I really don't drive that much, so when I fill up every month or two, the experience is normally accompanied by equal parts shock and foul language. The strange thing is that the price of gas is always significantly more expensive in the city, and every once in a while, you can happen across a random station that is selling fuel for more than 10 cents a gallon less than everyone else.

It's counter productive to drive all over looking for the cheapest pump, so instead you can use the GasPriceWatch Google Maps mashup to surf pump prices from home. Site visitors report in with updated pump prices, and hopefully there will be a good find along your normal commute route.

Google Maps Mania has a few links to some other maps-related gas tools that you may also be interested in. As for me, I'm sticking to pedaling.

GasPriceWatch
Finding Cheap Gas on Google Maps

See also: Hypermiling: Hack Your Mileage

After my post last week about disabling the navigation lockout on Lexus and Toyota nav systems, I received a request from an unhappy Ford owner with the same problem.

After a bit of searching, I unfortunately wasn't able to turn up any straightforward "secret-password" solution for this. What I did find, however, is a straightforward hardware modification that will put you back in control of your navigation technology. Assuming you don't mind rolling up your sleeves and disassembling your dash, this fix is known to work with a couple Ford truck models, and I have a feeling that the same method might be a general solution for almost all factory navigation systems that have this lockout functionality.

The navigation system uses a connection to the Vehicle Speed Sensor (VSS) to determine whether or not the vehicle is moving. By installing a small switch that can disable this connection, you can trick the navigation system into thinking the vehicle isn't moving (apparently it doesn't think to double check your speed with the GPS unit). Turn the switch off and you can enter your destination information. Flip the switch back on and your navigation system is back to normal and tracking vehicle speed correctly.

Now here's the interesting bit. It looks like factory navigation systems for many other vehicles use a VSS connection to determine speed. While the particulars of removing the dash and locating the VSS wire will be different, chances are good that this hack will work as a last-ditch effort in fixing navigation systems that don't have a software override (hear that 2007-08 Lexus and Toyota owners?).

Ford Factory Navigation Use While In Motion - Link
Disable Lexus and Prius navigation lockout - Link

The greatest feature of the navigation system used in Lexus and Toyota autos is undoubtedly the lockout mode which occurs automatically whenever the car is in motion. Somewhere deep inside the navigation system, the fascism bit is toggled for your protection and certain features, namely destination input, are completely disabled.

Thus, use of the navigation system requires one to tap away at a touchscreen keyboard while parked in an intersection or along the shoulder of a busy freeway, reducing the risk of potential typos over ten percent when compared to touchscreening in a moving vehicle. If you happen to Griswold your way into the wrong area and need navigation assistance, the lockout feature will even cause your parked Lexus to broadcast a visual distress signal, increasing the chance that you will be approached by a friendly drug dealer or prostitute who can help point you in the right direction.

Kids, are you noticing all this plight?

I've found that the best way to appreciate the navigation lockout feature is to disable it and see what driving without it is like. The navigation system contains a hidden service menu with a big Override button that lets you do just that.

There's a secret combination to get to the service menu. The code you use depends on which version of the navigation system you have. They are all roughly the same, so just try them out and find the one that works with your vehicle.

Note: From what I understand, you can't get to this service menu on models from 2007 or later. There's more information on this at lexusoverride.com.

Getting to the Service Menu
Press the following combination to get to the service menu of your Lexus or Prius navigation system.

Newer vehicles: Menu, Volume, top left, bottom left, top left, bottom left

Older vehicles (I can confirm this one): Menu, System, top left, bottom left, top left, bottom left, bottom right

Older vehicles (alternate version): Menu, DVD, top left, bottom left, top left, bottom left, bottom right

Disable Navigation Lockout
On the service menu screen there are a number of diagnostic buttons hiding untold wonders. One of the more useful is the GPS button which gives you detailed lat/lon and status information from the GPS module. To disable the lockout feature, look for the button that says Override. Press and hold it until it beeps, then press the back button to exit the service menu.

You and your copilot will now have the ability to enter destination information while the vehicle is in motion. This is best done in heavy traffic while talking on your cell phone, eating a hamburger, cradling a hot cup of coffee between your legs and yelling at the kids in the back seat.

References:
Overriding Navigation Lockout - Link, Video
How to Override Lexus Navigation Motion Lock - Link

Here's how you can use the Wiimote's built-in accelerometers to measure your ride's G forces and 0-60 time:

I got this idea after seeing some physics class use the wiimote in some kinda pendulum experiment.

Why not use the wiimote's built in 3-axis accelerometers to measue g-forces, acceleration and even calculate my own 0-60mph times!

So I did. I wrote a script to dump all the g-force readings from the wiimote to a comma separated value file, then did some post processing in MS Excel, and voila, I can see every bump, every curve, my acceleration and braking, and even calculated my current speed using high school physics (v=a*t)

I wonder how much weight you could strip off this thing to get it to its bare essentials. A LiPo battery a gumstix board and maybe this could be extended to model rocketry or autonomous helicopter applications.

Wii Remote Accelerometer Measurements - [via] Link

In one method you simply touch the remote to your noggin - Link.

In the other video, a more sophisticated open mouth, below the chin technique is used - Link.

I'm guessing that your head is acting as a crude directional antenna, but if you know more about how this works, let us know in the comments.

Links:

• Milage hacker Wayne Gerdes: 59MPG in an Accord - [via] Link.
• Hypermiler tips on Wikicars -Link.