Turbo Timers

[grinder]

hiya peeps - its me again !!

right then - after seeing adrians turbo timer working  - i want one  !! ( maybe not NOW - but soon )

having looked around ebay and such like , there are LOADS to choose from

do i need a special RX7 one - or will a turbo timer fit any car

do i need a special make , special wiring looms etc..

in theory all it must do is keep power to the ignition for a set period of time ( please prove me wrong though ) - and some connect to the handbrake so that if its released when the timer is running , it stops the car ( to prevent theft )

so from this - feel free to point me in the right direction

Thanks

Stu

[J4P RX]

They have no link to handbrakes at all.

I generally didnt ever use my old one as I knew when I was going to be stopping so could let the car adjust accordingly.  I dont often leave it parked on the handbrake and prefer to leave it in gear which I obviously couldnt do untill the timer stopped anyway.

I did once try driving the car with it just on turbo timer, and this is were I realised what a thief would encounter...  All would go fine untill you get to the first bend, at which point the steering lock comes on and you crash because you cant turn.  Luckily, I didnt crash :rollin

Lee

PS, It may invalidate your insurance and its actually illegal to have the car running when your not in it.

[grinder]

ahhhhhhhh i forgot about the leaving it in gear bit - didnt think of that !

i ALWAYS leave my car in gear

hummm maybe the turbo timer isnt such a good idea then

BUT on the other hand

do they work all the time - or can you turn them off

for example if i nipped to my parents , then i wouldnt be bothered about not leaving it in gear , or if it was on the drive and i knew i was going out later in it

thanks

stu

[J4P RX]

You can turn them off at any point during countdown, or even not have it turned on in the first place.

[bill shurvinton]

An electric water pump is a far better solution to the problem than a turbo timer IMHO. If you are ultra conservative then an electric turbo oil pump as well would ensure that you keep the lube flowing, but then again I have seen no evidence of this being absolutely necessary with water cooled turbos.

[grinder]

well guys - thanks for the comments !- just keep em comming

and bill - i can honestly say i have never heard of either of those two suggestions !!

[Adam]

HKS ones are connected to the hanbrake......  if the hand brake is released the engine dies. You can just turn them off at a flick of a switch.  

I think they are a waste of money as i always found myself sitting there until it had finished anyway

HTH

Adam

[grinder]

well it does look like they are a waste of money - hummm i thought they just looked like a cool toy thats all

will have to think of something else now !! :confused:

we could do with a sticky somewhere about all the cool toys that you can buy and what they ACTUALLY do and if they are worth it

like :

1 - boost gauges
2 - turbo timers
3 - oil temp gauge
4 - Apexi s-afc

etc... etc.....

[bill shurvinton]

Originally posted by grinder
well guys - thanks for the comments !- just keep em comming

and bill - i can honestly say i have never heard of either of those two suggestions !!

Happy to be a source of enlightenment.

[nikp]

I have this week been thinking about getting a turbo timer myself! This is starting to make me have second thoughts, but the timer I was thinking of getting has a boost gauge included in it, which I need, so figured it was pretty good value for money.

So I now don\'t know where I stand!!

[grinder]

thanks Bill ( BTW - did you cash that cheque )

and i have seen the turbo timers with the boost gauge - but never actually seen the back of the timer to see where the little pipe fits ?!??!

unless it uses a different method - as i have no idea how the standard gauge works - is that on electrical impluse thingy

[Adam]

The blitz turbo timer has a boost gauge function.  You run a vacuum hose into the engine bay from the back of the turbo timer.  Just like fitting a mech. boost gauge.

I think Turbo timers all depends on personal cirumstances.  If you have a privat e house and can leave the car running unattended then they are good, but if like me you live in the , middle of a town and your wheels get nicked while moving, then they are not worth using as you can\'t leave the car unattended anyway.

[bill shurvinton]

Originally posted by grinder
thanks Bill ( BTW - did you cash that cheque )

Not yet.  Will do some time

[scooby_si]

as already mentioned many are connected to handbrake the defi one which was part of the HUD boost gauge i had had this safety feature (on my old scoob)
I have one on car en route but i\'m going to remove it purely because i\'m having one as part of the clifford concept alarm in getting fitted u can buy the spare one off me if you want then
I want it less for being lasy when leaving car but more so i can leave it running when i\'m getting car out of garage so i can leave it runnign whuile i lock up & thus (hopefully) avoid any flooding risk :eek
Si

[nikp]

Originally posted by Adam
The blitz turbo timer has a boost gauge function.  You run a vacuum hose into the engine bay from the back of the turbo timer.  Just like fitting a mech. boost gauge.

You mean it\'s actually a mechanical boost gauge!? Ooh, don\'t like the idea of that. Never really been into the idea of mechanical boost gauges as I just have the idea that they are less acurate!