This is a strange question I know. I have a customer who wants to add a speed governor to his son's car. It seems his son has a habit of driving 90 MPH around the Washington DC beltway and has several reckless driving tickets to prove it. He wants to add something to the car to prevent it from exceeding 60 MPH. Can it be done? If so, where and how? I would appreciate any help.

 

take his keys away!

 

I dont know where you could get something like this, probably have to be custom and a good amount of $$$. What you would have to do is take the stock limiter out, or reprogram it to a specific RPM or speed.. I'm not really sure how you would do speed because generally speaking its a comination of RPM and speed that locks the limiter. You couldn't controll it at a certain RPM, it would be too impractical. But locking it at 60mph is unsafe to begin with, places like Atl where people drive 75+, you have to keep up with traffic to safely arrive to your destination. Its just as dangerous to go 60 while everyone is doing 80mph vs. doing 90mph while everyone is doing 60mph. No difference, because people behind you might not realize you are driving slower until its too late.

If i were you, i would recommend to the customer that its unsafe to lock it at such a low speed. There are quite a few highways that are 70mph, 60mph isn't very logical or practical while i can see where hes coming from. Just tell him that maybe he should take his kids car away, sell it, and buy him a slower car where its not as tempting to speed. Also buy something that is near impossible to modify, maybe something like a automatic geo metro. Virtually no aftermarket parts for them as far as motor goes compared to other cars, and its a 3cyl so automatic would make it extremely slow while still being able to keep up with majority of traffic and being able to cruise at speed limits. Just a thought.

 

sell him a Vespa....

 

hey tony there is no stock governor.

 

Believe me, I don't like this guy's idea and I agree that it could potentially be dangerous. To me, it seems like he's looking for a gadget fix to a compensate for the bad job he did instilling responsibility in his son, but that's not my business.

How about removing a spark plug? That might turn the "check engine" light on, but it would likely do what he wants.

 

he could install a gps tracking system in the car and track his speed and his location for relative cheap. or one of those dataloggers. If the kid knows he is being tracked or watched, he might think twice. I agree its only a crutch for bad parenting/stupid kid.

 

I don't know where to find one, but there is something called an overspeed alarm. I believe the Toyota xA has an overspeed alarm that emits an annoying beep at speeds over 100kph.

 

what he wants to do... is let the kid lose his license then he will learn... trust me i know.. i know : (

 

Word...

-THE DON

 

fuel/timing cutoff switch wired to the speedo???


I also like the Geo idea....

 

I say buy the XB for himself and then buy some POS car that's ready to fall apart and running on three cylinders.

 

Can't he tell the cops in his area to watchout for his kid. If they find him speeding at all, pull his license.

 

I did a quick search and found this:

http://www.paceignitions.com/ourproducts.html

I agree that setting a limit of 60MPH is too low but could be set at 70 ish which is the max posted speed limit in the US that I'm aware of. Even if he went up to 80, it's still better than a ticket for 90.

 

i agree w/take his keys away

tell 'em its for his own good - if he doesnt want to listen get him in that prison program called "Scared Straight"

you could just let him get the points and a suspended license but even i couldnt be so mean - though it may be the only thing to make him learn

that governor is awesome though!! unlesss he guesses the pin, that is quite useful - heck id get one just for the security part of it

 

There are a few places out there with 85 posted and the minimum is still 45.

 

That's a scary thought. There are too many untrained drivers, at least around here, that would just get themselves killed at those speeds.

That is a great thought! You can't steal the car without a pin, unless someone tows it.