Turbo Timers - Need some advice

[Shark]

hi there,

I\'m planning on a turbo timer so that I don\'t have to hang around each time I stop the car.

I\'d appreciate any advice or recommendations as to what to get.  I think these do other things as well?

I have a cat 2 immobiliser and a different manufacturer cat 1 alarm upgrade on top.

How does a turbo timer usually work in with the immobiliser?

Hope someone doesn;t mind explaining it to the thick bloke as I\'d rather learn and understand than just go to a specialist, let them pick one and fit it whilst I stay ignorant.

[davefrith]

If you have a clifford alarm 300 or above you can have the Turbo Timer option added to it as I have. probably get the option on other alarms as well

In my experience this is the better solution, Turbo timers not linked in with the alarm cause problems cos the alarm and the turbo timer conflict. The turbo timer keeping the car going and the alarm with its vibrations sensors and immobiliser getting very confused

I actually have a turbo timer on the dash in qddition to the clifford option, it didn\'t like being used with the clifford though

Dave

[Shark]

bit of an odd setup on mine I\'m afraid
I have a Toad Cat II and a Laserline Cat I on top.

I was afraid someone was going to say that.  

Open to ideas/recommendations.....

[davefrith]

thats the limit of my knowledge mate, only know what I put through my own experience

I think you\'ll find that a turbo timer voids your CAT 1 status though if its not a part of the alarm

[J4P RX]

Yeah.

I dont really like them myself.  I know where im going, ill just take it easy a few miles before I get there.  I cant deal with not being able to leave it in gear and still dont like leaving it running not being there.

Lee

[Shark]

Fair comment guys.

I mean I can happily organise myself to be able to stick around while it cools down a little and ease off the gas for a bit before I arrive, but wanted to get one for those situations that crop up when you are late in a rush, etc.etc.

Might have a chat with some suppliers at Rotorstock.

Any advice on what makes one different from another?  aside from the ability to actually work with security kit.

Gregor

[mikeeech]

I have a toad cat 1 (ai606 or ai606lcv) with an apexi turbo timer that monitors the boost pressure and sets the cool down time accordingly. The alarm system has an auxilary input I believe (could wire in your electric windows instead I guess).

It\'s rather a neat turbo timer as, If i\'ve been driving it hard within the last few minutes then it will set maybe 50 secs on it, if i have been taking it easy then maybe only 10 secs. The result of all this is I just pull up, take the keys out (engine stays on) press the doofer thingy which locks the car and just walk away leaving it running. Secure as houses.

It\'s a little weird at first and I know one day I\'ll get back to the car and find that the timer has malfunctioned and left me with no petrol.

in the meantime....

[scooby_si]

Similarly i have gone the way of clifford & got it as part of my alarm when being fitted, although i did have a blitz TT/boost guage on before that was b4 any alarm so cant really comment on how they work or dont with wotever system.....http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb008\' target=\'_blank\'>http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/23/23_28_113.gif\' border=0> but i like the clifford thing can have it run for 2 minutes (or wotever it\'s set up to run for) at the press of a button & turn off if so desired with another press, NB very good feature for pretending your car is knightrider by keeping fob in pocket & shouting Kit off & having it shut down, or maybe that\'s just me trying to impress the kids
Si

[davefrith]

Originally posted by scooby_si
NB very good feature for pretending your car is knightrider by keeping fob in pocket & shouting Kit off & having it shut down, or maybe that\'s just me trying to impress the kids
Si

Quality Si, I must try that later :rollin

[Shark]

Thanks guys,

I\'ll have a trawl on the web and see if I can find anything that references the Laserline system I\'ve got.

Hopefully the immobiliser being a different system will not ruin my plans.

Gregor

[Phil Bateman]

Gregor,
 I presume you know that turbo timers are not strictly legal in this country ie. you cannot walk away and leave the engine running - sort of defeats the object.

Phil

[Shark]

I hadn\'t realised that Phil.  

Was planning on it being handy for things like pulling up at him where the car is parked up and safe or at work which has a private car park.  Tesco carpark and suchlike are not places I\'d be comfortable leaving the car running.... too much like tempting fate that.

When you say illegal do you mean it will invalidate the alarm status?

what would you guys recommend as an alternative?  I can hang around with the car but don;t actually have any way to know how long...  Shoudl I get a guage measuring the exhaust temperature?

Gregor

[Phil Bateman]

Don\'t know the letter of the law but you are not supposed to leave a vehicle unattended with the engine running. Private car parks are a different matter.
I was not commenting on the alarm.

Regards
Phil

[sadgoth]

A lot of insurers don\'t like them, but as there are quite a few owners who are using them it obviously isn\'t an issue for all insurers!

[Shark]

So is there a clear guideline as to when the engine can be shut down without damage to the bearings in the turbos?

(I found a website called howstuffworks.com and am a little better informed now as to why the engine needs to be allowed to cool.)

Not sure how to assess the temperature at the turbo.  Exhaust would seem the nearest relevant thing to measure the temp of, but that will drop very quickly when I back off the revs.
Is oil temp perhaps a better way to go?
...or get guages to read both?

Gregor