BOOST 2

[Keon]

Hey does anyone remember that button from the fourth season marked "Boost 2" what was that used for if it was ever used?

[knightimmortal]

I think it was accidentally used in one episode in place of Turbo Boost. In the days of ole on this board, I believe we theorized that it was like an extension of Turbo Boost.

KI

[Skav]

I think the button was used to activate the CO2 in one episode. I can't remember which. It might not even have been the CO2 but that's what i think.

I was gonna say it was used in 'Slammin Sammy' where Michael presses it to go zooming down the road away from the cop who was trying to do him for false speeding.

Skav

[KITT431]

I believe he it normal 'Turbo Boost.' Remember this was before SPM.

[knightimmortal]

Huh? *robotic voice* Explain in detail, please.

KI

[Joe Huth]

Boost 2 was never used in the series, only seen while Michael was pressing other buttons. Those were only filler buttons, so if I were to guess, I'd say a stronger (or weaker) form of Turbo Boost.

Joe

[K2000kid]

I wanna say it was used for a speed boost rather than a jump.

[Army_F_Body]

Yeah, I think it was just a quick boost in speed, I wanna say like nitrous but Kitt had a "NOS" button too. I remember in some early episodes you see MK hit turbo boost and the next shot is of Kitt driving away at high speed, no jumping or nothing. But, can anyone explain the 3 led lights that show up under the turbo boost button, I believe from season 3 onward. They light up as the button is pressed, usually just the first one. Does this possibly control the "intensity" of the boost. 1 weak, 2 medium, 3 extreme or something. You know, the longer the button is held the longer the boost is "charged" or something causing a more intense or longer boost? Sorry, just always been curious!

[jup]

Ah, yes. The mystery of the Boost 2 button.

As far as I know, this button was never used in the series. It is my theory that this button was some sort of second stage speed increase for use when KITT hit his top speed at "normal" turbo boost land speeds. (Who knows what that figure was suppose to be.) Problem was, JUST WHERE IN THE WORLD COULD KITT EVEN GO THAT FAST??? (Maybe during that desert trip where Michael had to outdrive an airborne jet.) So, if that was it's intended purpose, it's no wonder it never got used.

Another theory of mine is that many of the buttons on the dash could be used for more than just instant systems activation. They could be combined with other button presses as a form of programming. (Which has been used and hinted at several times, like with the 'Rapid Cycle' button.) But, what the Boost 2 button would do in such a program is anyones guess.

I think there was a button marked CO2 that activated/deactivated the CO2 canisters. Seemed like everything short of the override control had a button somewhere on the dash.

As for the multiple lights used in some of the buttons, I can think of three possibilities. 1) Various stages of the button's function, as mentioned. (Week/Strong/Insane) 2) Used as indicators for part of the formentioned programming process. 3) System's condition indicators. (It would be a real bummer if Michael pressed one of the dozens of Turbo Boost buttons, only to be met with an "Out of Boost/System malfunction" LED lighting up.)

[Army_F_Body]

A system condition indicator totally makes sense. Maybe it was an attempt to inject a little realism into the dash later on in the shows run. It could also have been a little more eye- wash added to the dash to make it look flashier too.

[Darknight]

I've wondered the same thing myself. I tend to agree that it was used much in the same way the first "turboboost" button was at times...for a quick burst of speed, since SPM wasn't around yet. Now, moving beyond that, I have to wonder if not it also means the type of "boost" associated with hopped-up engines. Basically, some type of compressed air might be fed into the engine at the touch of that button, thus propelling KITT that much faster. In modern hot-rodding, "boost" applies to both superchargers and turbos, not that "turboboost" necessarily has anything to do with a turbo.

Darknight

[Michael Pajaro]

Darknight, you need to add a "Boost 2" button to YOUR engine design!

Mike

[Darknight]

Haha, actually, I just may do that, since I intend to eventually use it for KITT anyway. When I get this project past the compressed air stage, into the "any combustible liquid" stage, I'll need a type of powerful compressor to feed the air into the engine. By the way, a few more details about my engine: It's small, quiet, makes a type of turbine sound(if left uninsulated)and have I mentioned, efficient and powerful? If my calculations are correct, I should only need a 2 speed transmission, at the most, due to its outstanding rpm capability, and wide torque range.

Darknight

[Knight2000]

I always thought that "Rocket Boosters" were used for quick acceleration. In fact, most of the time, whenever a boost in acceleration was required, it was quite often the Rocket Boosters that were used.

[Pathogen]

Theory: Boost 2, etc.

(For the record, I’m only posting because my car “in development’ do use such a button. And I enjoy a technical challenge.)

SuperCooler theory: (I’m just stuck on this idea right now – I love it. Oddly enough, I have to thank Ford.)
http://www.svt.ford.com/news/news_concept_light.asp (Concept Lightning)
There is a button in the Concept Ford Lightnings which, when activated, dumps a vat of super-cooled liquid into the intercooler. (Intercooler explained briefly: “supercharged” or “turbocharged” air is dense and terribly hot. The air is pushed through a radiator (air to air, or air to water) to cool the air before it enters the engine, thus making the “charge” stronger. Though turbo and supercharged systems do exist without intercoolers, they are not as efficient and more dangerous.)

I like the idea by Ford which super cools an intercooler with the push of a button, and the system only takes 8 minutes or so to recharge. This system uses the existing air-conditioning unit to cool the liquid. I’d like to try it on my bird (given the funding ).

I’ve also been told, through an ECU (or engine control unit) boost control, that the efficiency of “boost” can be maximized. The ECU assisted boost control adds manifold boost pressure to the top of the waste gate (or blow-of-valve, BOV) to assist in holding it closed and cycling air which would otherwise be released from the system. This can be activated done through the push of a button.

LEDs

The Grand Nationals had a horizontal gauge that moved as the throttle was depressed, thus gauging exactly how much boost (charged air) was being fed into the engine. Here at ProjectVirus, we run a gauge on the A-piller, which indicates when the car leaves the normal vacuum state and travels into the territory where it’s being force-fed charged air. . . . but then again, could very easily be something else completely unrelated.
http://www.projectvirus.com/photos/interior12.jpg (A-piller gauge pods on Virus; max. boost)

I think I crossed into lecturing. I tend to do that, sorry!

[jup]

Interesting. With options such as Sub-Zero and A/C on-board, KITT could easily utilize an engine boosting trick, such as that. (Though, I doubt any of the KR writers would have thought to use such an idea.)