Just keep an eye on your left mirror. As I understand it, The Check Engine
Light on a VW van consists of flames coming out of the engine compartment.

OK, so it is not Phryedae, and I very sincerely hope it does not become Fry
day, either. Best of luck with the audible warnings!

Ron

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
Richard Koerner
Sent: Wednesday, December 16, 2009 4:55 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Audible Idiot "Light"...EE Inventor Wanted

Volks,

I'm pretty anal about my cherished Vanagon.� Always looking...always
listening...follow the recommended maintenance activities by the book and
then some.� Yet...it happened to me on my recent half-country trip from San
Diego to Brownsville, Texas.� The dreaded "red lights" suddenly noticed in
the instrument cluster; in my case, broken water pump/alternator belt.� I
saw the lights and immediately pulled off the highway.� Were they on for
seconds or minutes?....surely not more than a minute or two.� And I may have
squeaked by...no apparent engine or gasket damage, but time will tell on
that one.

What we need is a simple fix.� A small "box" of electronics, wired in so as
to detect any of the red LED's coming on (oil pressure, alternator, coolant
temperature), with a LOUD piezo speaker blasting you to "get OFF the road
and shut down IMMEDIATELY!!!.�� Doesn't have to speak words....just be
obnoxious.

Sure, the idiot lights do provide some measure of alert.� But the vast
windows of the Vanagon provide plenty of reasons for not driving while
staring down at the instrument cluster, especially on a bright sunny day.�
We need a backup system...Audible.� Airplanes have these kinds of things,
even "stick shakers" to try to convince you to avoid a stall.

So....any Electrical Engineers out there?� I'm a Mechanical Engineer...I
can't do it, but it's easily within the realm of some EE.� Maybe it's
already been done.� I'd pay $50-$100 for such a contraption...peace of
mind...and freedom to keep looking out the windows.� Sound interesting?

Rich
85 Vanagon not a Westy but I love it to death
San Diego