SPEED WARNING CHIME

[shaun]

Does anybody else have this?Starts at 100kph,sounds like a phone ringing.Goes to single beep at 110kph.Anyway to disconnect & where is it located?

[mararmeisto]

Sounds like a holy-s#$@ alarm! Does a voice like Scotty from Star Trek come across the broadcast? "Captain, she canna not ta' any more! The inertial dampers are becoming unstable."

The Moon Machine doesn't have one, no. I've had it up to 120km/h and other than the wind howling by the shields, no other warning sounds.

[john n]

I've got the same thing, it's a challenge to track it down - sticking my head under the dash at that speed is a challenge.

[Green1]

from the factory all vehicles in Japan have them, most seem to get disabled before they land here though...
I haven't checked this myself, but I'm told that the chime itself is located on the back of the instrument cluster in the dash, you just need to find and remove it...

[Caca]

My gf was giggling too loud when I hit past 100 so I can't comment on if I have one or not... ;P

[Jester]

never been past ninety..

[jrman]

Is it something installed to suite the sensibilities of the Japanese authorities? Or is there something to be said for keeping the engine RPM's down in these machines? I'm just back from a trip from North Van to Vernon and carried 120 on many sections (flat & downhill of course) of the Coquihalla Highway - the engine was close or virtually at 3000 RPM at 120K with the occasionally jump to 3500 when gearing down going uphill - then I'd let it come back to 3000 and hold it there as I ground my way up the steeper hills. I certainly don't wish to damage the engine - but 90K to 120K is a comfortable speed for me depending on road conditions etc etc. Truthfully - I didn't even think about my speed during this trip - the van seemed to handle it just fine.
Thoughts appreciated....

[coaxial]

I haven't heard the speed chime.. and my usual highway speed is 120, had her up to 160 just to see how loud the wind would get. Answer: quite loud.

[Green1]

my understanding is that it's to satisfy the japanese authorities and is on all japanese vehicles (but often disabled)

[Caca]

If any of you have watched the anime Initial D, you'll notice that on the AE86~ Not actually a useful addition to the post, but just thought of that when I read the post...

[marsgal42]

I've had Gumdrop up to 125 with no untoward noises. Not sure I'd want to go much faster...

...laura

[shaun]

Thanks for the info.I`ll check out the guage cluster & see what i can find.

[optimus prime]

So I see were all on the same page with the "Warning Chime". Yes all these vans originally had them. Yes Most were disabled. I do believe they were installed to appease the Nipon safety bug. But I also belive they played an important safety role. Maybe its just me, but in my experience, on countless road trips, taking a Delica up over 110km is silly. Im not saying I have not done it. Its because I have that I find this to be the case. After moving past 120km the van feels very planted to the road, until you come into any sort of moderate corner. The shape of the Nose of the Delica forces the front end into positive lift and your front tires start to loose traction. I know your thinking that the Delica is far to big and heavy. I don't believe this to be the case. Its just personal experience. I may be wrong but the last time I came down the Coke was the time I think I found out why there would have been a Warning Chime. These awesome vehicles are not race cars, If thats why you bought one I think the point has been missed. In my Transformer (my delica's name), its never been about getting anywhere fast. Its where I cruise and relax and pull over into where ever I want and get some sleep. In the Transformer its all about the trip. But that said, I would search out that annoying chime also and give it a swift death.

[Fishtank]

The shape of the Nose of the Delica forces the front end into positive lift and your front tires start to loose traction.

Just curious, but how exactly does this happen, this positive lift phenomenon? I don't think I have ever run into anything like this. Optimus, can you explain this to me please.

[marsgal42]

All vehicles generate lift unless they are carefully constructed otherwise.

Look at the profile: a Delica is fairly flat on the bottom, but curved on top. Air flows faster over the top then the bottom, because it has farther to go. Faster air means lower air pressure which means lift, just like an aircraft wing. The centre of lift matters too: does it tend to raise the front end? The rear? The whole vehicle equally?

The most aerodynamically unstable cars you're likely to see on the road are VW Beetles. I don't know if the New Beetles are any better, but the old ones were noticeably light on their feet above 110 klicks. Another aerodynamic horror story was the Lamborghini Miura, one my picks for the most beautiful car ever made, but whose front end was notoriously light at speed. Though in the case "speed" means above 250 km/h.

...laura