I have fitted that system to a 2002TF. Very happy with the results:
I added a low-current-demand LED, which I positioned in the vacant "Transmission Fail" instrument panel position:
I have had a couple of brief False Alarms, only when ascending steep hills & cornering. My wife finds it annoying that it sounds both when ignition turn to 1st position, then again at engine start, but I like that "feature": You KNOW it is "available for duty". To kepp the buzzer & wife quiet, I have added a switch between buzzer and the "output" side of the circuit, so that ONLY the light illuminates when:
1. Wife is in car
2. I have remembered to isolate the buzzer!
Other pictures you might find helpful if you choose the LED route (assuming your car is NOT Steptronic/Stepspeed)
P.S. If you fancy a trip to East Devon (Honiton area), I would be happy to show my set up and offer guidance on how I routed wires, chickened-out of using reversing-light feed and found spare output on fuse box etc.
P.M. me if you need to
John E
Thanks for the support, John. A couple of comments on your intelligent modifications.
The LED in parallel to the switch is a common modification. I have never offered it as an alternative or addition to the sounder as it makes the wiring so much more complicated for those inexperienced in car maintenance/repair/modification. The same applies to the 12v supply; the fuse box makes good sense but, despite the awkward position, it is much simpler to run the wire to the recommended connection.
For anyone thinking of connecting an LED in parallel with the sounder, please use either a 12v LED, or LED with a suitable current limiting resistor, to keep the current to a maximum of about 25mA. 500Ω to1kΩ should be about right.
The comment about the startup beep is interesting. When I made my first prototype, I was delighted that it provided a brief beep at startup as it provided reassurance that it was still working. About 1yr later, the design of the sensor changed and there was no startup beep. I received a lot of complaints from customers who were expecting this 'self-test' warning. I complained to the manufacturer and a year or two later, the warning beep was back. The reason there is a second beep on starting the car is the same as the reason the radio goes off and on. The starter nicks all of the electrical power and so the alarm circuit stops and restarts.
During the period when there was no 'self-test' warning, I came up with a dual-purpose switch which, either sounded the buzzer on demand, or silenced the buzzer in an alarm situation. But I never pursued this in the version for sale.
In my experience, false alarms are incredibly rare. Provided the sensor is positioned correctly and the coolant is at MAX (top of the seam or just covering the internal plastic extrusion), it doesn't seem to happen. Perhaps it's because I drive more like a granny than a teenager
