Since learning to how to operate a manual transmission, I've been driving my parents' 1997 Protege fairly often. One thing I find kind of strange for a car with a stick is that there is no tachometer in the instrument panel, just fuel/temp gauges and the speedometer. I was wondering if there was any trivial (that doesn't involve buying a new car, heh heh) way of determining the RPM without relying on the "feel" of the car to know when to shift. Up to now, I've been going by the sound/feel/speed of the car and it's worked well. I was just wondering how hard it would be to actually get an RPM reading to see precisely where I'm shifting and what the revs are when I'm driving along.
Also, could anyone tell me how difficult it would be to install a "line in" connection to the stock head unit? On the front of the HU, there is a button that says AUX, and when I push it the display reads "noCD". Could this be a useful input or would it more likely be some kind of proprietary connection? I use my MP3 player in the car all the time, but my tape deck adaptor is starting to make a clickety noise and I fear it's on its last legs.
I would probably be better-served by just installing a new HU with cd/mp3 playback (and/or appropriate inputs). Would this be a tough thing to do myself? Which head unit would you recommend, and would I have to change anything else (speakers, amp?, etc)?
Anyone know of a Mazda-specific board where I could ask questions and find tutorials?
Thanks ATOT!
EDIT: Let's make this clear, I'm not saying I need a tach, I was just wondering if it could theoretically be done at minimal cost. I know how to drive the car properly, and I understand pretty well how it works, Ronstang.
Also, could anyone tell me how difficult it would be to install a "line in" connection to the stock head unit? On the front of the HU, there is a button that says AUX, and when I push it the display reads "noCD". Could this be a useful input or would it more likely be some kind of proprietary connection? I use my MP3 player in the car all the time, but my tape deck adaptor is starting to make a clickety noise and I fear it's on its last legs.
I would probably be better-served by just installing a new HU with cd/mp3 playback (and/or appropriate inputs). Would this be a tough thing to do myself? Which head unit would you recommend, and would I have to change anything else (speakers, amp?, etc)?
Anyone know of a Mazda-specific board where I could ask questions and find tutorials?
Thanks ATOT!
EDIT: Let's make this clear, I'm not saying I need a tach, I was just wondering if it could theoretically be done at minimal cost. I know how to drive the car properly, and I understand pretty well how it works, Ronstang.