buzzer (located behind the gauges on the circuit board) I noticed the LED's that light up the gauges blue when the headlights are on at night. From what I remember, it wouldn't be hard to add another light next to it or change it out to a multi color LED. I’m going to check it out sometime and see if I can do your idea although I’m not sure what the "flat smoked plastic piece" would be for. Let me know if you ever do this mod of yours so I can maybe check it out since I'm in the area.

the plastic itself is to give the light a medium to pass through and contain it. The idea is to color the entire face with light and only the face, not to illuminate everything so the face of the tach appears to change color or glow.

It doesnt really have to be smoked but that would definitely give you more color.

Originally posted by Hercules
See in a piston engine, pistons pound up and down. As the RPMs go up, the pistons pound faster and faster, which gives you more vibration in your throttle pedal and foot, and you know when to shift just by the 'feel' of it.

Rotary engines spin. The faster they spin doesn't increase any engine vibration. Think of this.. put a marble into a cup and spin it around. The faster it goes, do you hear any more noise? Not really. It's not reliable enough to get a 'feel' for shifting so the RPM gauge is big and bright as well as a warning buzzer and shift light.

You'll understand when you get behind the wheel of a rotary :)

MY rx7 can seffinately be driven by ear and feel. AND HELL YES does that thing get loud when u stomp on it, I dont know what ur talking about. And yes I have driven several rx8's, and u can deffinately drive them by feel and ear.

I have never seen a shift-up arrow illuminate on my dash. I struggle to see why it's such an issue. Frankly, a lot of folks might appreciate an indicator that leads them to better gas mileage.

This is the first manual i've owned and I drive by feel and every so often by tach. I just think it'd be neat for the entire tach face to light up(change colors, whatever) when the RPM warning tone went off.

That's just me and I'm kinda weird.

There was some car I saw, forget which one, but the dash lighting would change from blue at idle to red at redline, which is a neat idea.

Anyways I have taken it above 9k and never noticed the shift arrow.

About the upshift arrow that lights up in the dash, this may be a feature for the automatic version only. Im not sure if the auto has a manual mode for shifting, but I have seen other vehicles that have the auto with man mode and they usally have indicators for shiftting. Dunno about the RX8 though.