Being an electrical engineer and having my 'balt just come into the "I can do whatever the hell I want to" status, I thought it would be cool do create an LED lighted shifter knob. After doing some research and such, I saw a shifter from a BMW I think that had a seven segment display built into the shifter that displays the gear number. I went "ooooh I could totally build that." So, my question before I go a pure hardware route is, does the ECM or the 5 speed transmission have a position sensor for the 5 speed manual transmission?

 

I dont think theres a position sensor, but it knows what gear youre in based off of speed and rpm

 

Happen to know if that is a reading that can be pulled from the ECM? I haven't been able to find any highly detailed schematics on it.

 

I can try looking at alldata in a bit

 

This is a feature on the rpd in LNF's. And yes from watching it it monitors wheel speed and rpm to determine which gear you're in.

 

Boost by gear on aftermarket boost controllers does the same thing. Learns the gears by wiring in the speed and RPM.

 

So, last night I did some work on the stock shifter playing around and I think I got a good idea going here. I only have one LED embedded right now, but it took me a while to find 5 blue LEDs. I'm going to put a red one under the reverse side.

First LED embedded.

Modified cap.

LED on under modified cap.

 

In for results! Nice idea!

 

I think the only way to pull the ECM's gear indication would be via the CAN bus, it's not a pin-out type of output. Only used for transmission calculations and such. I don't see that alone being able to power the light setup you want without some sort of computer handling it.

 

The lsj does not know all gears. It knows 1st and 2-5.

 

if the gear indicator is on the shifter, wouldnt u be looking at the shifter to see what gear your in anyways lol

 

Can't remember who (maybe CAD88 I think) put LEDs before in the shifter pattern.

 

Well, the LEDs in the shifter aren't for me to look at, there it going to be a display in the dash for that. I looked around on the interwebs and didn't find anything either. I have several different microprocessors that I can play around with. Have some more information on that CAN bus?

 

Or you can just get a RPD display like me

But that is a nice touch.. But usually your hand is on the shifter, maybe shifting.. So you wouldn't see it and if you have to look down to see what gear you're in... Then maybe you shouldn't be driving manual. Lol just kidding.

 

Raxiom Mustang Digital Shift Knob - Manual GL-1021 (79-14 All) - Free Shipping

i like this pretty neat

 

He can't get an RPD though.

 

Bmartz I have never done such a thing I have LEDs everywhere else tho lol

 

Interesting, hopefully it turns out

 

I like the Mustang idea too. But.... lets just get one thing working at a time :p

 

I guess I'm thinking of somebody else then lol

 

Update, work on this is slow because of other projects and work.
I am going to hide all the wiring through the shifter knob and boot.

Lamp Test

Lamp Test w/ Cap