This isn't really a performance mod, but it is a cool little project.

I finally figured out how to get the "security" lite in the dash of my VR to work. If you don't already know, there is a green security warning lite in the dash of the Celebrities. They were never utilized as no Celebrities were offered with the factory alarm systems. BUT, if you could get it to work, it might be a decent theft deterent.

The goal is to get the light to flash while the engine is off, and turn off while the engine is running. There is no easy way to get it to work thru the cars ecm, which is how it is supposed to function. And there are several ways to get it work with relays and stuff connected to the ignition system. I found an easier way. I cheated.

I stumbled across this German electronics kit manufacturer called Velleman. I could see one of thier kits was a "car alarm simulator"( part number MK126 http://www.vellemanusa.com/us/enu/pr...iew/?id=351130 ). So I checked it out, clicked around thier site, and found a list of US distributors. One of them was 20 mins. from my work. So I called them and ordered the kit. I picked it up a week later for a total of 10 bucks with 2 additional green and white leds.

It has only 2 wires to hook up when its done. One to the always hot terminal in the fuse panel, and one to ground. Thats it. It senses voltage rise or drop in the system. Turn the car off, and the led flashes. Start the car and it stops flashing. Totally simple.

It was a kit so I had to solder all the parts to a little board. It was not complicated, the instructions were easy to follow, and it took about an hour and 2 bud lights to put the kit itself together. The led that come with the kit is red, and that wasn't going to work for me. I got the extra green led because the security panel on the dash is green, and a white one because I wasnt sure which color would look right. So I got both. They were cheap.

The extra leds I bought fit into the stock 194 bulb holder for the for the back of the dash! Just put 2 extra holes in the holder for 2 wires to come thru for the led leads and twist it into place like a standard bulb. Solder some wire to it after its in the holder. I put some hot glue on base of the bulb and the socket just to hold it in place.

Installation of the kit and led into the car is no more difficult than replacing the bulbs in the dash. Start by going thru the normal steps to remove the dash to replace the bulbs. Put your pre-built bulb and socket in place, run the wires down, secure the flasher unit and replace the dash. Make 2 connections at the fuse box. Thats it. Yer done.

It flashes 4 times rapidly then stops for 4 seconds, then repeats. And the green led is just bright enough. You can read "Security" when it flashes. But its not glaringly bright. It looks correct. And since its an led, it could run for years off of a 12 volt car battery without killing it.

Heres a test with the white led. Its awful bright!

I hooked it all up to my John deere lawn tractor, a 318, to make sure everything worked. Its got a 12volt system that works like the car, so I could start and stop the tractor with it wired to the battery and check its operation.