C5 Forced Induction/Nitrous C5 Corvette Turbochargers, Superchargers, Centrifugal, Twin Screw & Roots Blowers, Twin Turbo Kits, Intercoolers, Wet & Dry Nitrous Injection, Meth
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Fuel pressure warning light

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jan 25, 2008 | 01:49 PM
  #1  
Warp Factor's Avatar
Warp Factor
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Supporting Lifetime
Conversation Starter
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 7,088
Likes: 1,829
From: Metro Detroit Michigan
Default Fuel pressure warning light

When I first had my blower installed along with a Ractronix pump and hot wire kit, we were having fuel pressure problems once the fuel would heat up. Too hard watching the gauge all the time when under boost, so I tried to make a warning light, something that would get my attention even when sideways.
Seemed easy enough. I put a Hobbs switch on the fuel rail and wired it to a light. Didn't work. There was so much pulsing in the fuel rails that there was a wide pressure range where an LED bulb would flicker on and off, and an incandescent bulb would just change brightness. Not terribly useful. I wanted "on or off", not a bunch of "in between".
Needed some kind of damping built into the system.

Not being a "circuit board" type guy, I thought I'd try activating the light through a relay, the idea being that the mechanical relay wouldn't respond fast enough to open and close with the high frequency fuel rail pulsing.
Seems to be working, light comes on steady when pressure drops to 55 psi, and the Hobbs switch can be adjusted to put this point wherever I want. Not enough traction here in Michigan to give it a thorough test though.
The system is still responsive enough to show the momentary pressure drop when mashing the throttle, something the Autometer gauge doesn't show at all.

Four-dollar Bosch 30 amp automotive relay. Could also be hooked to an audible alarm, but right now it's hooked to a LED tail lamp replacement bulb, which is hard to miss!
Reply
Old Jan 25, 2008 | 02:20 PM
  #2  
FactoryRaceCar's Avatar
FactoryRaceCar
Race Director
Supporting Lifetime Gold
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 18,682
Likes: 4
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12
Default

Nice! Pics?
Reply
Old Jan 25, 2008 | 03:08 PM
  #3  
Warp Factor's Avatar
Warp Factor
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Supporting Lifetime
Conversation Starter
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 7,088
Likes: 1,829
From: Metro Detroit Michigan
Default

Oh, you don't want to see pics!
Right now it's a "proof of concept" hack job powered off the cigarette lighter, with the warning light hanging over the rear view mirror.

Need to make a housing for the bulb, or use a "Pro-Lite", or maybe mount the bulb in the defrost grill next to the heads-up display so it will be reflected in the windshield. That grille pops right out, and plenty of room underneath. The LED array's probably even bright enough to be seen from the ashtray without a problem.
Thoughts on what would work best?

Last edited by Warp Factor; Jan 25, 2008 at 03:19 PM.
Reply
Old Jan 25, 2008 | 03:50 PM
  #4  
Mike04's Avatar
Mike04
Safety Car
20 Year Member
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
 
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 4,353
Likes: 22
From: Bella Vista Ca
Default

You might want to look into the Nexus gauges (on the spendy side). My fuel presssure gauge can be set to change color from blue to red below a certain pressure. Works great.
Reply
Old Jan 25, 2008 | 04:39 PM
  #5  
Warp Factor's Avatar
Warp Factor
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Supporting Lifetime
Conversation Starter
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 7,088
Likes: 1,829
From: Metro Detroit Michigan
Default

Originally Posted by Mike04
You might want to look into the Nexus gauges (on the spendy side). My fuel presssure gauge can be set to change color from blue to red below a certain pressure. Works great.
I'd looked into those. Are they bright enough to get your attention in daylight, or do you need to be looking at them?
Reply
Old Jan 25, 2008 | 06:35 PM
  #6  
Warp Factor's Avatar
Warp Factor
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Supporting Lifetime
Conversation Starter
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 7,088
Likes: 1,829
From: Metro Detroit Michigan
Default

OK, here's a pic taken in the garage. Sorry, it's about 15 degrees here.
You see the head-up display, and on the upper right, the warning light reflected in the windshield. Looks like something you'd notice, but need to check outside in daylight. The 12 LEDs are a little blurry and actually red, hard to get a camera to focus on the windshield.

Reply
Old Jan 25, 2008 | 07:21 PM
  #7  
FactoryRaceCar's Avatar
FactoryRaceCar
Race Director
Supporting Lifetime Gold
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 18,682
Likes: 4
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12
Default

Originally Posted by Warp Factor
OK, here's a pic taken in the garage. Sorry, it's about 15 degrees here.
You see the head-up display, and on the upper right, the warning light reflected in the windshield. Looks like something you'd notice, but need to check outside in daylight. The 12 LEDs are a little blurry and actually red, hard to get a camera to focus on the windshield.

That would DEFINATELY want to make me slow down FAST!
Reply
Old Jan 25, 2008 | 08:57 PM
  #8  
Warp Factor's Avatar
Warp Factor
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Supporting Lifetime
Conversation Starter
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 7,088
Likes: 1,829
From: Metro Detroit Michigan
Default

How about a vendor to produce an add-on warning light display that projects onto the windshield like above? Low fuel pressure, low oil pressure, over-temp? I'd do it, but too many irons in the fire.
Reply
Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

 Brett Foote
story-2

10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

 Michael S. Palmer
story-3

8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

 Joe Kucinski
story-6

Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-7

Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Jan 25, 2008 | 10:04 PM
  #9  
MotleyDrew's Avatar
MotleyDrew
Melting Slicks
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 2,877
Likes: 9
From: Ottawa Ontario
Default

Reply
Old Jan 26, 2008 | 10:04 AM
  #10  
Mike04's Avatar
Mike04
Safety Car
20 Year Member
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
 
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 4,353
Likes: 22
From: Bella Vista Ca
Default

Originally Posted by Warp Factor
I'd looked into those. Are they bright enough to get your attention in daylight, or do you need to be looking at them?
It is not as noticeable as the one you posted below, that is very noticeable. I do catch the guage changing colors from white to red with my peripheral vision. Having an LED light up in the HUD would be a great way to go.
Reply
Old Jan 28, 2008 | 12:21 PM
  #11  
Warp Factor's Avatar
Warp Factor
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Supporting Lifetime
Conversation Starter
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 7,088
Likes: 1,829
From: Metro Detroit Michigan
Default

Couple more pictures of the warning light reflection on the windshield, this time in bright sunlight.
The second picture is facing into the sun.......so bright that you can't even make out the heads-up display.





Yeah, the bulb is temporarily stuck to the base of the windshield with a suction cup.
Ain't cuttin' anything up to mount it in the dash till I'm sure everything works as planned.

There's probably room on the windshield for about 20 of these warnings. Could even spell out some text in LEDs like,
"Ain't got no oil pressure, you dumbass!"

Last edited by Warp Factor; Jan 28, 2008 at 12:49 PM.
Reply
Old Jan 28, 2008 | 05:44 PM
  #12  
tj37_2's Avatar
tj37_2
Instructor
 
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 110
Likes: 0
From: Cocoa Fl
Default

I have the nexus gauges as well mounted on the piller and have no problem seeing them when they flash...They flash pretty bright but they are pricey
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To Fuel pressure warning light





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 03:08 PM.

story-0
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

Slideshow: 10 ugly Corvettes that we still kinda love.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-03 10:34:17


VIEW MORE
story-1
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

A lot of money has changed hands at the online auction house over the years.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-03 10:21:50


VIEW MORE
story-2
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

Slideshow: 10 great gifts Corvette enthusiasts actually want for Father's Day!

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-03 11:09:53


VIEW MORE
story-3
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

Slideshow: These are the quirks, annoyances, and oddly lovable problems that every Corvette owner eventually learns to live with.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-28 09:31:39


VIEW MORE
story-4
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

Slideshow: 10 reasons why the C6 Z06 is still a performance benchmark after 20 years.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 17:20:09


VIEW MORE
story-5
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

Slideshow: How much horsepower every Corvette engine lost in 1972.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 16:54:53


VIEW MORE
story-6
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

Slideshow: How to Protect A Convertible Top: 10 DOs & DON'Ts

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-03 00:00:00


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

Slideshow: The 10 most explosive Corvettes ever built based on power-to-weight ratio.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-20 07:23:03


VIEW MORE
story-8
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

Slideshow: From C1 to C8 we compare every Corvette generation by the numbers.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 16:54:12


VIEW MORE
story-9
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

Slideshow: Some Corvette pace cars became collectible legends, while others perfectly captured the look and attitude of their era.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-11 09:50:51


VIEW MORE