Group Buy Ends Tomorrow (11/25)

[manxman]

For those interested, the NTD 3-Drive Throttle Controller Group Buy on fitfreak.net ends at midnight Central Time. Price is $130.00 shipped, and they go out via USPS. The same manufacturer makes this device and the Pivot T/C, and these work much better than the Blitz brand that sells for $345. on eBay. I use the NTD now, and used the Blitz in the past, so my comparison is factual. Give a little of this to your Fit- :eek::eek::eek::D:D:D

[VillageIdiot]

I was informed from you by way of LoxMyth that the NTD could be had for $140.00 but decided to see if the price would hit $130.00 in the group buy and luckily it did... I got in the mail today and will install it tomorrow if the weather is warm enough.... I just hope that it doesn't get me into trouble.... The reason for buying it is more for the eco feature than sport mode due to the decrease in fuel mileage since installing the KraftWerks super charger.... That's what I told my wife, anyway.

[manxman]

Boy. Your life sounds interesting- you must have to make up a lot of explanations! You won't have any trouble with the installation, but if you do, just send a PM. Based on your "I only want it for the Eco Mode, I know who you are on the freak site.

[VillageIdiot]

Boy. Your life sounds interesting- you must have to make up a lot of explanations! You won't have any trouble with the installation, but if you do, just send a PM. Based on your "I only want it for the Eco Mode, I know who you are on the freak site.
I figured that you'd catch on to who I was..... I always wondered if your name was related to a famous 500cc single cylinder British motorcycle.....As for my life being interesting, not so much any more, but I like my car even if it does have fake Mugen vent visors and isn't dropped.

[manxman]

I figured that you'd catch on to who I was..... I always wondered if your name was related to a famous 500cc single cylinder British motorcycle.....As for my life being interesting, not so much any more, but I like my car even if it does have fake Mugen vent visors and isn't dropped.
My father's family emigrated to the U.S. from the Isle of Man- 13 miles wide X 31 miles long, home of the world's largest motorcycle race, and tail-less cats. The island is the source of the Brit name for the bike.

[VillageIdiot]

I was thinking of the Norton Manx motorcycle that ruled the annual race there many decades ago..... That would be the ultimate place to go for little ride through the countryside.

[manxman]

Yeah, I watched a program that had a lot of coverage of the race last year, and was thinking how fun it would be to drive that race circuit with no legal restraints with a Fit, and with several other more powerful cars. It's a pretty place, but no one stays there. The Jamestown Colony military commander, John Smith, was Manx. So are the surviving members of the BG's rock band (Brothers Gibb). They went to Australia as teenagers.

Odd coincidence- I am going to a dinner meeting of the North American Manx Association tonight.

[VillageIdiot]

It would beat the hell out of any type of motorcycle gathering ever seen in this country... It's cool to be able to have roots to the country of your origin.... My wife is a Tejuana whose family has been in Texas for centuries.... The annual family reunions at a resort on Padre Island owned by her cousin is something I always look forward to.... Most people have no clue as to where their lineage originated, I guess that is why they have disrespect for those of different cultures..... I am having trouble removing the connector from the drive by wire throttle, I think because it is cold outside it won't give.... I'm heading back out to the barn to give it another try with a little help from a heat gun

[manxman]

Use a thin (jeweler's or electronics) flat blade screwdriver and gently pry upward to separate the connector from the main body of the throttle connection above the pedal.

And I agree with your comments about heritage and those with ignorance of it.

[manxman]

BTW, I KNOW some idiots, and you're no idiot. See my post in the "Rules, etc." forum.

[VillageIdiot]

The little squeeze clip wasn't visible but I found it, got it in and have tried it out.... SP 7 isn't as bad as I'd thought it would be but that could be due to using Polaski's throttle spring fix.... The ECO 1 mode seems to open faster than I expected, probably due to the super charger..... I think I am going to have a hard time trying to not keep it set on SP 7. I liked the Pivot better than the Blitz and am so happy to have gotten all of the Pivot features with this unit at such a great price..... Now I am going to get out on some pavement and check it out without destroying the dirt road I live on.... Your write up on fitfreak clinched the sale for TWP. Thanks

[manxman]

The little squeeze clip wasn't visible but I found it, got it in and have tried it out.... SP 7 isn't as bad as I'd thought it would be but that could be due to using Polaski's throttle spring fix.... The ECO 1 mode seems to open faster than I expected, probably due to the super charger..... I think I am going to have a hard time trying to not keep it set on SP 7. I liked the Pivot better than the Blitz and am so happy to have gotten all of the Pivot features with this unit at such a great price..... Now I am going to get out on some pavement and check it out without destroying the dirt road I live on.... Your write up on fitfreak clinched the sale for TWP. Thanks
No, no, I don't write, and didn't write on fitfreak about this---- only here where the truth is. I was banned from fitfreak, three different times, BY THE REAL IDIOTS!

Congrats on the installation- now you can get ALL of the benefit out of the S/C.

[VillageIdiot]

Panson posted a text by you on the T/C, I guess but it was on fitfreak

[manxman]

You're right! I originally posted it here, and then invited Panson to use it there, too.
I am glad that it worked out for Panson, and for the group buyers.

[VillageIdiot]

As much as I like the SP-7 setting, I can see that I can't afford what it would cost for fuel used in that mode.... 1/4 of a tank in about 1/2 an hour on vacant country roads in the rain.... The first thing I noticed is that matching the revs on down shifts are effortlessly carried out as if I were doing so on a sport bike..... EC-5 works well but with the super charger on my car it is still as fast as or maybe faster than when it was stock.... I like being able to relax my foot and not have to consciously hold my foot up and not be able to sleep because of calf muscle cramps in my right leg and this is now possible... I will have to drive 200 miles in a day or two and get some better idea of how every thing works out but I am very pleased and optimistic about the benefits that are offered by this product.

[manxman]

It's great to hear that this inexpensive little improvement is working well even for an "Extreme Sport" Fit. I'm glad that Craig was willing to be my pipeline to get info to you.

But of course, when you don't want to get tech. info. from teen-aged, first-time car owners (or car borrowers) or car salesmen, get the truth here instead.

[VillageIdiot]

There are a few youngsters over yonder way that I have interacted with via PMs that were into doing things that were feasible and beneficial but the slaves of fad and fashion are the ones that dominate..... I was kinda that way once a very long time ago..... I woke up one day in the Ashau Valley in early 1969 and what an awakening it was.... If I ever grow up, I want to be like Craig.

[manxman]

There are a few youngsters over yonder way that I have interacted with via PMs that were into doing things that were feasible and beneficial but the slaves of fad and fashion are the ones that dominate..... I was kinda that way once a very long time ago..... I woke up one day in the Ashau Valley in early 1969 and what an awakening it was.... If I ever grow up, I want to be like Craig.
Claymore was "in country" at the same time. I am a couple of months older than him, so the three of us are "men of a certain age".. But I have to say, in over 40 years of building cars/trucks/SUVS, I was always practical, never style-foolish. My mods always made the car better, never more damage-prone. If you did the opposite, I forgive you. As you confessed, your foolish days are now behind you.

[VillageIdiot]

I was into engine swaps and foolishly fast air cooled VWs with very short life spans.... I don't even want to get into the insanity of what can be done to destroy a perfectly good motorcycle....

[manxman]

I was into engine swaps and foolishly fast air cooled VWs with very short life spans.... I don't even want to get into the insanity of what can be done to destroy a perfectly good motorcycle....
Hah! I had a Porsche-powered '65 VW Bug myself until I blew a cylinder. Replaced it with a '66 Sunbeam Tiger. No bikes on the street for me though. For the same reason that the FAA doesn't issue pilot's licenses to Diabetics. You can survive low blood sugar-caused car crashes- two for me so far. Not so high powered bikes, or any kind of aircraft.

[VillageIdiot]

I had an Austin Healey 100-4 and a MK1 3000 before Vietnam... I put a 327 in the 3000 and really created a monster that was virtually impossible to drive..... I had to sell them to be able to go to college and drove junkers I could pick up cheap and became a pretty good shade tree mechanic... I owned a lot of VWs that looked like hell but would win out over a lot of performance cars owned by idiots that couldn't turn a wrench.

[manxman]

I think that we grew up with the same people. I have seen a few Chevy-powered Healeys, and they reminded me a little of the Chevy 283 that we bolted into an ugly little Fiat in my High School auto shop class. It came out of the hole sideways, and lost every race!

I had a classmate who inherited a Henry J Willys with a supercharged Chrysler Hemi. He was a shy kid, and I only found out at our 10 year reunion that he wanted to trade his car for my '50 Chevy coupe with two one-barrel carbs on the stock 6 cyl. engine, and a floor shifter for the stock 3 speed trans. I'm glad that he didn't speak up in high school. I never could have kept my driver's license out of the hands of traffic court judges.

And, different from your mental awakening in Viet Nam in '69, at that same time I was getting married to wife #1. Same result as the war:rolleyes:

Oh, and the '50 Chevy was first and only instance of foolishness. The extra carburetor did nothing at all but make the little engine sound mean, and constantly come out of adjustment with the other carb. Without a cam to make use of the extra fuel, it didn't move any faster at all, and slower with out of balance carbs. Once I was married, every move with the cars had to count toward being economical.

[ekonetics]

If anyone is looking for a throttle controller, their is a person local to me that wants to sell one for the GD3 for $125. He took it out of the packaging to look at it and never installed it. PM if you are interested and I can give you information on how to contact him.

[VillageIdiot]

Pm koi on fitfreak. I know he wants one.

[ekonetics]

Koi sent me a message already. Thanks.

[manxman]

So, ekonteics,

You haven't posted any reaction to the receipt of your own Throttle Controller (at least on these forums). How do you like it? Are you still considering adding a ScanGauge to the OBDII connector?

Don't give the other forum all of your input- we are interested here, too.

[VillageIdiot]

I gave a response to it a few post back but waiting to post more here when I have used a full tank of fuel..... Right now with 285 miles on the odometer the fuel mileage is looking good with the fuel gauge needle just a tiny bit beyond the 1/2 mark and that includes some questionable activities that humbled the drivers of some V8 powered vehicles that are thought of as having pretty decent performance..... Yesterdays drive to town in the slowest responding EC5 mode and changing to the fastest responding SP7 once again proved that the faster SP7 is a bit of a handful in heavy traffic when taking off from a stop even with a throttle spring attached to the pedal arm from a metal dash support.... It is hard to take off slowly without doing a burnout or having the car buck when the boost prematurely comes on and you try to back off a little on the pedal.... Another pickup truck intent on tailgating me and then catch up, gave up on the idea when he hit his 97 MPH speed limiter on a 2 lane county road.... He is one of the same ones that would do that to me when I was driving my GMC Safari cargo van that was a little bit faster than a stock one and had the speed limiter upped to 128MPH..... Though it wouldn't go quite that fast because the automatic transmission would down shift at 2/3rds pedal they could never stay on my bumper..... It's weird how tail gaters don't want to pass you when you slow and motion for them to do so and how many of them drive Dodge Ram trucks with huge after market bumpers.... Sorry about deviating from the topic..... I think that I am going to be getting about a 4 to 6 MPG gain over what I have been getting since installing the super charger and even more on future tanks after I am over the novelty of the very quick throttle response of the SP7 setting..... Being able to see the percentage of the throttle opening in the EC modes has me driving much more sanely most of the time while trying to stay in the 20 to 25% area on secondary and county roads so I will use it to improve the mileage figures for now and get the OD2 splitter cable and Scan Gauge or a similar product that has performance readout features a little later on.

[ekonetics]

So, ekonteics,

You haven't posted any reaction to the receipt of your own Throttle Controller (at least on these forums). How do you like it? Are you still considering adding a ScanGauge to the OBDII connector?

Don't give the other forum all of your input- we are interested here, too.

I actually haven't gotten around to it just yet. I got some other stuff going on currently, and I think the ECO settings would be quite helpful right now since they just opened up another lane on the main freeway to work for me and I find my gas going down much faster. I am thinking about getting a scanguage still but I don't know when I will get one though. I'm trying to get some new tires and rims hopefully by Spring for autox in the Fit.

[manxman]

"Didn't get around to it" meaning installation? Or meaning "posting about my reaction to all of this wonderfulness"?:D

[ekonetics]

"Didn't get around to it" meaning installation? Or meaning "posting about my reaction to all of this wonderfulness"?:D

Installation.

Modern Warfare 2 owns my life currently besides when I have to work, and not much else goes on during my day. I will try and get to it sometime this week since I hate looking at stuff but being cold installing something sucks just as much.

[manxman]

Installation.

Modern Warfare 2 owns my life currently besides when I have to work, and not much else goes on during my day. I will try and get to it sometime this week since I hate looking at stuff but being cold installing something sucks just as much.
Yeah, I thought that the cold in WA might have something to do with it. I got mine done here before the cold set in. It gets much colder where you are. Think of the new owners in Chicago, Cleveland, and Buffalo! But video games??? Absolutely no excuse!

[manxman]

Here's a happy thought for you- the throttle controller will keep you out of the "Stock Class" B segment in AutoX- you'll be competing with S2K's and Mini Cooper S's.

[ekonetics]

I will be out of the stock class already with my bars I got in the back.

What was everyone's voltage settings since mine sit at 5.0 on low and high, then gives me an error when trying to calibrate the t/c.

[manxman]

I will be out of the stock class already with my bars I got in the back. Den you going to lose to da S2K's, Miatas, and Mini's.

What was everyone's voltage settings since mine sit at 5.0 on low and high, then gives me an error when trying to calibrate the t/c. I really don't remember, but I'll bet if you PM VillageIdiot, you will get an accurate answer. Immediately after I set mine up in the driveway, I couldn't get anything on the screen that looked sensible, so I just drove away to do some errands. In a parking lot some miles away, I went through the set-up precdure again, and got great results in all modes and all variations. SP7 accel. was REAL fast, and ECO 1-5 were progressively slow to- s l o w . I don't remember the set-up numbers but I will probably go through the whole procedure again when I change the mounting position of my control box from its present position under the HVAC controls, over to the left side of the steering wheel, either stuck to the three blank switch mount on the dash, or farther up on the dash.

[VillageIdiot]

I can't remember what voltage mine showed but another guy noted that his voltage was 0.4 and 2.2.

[ekonetics]

I still can't program it and I'm kinda tired of trying to figure out what I'm doing wrong. If anyone wants it I will sell it unless I can get it to work sometime soon.

[manxman]

Eric,
Do you really want to go on record on two different forums as the ONLY guy who can't program this thing? Just go for a drive and bring your instructions with you. After a few miles, pull into a parking lot. Turn off the ignition. Turn the key to "on". Follow the instruction sheet again. That worked for me. If you can get it set up, you will see how foolish it is to just sell it. You bought a very good mod for your Fit. Just be patient, and you will be rewarded for your smart purchase.

[EXWRX]

One other possibility is that he got a bad one. The rest might be the best thing since sliced bread or alcomohol(:p), but if he got a defective one, it's not so great. I'd give it one more try and then talk to the supplier for diagnosis issues

[VillageIdiot]

I had to try 2 or 3 times before I was able to get it to properly program.... I don't understand how there would be the same voltage reading with the throttle opened or closed unless you didn't get the right wiring harness or there is something else wrong with what you were sent.... I'm an idiot and mine works very well..... You will love it when you get it working or get one that does work from Panson.

[ekonetics]

I'm thinking my unit is defective since I have tried numerous times and my voltage is always stuck at 5.0. I will give it one more shot this weekend. I wish I was enjoying it but I have grown used to just mashing the pedal more without it.

[twpanson]

I'm thinking my unit is defective since I have tried numerous times and my voltage is always stuck at 5.0. I will give it one more shot this weekend. I wish I was enjoying it but I have grown used to just mashing the pedal more without it.


Sir,

Let me know if the problem still sustains. I will get you a new harness. (Most of the time, the problem is w/ the harness)

Sorry for the inconvenience.
Panson

[ekonetics]

Sir,

Let me know if the problem still sustains. I will get you a new harness. (Most of the time, the problem is w/ the harness)

Sorry for the inconvenience.
Panson

You have been PM. No worries about the inconvenience.

[EXWRX]

Kudos to Panson for standing behind his products!!:cool:

[ekonetics]

Kudos to Panson for standing behind his products!!:cool:

It is nice when a new vendors take care of their customers.

[manxman]

Kudos to Panson for standing behind his products!!:cool:
It would be nice if all forum vendors were as reliable and honest as Panson. But as we have seen with recent threads, that is not the case. For a guy who was unknown on the forums just a few months ago, Panson has earned quite a bit of respect.

While I wait for dependable dry weather to paint and install the LED Side Mirror Covers, I am waiting to see what Fit product he comes up with next. Would very much like to see him as one of our vendors on these forums.

[ekonetics]

I have to say that this is the best service I have ever had. Thanks a lot Panson. I received a tracking number for a replacement already. I look forward to other purchases with you as well especially now with your great customer service.

[manxman]

I briefly scanned fitfreak, and found that Panson is "Gauging Interest" for a Group Buy on GE8 Carbon Fiber Steering Wheel Cover (inserts). It's a good looking product, not a vinyl overlay but real carbon fiber.

[twpanson]

Thanks for all the kind words. I am just trying to do my best in this new field.

Panson

[ekonetics]

I must say that after months of waiting for a working product and other issues that I was having that this product was worth the wait. I was pretty fed up after awhile, but Panson came through with a working product and I had a blast for five minutes while driving around after I got it hooked up correctly. I would highly recommend this product to anyone since it adds to the enjoyment of driving. I must say to be careful after installing since I took my car out in the rain and not expecting the response from my car caught me by surprise for a second on a wet road, but all is well.

Panson - I will send out the old unit whenever I get a chance next week and get you that tracking number since everything is working perfectly. Thank you again for sending out a new one, since we found out the issue I was having.

[manxman]

I am happy for you that the defect was recognized and easily replaced. Now you see why this product has been so popular with so many B-Segment car owners. I try to remember to set my unit to the Normal Mode in the rain, but once you get used to the new sensitivity of the gas pedal in the Sport Modes, you probably aren't likely to lose control in the rain.

[ekonetics]

I am happy for you that the defect was recognized and easily replaced. Now you see why this product has been so popular with so many B-Segment car owners. I try to remember to set my unit to the Normal Mode in the rain, but once you get used to the new sensitivity of the gas pedal in the Sport Modes, you probably aren't likely to lose control in the rain.

I just couldn't help myself yesterday when I was testing the product. Testing was done on SP5 and a few short runs on SP7 when it was straight.

[manxman]

I would have done exactly the same thing, particularly after your frustrating and long wait for the chance to test it.

[ekonetics]

I would have done exactly the same thing, particularly after your frustrating and long wait for the chance to test it.

Where did you end up placing your T/C?

[manxman]

I made an "L" bracket out of 3" X 3" aluminum angle material, and cut it at a width that was exactly the width of the display/control box. You won't find this material easily available, but you can achieve the same effect from 2" X 2" aluminum angle material from Ace Hardware stores. Anyway, cover the entire bracket, front and back sides, with 2" wide Industrial Strength Velcro- using the soft loop part for the cover.

I put my 3" bracket first just below the big bottom knob of the A/C controls. Used the stiff hook side of the Velcro on the vertical surface of the dash, stuck the control box to the angle shelf of the bracket sticking straight out from the dash using the hook Velcro on the back side of the control box. But, the bright red display being so visible bugged me even though it was not directly in my line of sight out the windshield. I transferred the bracket and control box to the dash immediately next to the unused triple switch fascia just ahead of my left knee. I placed the control box just high enough so that the red display is generally hidden behind the steering wheel. If I want to see the display, I just tilt my head to the lower left a bit. The cable from the box goes straight down and bends at the lower dash edge into the space above the shelf/cover of the under dash.

I also tried the control box stuck to the narrow horizontal dash rib at the left of the steering wheel, but the red display was too annoying there. I think that it will stay in front of my left knee.

[manxman]

I hate to bring back such an old thread for this reason------------

But I have to withdraw my recommendation for this device. Based on my experience, you should never use this ETC unless you have a Scan Gauge II, and you don't mind using the San Gauge to clear the CEL's that pop up at random caused by the throttle controller.

I have used this device in my '09 GE8 for two years, and on at least 8 occasions, under hard acceleration, no matter if the throttle controller was on or off, the CEL light came on, and the engine lost power and went into "limp" mode.

I scanned with the Scan Gauge, found a code that indicated a problem with the "throttle position sensor", used the San Gauge to clear the code, and the problem went away for a while.

Yesterday it happened again and I finally got tired of dealing with it. I don't use the T/C for anything but spirited driving in a group, and this is so rare anymore that I decided to pull the thing out and forget it. If anyone asked me "Should I buy one?", I would now say......... NO, unless you just like having to screw around periodically just to restore safe performance to your car.

[macbuddy]

Sounds like a possible "short" in the wiring/connections. Perhaps the harness is not making the necessary connections. I am curious to know if anyone else has this problem. It could be just your unit.
Back in October 2010, my BLITZ TC had symptoms identical to yours. I was able to fix it by re-soldering the "fragile" connections inside the display/head unit.
The problem started when the cable to the unit got caught on my knee when exiting the car. The problem got worse on subsequent "snags."
In that broken condition, the erratic TC can be very dangerous. I agree that it was a good idea to remove your unit.

FYI, I've been using my BLITZ on 95% of my outings since the fix, and it has been working perfectly. I hope it continues to work, it does make spirited driving a bit more fun!

[manxman]

Sounds like a possible "short" in the wiring/connections. Perhaps the harness is not making the necessary connections. I am curious to know if anyone else has this problem. It could be just your unit.
Back in October 2010, my BLITZ TC had symptoms identical to yours. I was able to fix it by re-soldering the "fragile" connections inside the display/head unit.
The problem started when the cable to the unit got caught on my knee when exiting the car. The problem got worse on subsequent "snags."
In that broken condition, the erratic TC can be very dangerous. I agree that it was a good idea to remove your unit.

FYI, I've been using my BLITZ on 95% of my outings since the fix, and it has been working perfectly. I hope it continues to work, it does make spirited driving a bit more fun!
Thanks for you post Mike, but I am not interested in finding or fixing the cause. The performance of the GE8 vs. the GD3 Fit is stronger off the line. When the throttle controller is working, it does not add as much felt performance as it does to a GD3. Always having to engage and adjust the head unit was more of a bother than it was worth with the throttle controller in the GE8 than in the GD3.

Having your fuel delivery system suddenly and at random throw a fit, to me, is not worth the small increase in performance when it works properly.

Notice, that unlike stuff that was broken through improper installation by forum member TOOL (yes, he's still here), I am not running a "hot sale" on what I consider a defective device.

For other GE8 owners, you don't need this aggravation- don't buy.