Transmissions overdrive solenoid controller

Other Hardware Sensors
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Hello, I am fairly new to using the arduino platform but have successfully completed some beginner projects. The whole reason I'm interested in arduino to begin with is its potential in real world automotive applications.

My first real world automotive project is trying to get a vehicle speed sensor to activate a relay to be used to engage a automatic transmission overdrive solenoid.

I have two problems, first is i don't know what kind of sensor i have. If it generates a low A/C current or a digital square wave. Second is how do i code to tell it to turn on the relay at a certain count.

Once i figure out what kind of sensor im dealing with i can figure out at what voltage or pulses say 60 mile per hour gives me than i should be able to take that value and tell arduino to turn the relay on above that value and shut it off under that value.

Any help is greatly appreciated!

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rxheaven13b:
I have two problems, first is i don't know what kind of sensor i have.

Well, nobody else can do more than guess, but it is probably probably a Hall effect sensor on a drive shaft or on a wheel, the latter as part of the ABS setup. I could be simplest to get another sensor to read the same magnet, thereby avoiding anything invasive with the existing system. You just need Arduino to monitor the pulse rate and operate the relay when appropriate. The code is essentally the same as that for a flow meter, fan rpm, etc.