I've been reading alot about the F.R.C and how it would be nice to have some sort of warning light. Well I been thinking about that and like to run this past you guys.

2 Red LEDs mounted near the inside rearview mirror. I figure that is a good spot since most people end up looking at the mirror before backing-up or driving away(just habit)

Power for the LEDs will be coming from the power wire going to the mirror, just like how people hard wire in their radar detecter

Wire could be ran behind the top windsheild frame trim to both latches

Use the latches to make ground connection: When latches are in locked position;No ground=No LED for that side. When latches are unlocked in position; ground connected and LED on for that side.

I'm hoping it would be on the same principle as checking for power at the mirror w/ a test light. Probe the power wire and hook the other end of test light at latch area and see if it grounds there. I think it would cause of all the metal around that latch assembly.

So let me know what you guys think and if I overlooked anything ,or if I'm just I have'nt done testing yet but I will probably tomorrow

 

I'm lost here... What sort of warning do you need for a fixed roof coupe? And what latches are you referring to?

 

FRC also means Flying Roof Club.
I'd laugh, but then I might be the next member to join.
Jeff

 

I am thinking Flying Roof Club..something us vert guys do not have to worry about.
sounds like he is headed in the right direction to me.

 

I was also think how to incorporate a warning system also and I was think of magnets just as they do for house alarms on windows and doors. When the magnet are aligned no light but when not aligned a light appears.

 

Good ideas, but the indicator should be in front of the driver rather than in the mirror. With all this talk about flying roofs, I find myself checking the latches when I get in the car after having the roof off over the weekend.

 

Don't have that type of top (mine's a convert) but what about the connection, when the top is off. Do the latches still make a connection so the red lights on?

Just asking..

JCR_Indy

 

man I almost joined the club with the t-tops on my old 99 Firebird. Left both of them unlatched. I couldn't figure out where the strange wind noise was coming from when I was going 50mph. Looked up and said oh ****! Lucky for me they didn't get sucked off. After that I will always check the top. I don't need the LED's. Great idea though!

 

Don't worry. I knew exactly what your talking about and I think you have a great idea there! Let us know how it urns out. I thought of somethign similar, and I agree with th elight being on all the time when the roof is off. Maybe a bypass (toggle switch?).

 

Get a Vert and you don't have any worries.

 

I'll try to clear up some details.

FRC====Flying roof club

If you sit in your car and look straight ahead the rearview mirror still is seen. I think if you have 2 bright LED there it would be hard to miss.

I was thinking about a turn-off switch for the LED for when the roof is out but I'm afraid it will be forgotten to be turned on. just like the roof is forgotten to get latched down.

If you have the roof off and what the LED off, just turn the latches to the lock postion.
The latches will basically open and close a ground path for the LED cause you will have constant power from the power wire of the mirror.
does this make sense?

 

Good idea

 

DDDDUHHHHHHHHHH.... I guess I should of looked at the roof a little closer. The damn latches are on the roof :o You can tell I really pay attension to how the roof is set up. The wife came up w/ some sort of pin that is depressed when the handle is in the lock postion. Just like the vanity mirror on the sunvisor. OH well.......back to the drawing board

 

This is not a bad idea. You could use a timer to turn off the LED's just after the car is started. And maybe you could postion some micro switches where the closed lever will contact them. My car is a FRC (Fixed Roof Coupe) so I couldn't tell you where to put the switches just now.

 

Sounds like the start of a good idea to me! But, then I don't have to worry too much about this. :o

 

How about a low tech solution?

Suppose a brightly colored clip is attached to the roof panel near the driver's side front with a cord that allows it to dangle annoyingly when not properly stored on the latch handle. When the clip dangles, the latch is not locked. When the latch is locked the clip is hooked onto the handle. The cord would not be long enough to allow the clip to be hooked onto the latch handle when in the unlatched position.

If you see the clip hanging, the roof is ready to fly.

Then again, you could put a bunch of blinking lights on the clip.

 

I've trained my Trunk Monkey to clobber me if it ever happens again.

 

Ah Hah! Now I get it!

 

My Trunk Monkey has clobbered me so many times I'm about to hand him the keys and clear title!

 

Sounds like a good idea, but honestly if I owned a coupe it'd be one of the first and last things I check every time out of habit. I always put my steering wheel up before getting out of the Z. There's a routine to getting into, starting up and shutting off and getting out of the car.