Road Angels and TVR's?

[davetherave1970]

Had my Road Angel for 7 months now and last month the lazer alert module would show "mobile" and flash red when I accelerated hard.
The RA guys sent me a new lazer alert module but it didn't fix the fault. They then asked for the RA unit back for checking, it has been returned with no faults found.
They are now saying that a TVR is one of the vehicles that they would expect to see a potential problem with.
"The alert is caused by a backfeed through the 12v system that then causes the Road Angel to false alert through the lazer alert"

Has anyone else had this problem?

[jamesuk28]

Yes I have exactly the same problem with mine. It is due I think to the fact a TVR has a very "noisy" electrical system, similair to a super bike. Its just one of those things, but very very annoying.

[the-gofer]

I have the Road Angel 2 with the integrated laser "eyes" and it is OK in the dry, but in the wet it is constantly (i mean every few seconds) setting itself off - it is so bad that I have turned it off. I guess it must be the windscreen wipers in my car that are doing it.

[Nick P]

davetherave1970 said:

Had my Road Angel for 7 months now and last month the lazer alert module would show "mobile" and flash red when I accelerated hard. The RA guys sent me a new lazer alert module but it didn't fix the fault. They then asked for the RA unit back for checking, it has been returned with no faults found. They are now saying that a TVR is one of the vehicles that they would expect to see a potential problem with. "The alert is caused by a backfeed through the 12v system that then causes the Road Angel to false alert through the lazer alert" Has anyone else had this problem?

Mine did exactly the same thing as soon as I put it in my TVR....I sent the laser module back to them free of charge and they sent me an 'uprated' one.....only the occasional problem now

[yi8tvr]

Good timing dave lol. Bought my NEW RA Saturday.

Spoze thats 4 fat ones down the swaney. Still at least i'll know were all the black spots are. Do ya think if i plug it in to my wife it will tell me were her g spots are cause im fukdifiknow.

[shnozz]

Nick P said:

davetherave1970 said: Had my Road Angel for 7 months now and last month the lazer alert module would show "mobile" and flash red when I accelerated hard. The RA guys sent me a new lazer alert module but it didn't fix the fault. They then asked for the RA unit back for checking, it has been returned with no faults found. They are now saying that a TVR is one of the vehicles that they would expect to see a potential problem with. "The alert is caused by a backfeed through the 12v system that then causes the Road Angel to false alert through the lazer alert" Has anyone else had this problem? Mine did exactly the same thing as soon as I put it in my TVR....I sent the laser module back to them free of charge and they sent me an 'uprated' one.....only the occasional problem now

yep, same as me. As soon as I swapped it for the new laser module havent had one false alarm since

[yellow peril]

Oops...may want to check out this thread......
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=112206&f=10&h=0

Road Angels may not be banned yet....but if they continue along the same lines...the road angels will be next!!!!

....//P//

[shnozz]

yellow peril said:

Oops...may want to check out this thread...... www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=112206&f=10&h=0 Road Angels may not be banned yet....but if they continue along the same lines...the road angels will be next!!!! ....//P//

not with GPS based systems...

[k77-widow maker]

Well I have not had this issue with my B2, apart from the screen going a bit funny, and the serial cable adapter screwing up

[drum4it2]

I've been digging again!

I have this problem with the RA constantly triggering, they sent me a new laser detector thingy and now it's even worse - I noticed yesterday that it seems to be worse when accelerating...

Thing is, I had this for a month before Le Mans and it was fine every day, took it out of the car for the French Roads and didn't use it again for a couple of months... and the problem started when I fitted it back in? I've done all the software updates too...

A mate reckons it could be the supressor? Any suggestions people?

[Tripps]

Have had the same problem with the RA2, as if I had a invisible traffic officer trailing me, Networx Automotive (who I purchased the unit from) sent me a suppresor (magnetic core close to the unit) and no joy, then Blackspot sent me a seperate laser detector unit - and all seems to be cured.

Problem is now don't know if it detects laser, as you have to switch off internal laser detection for it to work and plugging in an external detector should override - guess I'll have to find some hot spots and get it checked out...

[shnozz]

Graeme - exactly the same with me. When I first bought my RA (1 model) the mobile alert kept going off like mad. Rang up Blackspot and they advised me about the electrical "noise" on a TVR and they were developing another version. After about 4 months they sent me the new version to try. Worked without the false alarms - brilliant.

Recently, and a dare say after the similar post le-mans trip whereby the RA was left at home, the mobile alerts have been starting again from the minute the laser module is plugged into the back of the RA.

If anyone speaks to Blackspot perhaps they would advise the outcome on this thread...

[drum4it2]

shnozz said:

Recently, and a dare say after the similar post le-mans trip whereby the RA was left at home, the mobile alerts have been starting again from the minute the laser module is plugged into the back of the RA. If anyone speaks to Blackspot perhaps they would advise the outcome on this thread...

Hi Shnozz, strange that it has happened to both of us after the trip away? Maybe it has something to do with the updates that were done via the PC during July?

I've called Blackspot today & someone there is supposed to be calling me back - I'll let you know the outcome...

[chris watton]

My RA2 does the same also, on very hard acceleration, I have Tiff shouting at me about laser laser alerts, (not sure exactly what he says, as the car's making so much noise at this point that the voice is barely audible!!, But, it does make me drop down to slower speeds!!

[_dobbo_]

Los Angeles said:

When is someone going to design one that is part of the rear view mirror, and we can all chuck away that contraption strapped to the dash or stuck on the windscreen? Just thought I should ask.

Someone already did:

Cheetah detector

But it's radar only, no GPS

[Guillotine]

just for info...

i have a Mk1 RA and i've had no probs in the UK or at/since Le Mans.

run it on the dash in the UK and on the tunnel in France (coz they're illegal).

'bin al over uk and europe with no errors.
Guess its the luck of the draw.

BTW i have had suppression issues with the car causing a "boucy" speedo. the routing of the wiring in the engine bay is critical as you do get ALOT of pick up of the leads etc.

just a thought, try running an earth (wire) to the bonnet heatshield. MAY act as a screen!!!

[Tripps]

Guillotine said:

BTW i have had suppression issues with the car causing a "boucy" speedo. the routing of the wiring in the engine bay is critical as you do get ALOT of pick up of the leads etc.

Hmmm... Would a "bouncy" voltmeter be the same, it goes ballistic when the repeaters are on!

I've always just thought of it as a harmless quirk

[NJW 77]

My RA2 works fine in the cerb, but sometimes interferes with low signal radio stations in the Audi, then I may not hear the inteference in the cerb

[nsparey]

My mk 2 RA works fine, no false alerts in any weather and I used it every day, biggest problem is the pants magnet mount that cant cope with Tuscan G force

[chris watton]

nsparey said:

My mk 2 RA works fine, no false alerts in any weather and I used it every day, biggest problem is the pants magnet mount that cant cope with Tuscan G force

LOL, ditto, I got the same prob in the Tam with hard acceleration, the unit just kept falling off! I now put the wire behind the cradle, and it now stays put!