About Us

We are a home based business located in Capitola, California, about 70 miles south of San Francisco, on Monterey Bay. Currently, we own and drive two VW Vanagons, a 1984 Vanagon GL, and a 1991 Westphalia Camper. The vans have a combined total mileage close to half a million miles, and are testbeds for our products. We began Shoebox Electronix in 2003 by designing and building a monitor for 1986-1991 VW Vanagons that would allow ECU (Engine Control Unit) input and output signals to be monitored while driving the vehicle. Originally, the Monitors were built hard-wired to individual ECUs, and sold or rented as a complete system. To place the technology in the hands of the individual Vanagon owner, we have made the monitor available in easy to build kit form. The kit includes all the parts required to implement an ECU monitor in your Vanagon. Only high quality electronic components are used, and the printed circuit board/front panel assembly is pre-assembled & tested. Previously, this testing capability was available only through a VW dealer, and was relatively expensive, not to mention out of your control. You only need to spend about an hour soldering a few wires to your ECU's circuit board. We also sell a tool kit with the required hand tools to complete the work, if you need them, in our ECU Tool Kit.

Our second product was a Battery Saver Alarm, which will annunciate audibly if you leave your headlight switch ON, and turn your ignition switch OFF. (Who hasn't done this?) The unit installs quickly, and is designed with high quality components on a custom designed printed circuit board, for years of reliable service. The circuit itself is isolated from the vehicle wiring with two 5A fast blow fuses, and a 7805 regulator IC.

In 2009, we added a replacment Throttle Switch to our inventory of Vanagon kits. This has been and is currently a difficult part to find, and it makes little sense to replace your old worn out switch with another old (and possiby worn out) unit.You can see the details about our TPS Switch Kit by clicking the THROTTLE POSITION SWITCH tab.

Our goal is to provide high quality, reliable products at a fair market price. We stand behind the quality of our products, and offer comprehensive warranties on both units. In order for us to maintain our low prices, we ask that you to contact one of our vendors, or email us to help you establish a retailer that can provide you with our products. Thank you for visiting, and we hope to hear from you soon!