Turn signal warning
 

I have a 2001 Boxster S I bought new. I'm new to this site (and it's a great one, one of the best I've seen - already found answers to 3 of my 4 questions and managed to spend $400+ in less than an hour on various links.)

The question I haven't found any comments on is this: Maybe it sounds stupid - I'm not that stupid, or if I am, I have encountered at least a handful of other guys like me - but has anyone come across a switch or other device that will sound an audible warning after your turn signal has been on for, say, more than a minute or so? With the roof down and bright sun blanking out the green indicators in the dash, it is easy not to notice that your signal is still on from a lane change or other manouevre small enough not to trigger the cancel switch when you spin the wheel. Three of my last Grand Cherokees have had a "signal on" warning that comes up in the display screen so it can't be that weird a question. I have developed a sort of habitual twitch where I constantly feel the signal switch to see if it is in the middle (i.e - off) but I would love to install some kind of buzzer or other warning to save me the hassle.

Anyone know of one? (If you do, you don't have to admit to leaving your signal on like me - you can just say you saw one one your wife's / sister's / brother-in-law's car.) Thanks in advance.

I have been Boxstering for 9 years and this gets asked all the time.

Someone who is good with auto electrics should figure a simple way to wire a piezo sounding device to the turn signals. Should not be hard since the turn signal relay is also the hazard lights relay, and that is behind the large oval button just to the right of the instrument cluster. But when it comes to electrical stuf - I can barely change a light bulb.

I have also been guilty of not realizing the turn signal has been on a long time.

These are called Signal Reminders and they are well known to motorcyclists.

There are several different types from audible reminders to actual signal cancellers.

Here are a few:
http://www.blinkeroff.com/
http://www.ldrider.ca/techpages/turnsignalreminder.htm
http://www.geocities.com/triker1464/turn_signal_reminder.html
http://www.automotiveelectronicaccessories.com/aeapn420.htm
http://www.ridesafer.com/Blinker_Buddy_p/bb505.htm
http://www.cyclegadgets.com/Products/product.asp?Item=SM
http://www.liteminder.com/

I can honestly say I do not commonly leave my blinkers on. :D

But you could probably add a buzzer without too much trouble. Those familiar with the OBC hack will understand what I am talking about. If you figure out which wire going to the instrument cluster is the turn signal all you need to do is wire tap a buzzer on, then ground it to the OBC ground location described on Yoseif's OBC site. Then you could rest the buzzer under the cluster or behind the blank dash switches.

When you turn on your signal, the power going to the dash light will also power the buzzer. :cheers:

Many thanks, guys, for the quick replies. I prefer to try to keep the car as original as I can so I'd rather "install" than "hack", but I have plenty of leads here to work with.

(Having said that, btw, I recently gave in and replaced that cheap plastic-window top - my sister's Miata that cost about 1/3 of this car has a glass rear window - with one of the GAHH tops. Highly recommended, top quality product if you find a good installer, better than I did, and I can leave the roof down now in the garage without creating a permanent crease in the window. Just FYI but I know it's old news on this site.)