Anyone have a ScanGauge II ?
 

Has anyone tried a ScanGauge II on their RX-8? Got any pictures of how you have it mounted?

The web page for the company is here and it looks to be "a trick bit of kit".


A scan tool, digital gauge, and trip computer all rolled into one.

Scan Tool

The ScanGauge II can check for Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs) and if found, can display how many there are and the Trouble Codes themselves.Using the internet or repair manuals, these can be translated to the failed component and repairs can be made.

Data captured when the Trouble Code was set can be recalled to help troubleshoot the problems (was the temperature hot or cold, speed high or low, etc.). The ScanGauge II can be used to clear the trouble codes and data which will turn off the warning (Check Engine, Service Engine soon, etc.) lamp.

Some states now require that vehicle self tests have been completed since the codes were last cleared, before running emissions checks. The ScanGauge reports this "Readiness".

Digital Gauges

The ScanGauge II can display up to 4 of 12 possible gauges at one time. The units of measure can be changed and the rate of update can be increased or decreased.
» Fuel Economy
» Fuel Rate
» Battery Voltage
» Coolant Temperature
» Intake Air Temperature
» Engine Speed (RPM)
» Vehicle speed (MPH)
» Manifold Pressure
(not available on some vehicles)
» Engine Load
» Throttle Position
» Ignition Timing
» Open/Closed Loop



Trip Computers

The CURRENT trip is restarted after the engine has been off for more than 3 minutes. The TODAY trip is restarted after the vehicle has not moved for 9 hours. The data from TODAY is moved to PREVIOUS DAY when it is restarted. This way, you don't have to reset the trip computers when you start a trip. There is also a TANK Trip which you reset when you fill up the tank. It can provide you with "to empty" data as well as other useful information. The information is available anytime during the trip. The CURRENT trip can be reset. This is useful for making fuel economy measurements at a steady speed.

The GAUGE mode can display instantaneous fuel economy, but small variations in throttle, terrain or even wind will cause this to wander around some. The CURRENT trip computer and its RESET capability can smooth this out over a longer distance. A demonstration of how to do this can be chosen below.

The TRIP modes in the ScanGauge II can be used to save gas. Improved driving habits can improve fuel economy by up to 30% according to a US Government source. The ScanGauge II lets you try different driving techniques and routes and gives quick feedback on how they affect fuel use. » Maximum Speed
» Average Speed
» Maximum Coolant Temperature
» Maximum RPM
» Driving Time
» Driving Distance
» Fuel Used
» Trip Fuel Economy
» Distance to Empty
» Time to Empty
» Fuel to Empty

Sounds sweet, doesn't it? $170 delivered in the US. I found a couple of places selling it for a bit less, but may have a deal worked where it could be $155 delivered. I think for that price I might have to get one. I asked and they sell spare cables for $15-20 so you can mount the cables in more than one car and move the unit from car to car.

It CAN do CAN as well :Peace: I was looking for a CAN capable scan tool to replace and older non-CAN and this thing looks really nice - for a bit more bucks that just a scan tool. Leave it on the MPG "gauge" and try to improve my gas mileage may hep it pay for itself :wiggle:

Anyone with any exerience with the ScanGaugeII ?

Thanks,
Dennis

looks handy... but why doesn't it read the WBo2 sensor?

I've had one for about 2 months....a very useful tool. My city driving use to average 18-19 mpg, but with the scangauge I was able to better understand the right gear to use in town and have gotten my mpg to almost 21 with pure city driving. I don't baby the car either, but there is only so much one can do in a 35mph zone, so might as well save fuel.

Of course it does lots more than just mpg...all very interesting and useful information. Water Temp is lower than I thought it would be given how hot the engine always seems to be. I guess the water is doing its job well.

All in all worth the money...and better still it works on all my other vehicles as well. I think you will find it is worth the money. Since I move it from car to car I didn't 'mount' it anywhere...I just let it sit in the ashtray.

I've got one too. The problem is finding mounting locations for it. The wire plugs in from the rear or from the right side of the unit, which limits where it can go.

Thanks for the feedback, I think I will get one. Hopefully I can get the deal worked out for the $155 price. I do like a deal :)

Dennis

so is it true it doesn't read the O2 sensor or do they just not have that on the list?

i don't recall it doing o2.

but there is a usb connector "coming soon" for it, so while it may not display it, you may be able to log that info from it, like you can with a canscan.


I think I'll buy another (sold my first one to a friend) just to monitor mpg and coolant temp. It'll cost the same as a regular gauge but can show 4 readings instead of one. Plus clear CELs

Let me know if you decide to get one, I am working on a deal where they will be $155-160 delivered - which is as cheap as I could find them.

Dennis

I just e-mailed them...

I'd might jump in on this if you wait until the end of the month when the datalogging feature becomes available. It uses the same Scanguage hardware but the older units need to be reprogrammed (for the cost of shipping) to work with the datalogging hardware. They are also working on a programming change that allows you to set up parameters to monitor (like our WBO2 sensor and countless others) that may be available then,

Hey, Where is a good place to mount this thing???

Any pictures? The one picture here is mounted where the ashtray goes. Does somebody have an alternate setup, with pictures?

Thanks in advance.

One thing I dislike about it is that it doesn't read what the CEL is. All you get is a number. With a canscan + laptop, or canscan + pda, you will get the code and detailed info on what it is. Aside from that, it's great that it's an all-in-one. I also like that it gets power from the odb2 connector. So no changing batts, or worrying about plugging in two wires.

Today is the 30th, it does not get much closer to the end of the month than today - except for tomorrow :D:

Seriously, when did they say that would be out? I would be willing to wait a bit on that as well, just to save the hassle and cost of shipping back a new unit to have it added.

That feature is not shown on the web page, did they describe exactly what that would add?

I have an older CarChip (non CAN) than I use to read and clear codes from my other-than-8 cars. I leave it in the car my teenage son drives and once a month I pull the data off of it. It shows any times it was removed from the car (in case he tries to fool me) and all the trips he takes - distance, speeds, hard braking and hard accelleration events, etc. The deluxe version can log a lot of the same stuff as the gauge mode in the scangauge II - engine load, coolant temp, throttle position, etc - but you have to pick 4 out of the list of 23 things to watch. They now have a version with an audible alarm - so you set the speed, acceleration, and braking limits and it beeps if the driver exceeds them.

The new version is USB and can do CAN - my older serial version can't.

The deluxe (E/X) chip looks like it can be set to monitor the O2 sensor voltage (as one of the 4 things you can watch) but I don't think the version with the alarm in it can be set to beep if that hits a certain voltage - it appears to just beep for speed, braking, or accerelation outside the limits.

To monitor my son, the older chip works just fine. If I were buying one now, I would likely get the one with the alarm - better feedback when he does something too radical. There is a similar product that also can measure lateral g's but you have to mount it someplace solid and run a cable from it to the OBDII port - the CarChip just plugs and goes.

I ran around with one plugged into my M5 when it was throwing a code every now and then to have a better record of what it was (cam position sensor, a common problem - as it turned out).


Link to CarChip web page

Dennis

I heard back from them as well about the logging feature, it is an extra cost add on (maybe $100) plus the cost of an SD data card. The gauge would have to be returned to be updated.

I quote:

The interface is a unit with memory and processing power itself. It has a
cable that plugs into the unused connector on the ScanGaugeII and another
that plugs into a USB port on a computer. They don't have to both be plugged
in at the same time.

The interface will use SD Cards for data storage. You can plug it inot the
ScanGauge for logging and for other upload/download tasks. It can be removed
from the vehicle and taken to a computer for data transfers.

The ScanGaugeII has all the hardware needed for the interface, but will need
an upgrade of its program to use it. The Upgrade is free when you purchase
the interface.

Price has not been finalized yet. It is expected to be under $100. This will
also include the software for a windows based computer.

The current plan is to begin selling the interface at the end of September.
This could slip.

The guy I am working with on a deal (a reseller, not the company directly) says he has been told the USB loggin kit will included a pre-paid mailer to return the gauge to be updated. That was not mentioned by the company, and I did not ask.

So we could buy now and then later buy the kit and get the update. Or buy now and decide we don't want the kit - I don't know. I think folks were waiting for the end of August to buy to get the upgrade at the same time but the ship has now slipped to the end of September. If we wait until then it may slip again.

I am leaning toward going ahead and getting the gauge and worrying about the kit whenever they finally do release it. As the company said, the upgrade will be included in the cost of the USB kit. It is also likely that the guy who will give us a discount will also be able to discount the USB kit once it becomes available :)

Dennis

I really meant waiting for the end of the month of september...


it sounds tempting with the free return shipping to get updated, but i'd really like to see the datalogger end first before deciding... and see if they can get the programming to include the O2 sensor

u can also use the apexi stand to put the scangauge

Cool - but what holds the stand to the dash?

Also, which model stand is that - it looks like they have more than one.

Thanks,
Dennis

This place sells the ScanGaugeII as cheap as anyone - $164.95 delivered. They do PayPal only and to confirmed addresses only.

From now until 9/9/2006 if you order and enter "Mazda" into the "Message to Seller (Optional)" section at the bottom left BEFORE you check out he will rebate back either $5 or $10 per ScanGauge sold to you. The $5 mark has already been hit (me and some friends) if the total using the Mazda reference is > 10 by the 9th then the refund is $10 per unit.

So you PayPal him his normal full price - $164.95, then get back either $5 or $10 to make it that much sweeter. So the final price should be either $159.95 or $154.95 delivered, which is cheaper than I could find anyplace else.

Only a couple of days to save some coin.

Disclaimer: I have no connection to the seller other than as a customer. Well, that and I might get $5 more back if more folks buy. :)

Dennis

What did any of you enter into the thing as the size of your engine, 1.3L or 2.6L? And has anyone used it long enough to know if either setting really makes much difference?

I have not installed mine yet in the 8. I read someplace (in another thread here?) that you would put in 2x or 3x the actual size because of the rotary - and I have no idea what difference that makes.

Pick a good spot to mount yours yet? Got any pics?

Dennis

I just got mine last night. I think I have a problem with mine and will have to exchange it. I don't have any backlight. I tried MORE>DISPLAY>HIGH and MORE>DISPLAY>LOW and neither worked. Even tried changing the color and that didn't work. Anyone else experience this?

Still have it loose and haven't mounted it, but one spot that sprung to mind is to the left of the steering column, on the dash. It will be angled to the right, but is still clearly visible. Right now I have it lying there. It seems to fit where the tape/md would go, but it looks worse there.

I've had mine for several months....the 1.3 setting depicts actual performance just fine...actual being mpg calulations. Never tried 2.6, but did run at the default of 3.5 and the numbers were way off...

Thanks for the size info. I had set it to 1.3L because that's the engine size most say the Rx-8's is. But I've also read arguments that the size should actually be double that, depending on how you calculate displacement compared to a boinger. I don't want to re-open that can-of-worms, I just wondered which setting gave more accurate results and what reading it affected most.

Since I just got my gauge I haven't figured our where to put it yet. I have it laying in the ash-tray, too, but I don't like it down there as it way-way out of line-of-sight for driving. I did just lay it on the dash up by the windshield initially and I kind of like it up there somewhere. I noticed it is easier for me to read quickly because focusing distance doesn't change as much as having it close, as a heads-up display works. Or maybe on the left by the A-pillar. I MAY look into making a short, more flexible extension cable to lay on the dash or route out of sight so I still move the original cable with the unit. I don't really consider it a permanent fixture, though.

Sorry for the very late response

Its the APEXI RSM stand...the stand comes with double sided tapes to hold the stand on the dash...

Dead Thread ....

Scangauge with XGAUGE functions ....Should we start new thread ?

Mounted on top of Rear View Mirror ....

With

here is mine