Traffic light not sensing my Insight?

[davidm]

This is a ramp meter and for every car in front of me it's only a few seconds per car, so I think 2 minutes is way too long. I don't see anything that looks like a camera so hopefully I won't be receiving any citations.

It hasn't been active since I've posted this, so I haven't been able to test it again.

[framednlv]

I remember (long time ago) I would rev the engine on my moped and it would trigger the light sensor. Next time the lights are on, try putting it in low so the rpms are up.

[davidm]

The engine isn't running at all. It shuts down when I'm stopped (as it's supposed to). When I finally pull out the engine starts (obviously) but the light still doesn't change.

I don't think the engine running has anything to do with it. I'm pretty sure it's an inductive sensor that detects the metal in a car sitting over it.

[Cobb]

What about moving up a foot after 30 seconds if the light makes no changes? I find I do that in any vehicle I drive and it seems in many cases the second stop I made triggers the light, so it appears I am not pulling up enough. I also do this so the ac will cool down as auto stop kicks in like clock work on my car in this heat we had this year.

[davidm]

I should have posted to this thread several months ago that the problem seems to be resolved. The ramp lights were on a few mornings recently (whether they're on or off must depend on traffic) and they worked perfectly. I pulled up to where I was supposed to and after a second or two they turned green.

What was wrong before? I have no idea.

[Cobb]

I was going to say you can get one of those traffic light trigger devices. They use an IR blaster at a certain flash rate. I met an a-hole with one the other day driving an impala. All the lights for him were green, then turned red immediately afterwards.


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[davidm]

I don't think these lights have infrared sensors. They most likely sense weight or the presence of certain metals.

[olrowdy01]

Originally Posted by davidm

As far as I know that's what they do. The question is whether or not those sensors in the asphalt are sensing my Insight.

Since the Insight is mostly non ferrous metal, the sensors may not detect your car.

[Cobb]

Rather his insight is made of steel or aluminum it should effect the sensors on the street either way. In our area many have sensors on top and if you flick your head lights they will turn within seconds.


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[olrowdy01]

Originally Posted by Cobb

Rather his insight is made of steel or aluminum it should effect the sensors on the street either way.

I agree but aluminum affects the metal detector type sensors differently than steel.

Since it is now working OK maybe they adjusted/replaced something on the setup.