Traffic Light Woes...

[RollinInGreenz]

I know all of you have encountered a traffic light or two that keeps you at an intersection longer than normal, and I know all of you have cursed said lights repeatedly, but let me tell you, it can be worse...

Back when I had my benz, I used to get fed up with waiting at a traffic light for more than 45 seconds or so. Well, Now that I drive a 20 year old Jeep with a 4" lift and 33" tires that gets deplorable mileage, I'm never really in much of a hurry to get anywhere. I wouldn't be posting this if it had only happened once or twice, but this is a daily occurrence. My jeep, for one reason or another which remains unknown to me, does not tigger traffic light systems. It mainly happens on left hand turn pockets, but also happens every so often when going straight. Sometimes I come home pretty late (early in the morning) around 2-ish and I'll sit at a light for as long as it takes for someone to pull up behind me and trip the light. I'm not talking 1 or 2 minutes.....I've sat for as long as 10 or 15 minutes at 2:00am just listening to my radio and waiting, because I surely don't want to run a red light and risk being seen by The Fuzz given my past encounters with them.

So, my question is:

Has anyone else ever had this problem in a lifted truck, or would anyone know whats causing this? I've got a feeling that its because my Jeep's tires and lift put enough distance between the bulk of the metal in the jeep and the magnetic field sensor loops in the ground that the system just doesn't know I'm there.

Another question, how do I fix this, without lowering my Jeep!

Thanks guys.....i realize you drive euros and I drive a jeep....but i figured it was worth a shot!

[bugzy]

Who cares what you drive :)

But anyways, i believe there are metal detector systems under the road that is sensing the amount of metal that is above it. Possible that the truck is too tall for it to sense it, therefore not knowing your truck is even there.

[RollinInGreenz]

Yeah, me thinks so toos.

It's flattering that my truck is so big that traffic lights can't recognize it....but its more of a pain in the ass, so something needs to be done about it....anoyne know anything bout this?

[Paul]

2 words, AIR BAGS? =P

[bugzy]

2 words, AIR BAGS? =P
im with paul on that :tup:

[A1pocketrocket]

with only 33's ive never heard of such a problem. i deal with yahoos on 40's all day long.

[mitssn]

Call the town and ask them what to do....

[veedubber7]

studded snow tires

[RobertZ]

Yeah, me thinks so toos.

It's flattering that my truck is so big that traffic lights can't recognize it....but its more of a pain in the ass, so something needs to be done about it....anoyne know anything bout this?


I hear you on this one also. But Chevy Avalanche is stock height and I have the same issue.

[Tom]

Rig a big electromagnet to the bottom of your truck....just flip it on when you pull up to an intersection.

[madajb]

Same thing happens on bikes.
The guy in my MSF class said that CA law allows you to "run" the light if you sit through 3 cycles.
But he also said some cops won't believe you sat through 3 cycles..so..
-ajb

[ncttrnl]

You are right about why the light is not changing for you.

I googled a little and found this explanation and some info on how to get the light to change for bicycles by changing your lane placement. Maybe you can apply it a little and see if it helps you out.

The giant magnet thing is actually not such a silly idea either. The main thing would be orientation of such a device to best induce a current in the detector loop.

http://www.humantransport.org/bicycledriving/library/signals/detection.htm

[vtecwho]

jesus christ people just start flashing your high beams at the light. the light sensor on top of the signal will pick up the flashing and think your a cop or fire truck or what have you and you will be free to go.

[vtecwho]

Rig a big electromagnet to the bottom of your truck....just flip it on when you pull up to an intersection.

and then that would defeat the whole purpose of having a jacked up truck.

ohh wait we live in california the home of pavement pounders. :hammerh:

[ncttrnl]

jesus christ people just start flashing your high beams at the light. the light sensor on top of the signal will pick up the flashing and think your a cop or fire truck or what have you and you will be free to go.

Headlights don't work as well as you would think... what is actually happening in some cases is that the traffic signal system is just sensing your headlights and your high beams are just triggering it from further away.

What you're thinking of takes a strobe that flashes 11 or 14 times a second depending on the system. There was a company that sold 12 volt strobes for this purpose not that long ago. There was a big scandal over that as states started making it a felony or something to use them if you weren't some form of emergency vehicle. All you need is a timer circuit and some capacitors though and you can make your own and not have to deal with buying such a device in public where you might get in trouble for doing so.

[mitssn]

Yeah, that whole flash your high beams thing is bull... Any time it has worked for you is purely coincidence

[RollinInGreenz]

well, thanks for the wealth of info on this issue, funnily enough, I called the ass hats at 4WheelParts in Irvine and they had never heard of anyone having such a problem. I drive a Jeep CJ-7...in essence, one of the most common and mass produced trucks out there....and nobody at this shop has ever heard of this problem....wtf. I swear, majority of left hand turn lanes do not register me....its wack.....anyways, that be all, thanks and I'll let you know what I end up doing

[A1pocketrocket]

well, thanks for the wealth of info on this issue, funnily enough, I called the ass hats at 4WheelParts in Irvine and they had never heard of anyone having such a problem. I drive a Jeep CJ-7...in essence, one of the most common and mass produced trucks out there....and nobody at this shop has ever heard of this problem....wtf. I swear, majority of left hand turn lanes do not register me....its wack.....anyways, that be all, thanks and I'll let you know what I end up doing


i work at a shop that caters to Jeep aftermarket parts (CJ,YJ,TJ,XJ,ZJ) and although i agree that alot of the 4WheelParts guys are asshats, they probably havent ever heard of the problem, because neither have i.