ScanGaugeII - Review
 

Not sure where this belongs, but since I'm using it primarily as a set of accurate guages I thought this might be appropriate.

First off, the unit is small and easily mountable above the steering column, so I have it sitting in front of the analog dash guages. It fired up and connected immediately with the PCM with no issue, and I set it to display Speed, RPM, Coolant Temp and MPG. I switch between MPG and Ignition advance for that one display, depending on what I want to see. The gauges track well with the car, the company says its a 2 sec delay but the speed tracks almost perfectly with our digital guage and the rpm is spot on.

I don't have and codes, but clearing them is a breeze with this. I can use this with my canscan for quick checks of stuff which is nice.

I'm hoping that they will update the firmware with the ability for us to read our stock wideband, which would be nice.

for an NA car, this is a nice way to get some accurate guages with additional functionality. If I was turbo, I woud likely want a set of guages with Oil Press / Oil Temp, but this is multi use which is nice for me now.

it's nice, but it has flaked out twice on me... I had to unplug it to get it to reset. Overall I still would recommend it.

here's where mine is mounted.

Looks like a cool unit...should I be picking one of these up? Where can I get the AEM Wideband for the cheapest price?

i did contact them a few months ago that they said they were going to work on a datalogging unit and a way to configure the unit to read more guages... however, i don't think anything came out of those efforts yet -shrug-

Does this work with the OEM PCM, or just the Interceptor?

it has nothing to do with the intercetor.

it hooks up to the obd2 port under the driver side dash, and reads from the stock pcm sensors.

toys are for kiddies ....

http://www.aimsports.com/products/auto.html

toys are also much cheaper

you get what you pay for, you can display almost anything off the Canbus on the one I linked, plus datalogging

Hah! so true. No need to jerk off when you got the real deal. Information is power.

those are both cool... brillo you should see if you can make a plate for that unit in the ashtray area... stealth like


teamrx8... those are sweet... you have one? how hard is it to install?

the scangauge2 is just a little unit that is self powered (from obd2 port), has a built in back lit lcd (you can pick the color), allows you to read and reset CELs, plus can display 4 sensor readings at a time. Stuff like intake temp, coolant temp, mpg, etc.

It's $150, similar in cost to obd2 scanners that have no display and require laptops to operate. Or are setup to be hand held, and not mounted in the car...

Buy it for what it is, but don't make fun of it for what it's not.

I'm not making fun of it, but once you add in all the features everyone is asking for you'll be at the same cost and type of display I linked too, which also just plugs into the OBD2 port including the power, you aren't going to get datalogging without using a laptop, the installation of it on an RX-8 has been discussed on the forum, do teh s3arch

I'm seriously considering purchasing one :rock:

What features are being asked? If this doesn't do it, then it doesn't do it.

I have no interest in data logging, I can do that with my fuel management systems. The features on the AIM hardware look nice, but I can think up better things to do with $1000.

In my opinion, the AIM hardware is more of a toy than the scangauge. It's built for a specific purpose, while the SG2 is general purpose. Most people aren't going to find it useful or the cost acceptable.

The mychron3 gold would be great with the ability to read lambda input and datalog, in conjunction with all of the CAN functionality. Now if someone made a unit that did all that AND programmed the interceptor... oh well, only in my dreams.

IMO the scangauge II makes a good code reader.... but as far as mounting it... I think it's a little silly to display mph and rpm right next to the factor tach and speedo. MPG? ehh

Then display ignition timing, engine load, fuel rate, or something else. :)

for what it is, and the fact that its portable, its a hell of a bargin IMO.

I'm thinking about getting the scanguage 2. For $150 dollars on a NA RX-8, its worth it. The only problem I have with it, is how useful will it be if you go FI.

When you're FI, you have a greater chances of getting CELs, you'll want to be able to read them to know if you're getting something unimportant like "system too rich", or something serious.

you need to read them regardless if it's NA or FI

I'm not getting any CELs on my NA despite significant custom mods, but if I do I want to know what and why ... and in the case of the InterceptorX you will always have a CEL so you at least need to check it on a regular basis to make sure if it's the standard CEL issue or some new problem ...

Sure, because you already forked out the money you don't need data logging, but the AIM device does a lot more. Because of it's cost and capability it's not for everyone, just like a backyard mechanic can do fine with Craftsman while a pro mechanic will go with Snap-On. The average person won't need to read EGT per rotor, but for those that do this device can do it with the addition of thermocouples and a whole lot more such as play back lapping displays without a laptop, etc. Frankly I'd rather spend my money on a real CAN scanner than that thing (which I already have), as most of those have data logging too. I'd also rather spend $1k on a useful tool with all the features I need rather than $150 on a toy, that's just me :) I won't have any problem selling it for a decent price either, used ones are snapped up instantly for almost the original sales cost

I also have several laptops, WTF doesn't own one these days?

I've got 6 computers in my house, and 3 laptops. That doesn't mean I want to lug a laptop around in my car, or wait for it to boot up in order to do something.

The scangauge has it's own LCD. It powers up within 1 second from when I turn on the car. It does less than the canscan that most people here own, but it's a lot more convient to use.


You know, brillo wanted to post about what he thought of the scangauge2 on this thread, instead of chiming in, you're ragging on the unit for no reason. What you're doing is like someone from Pettit going to the AFE thread and busting their chops about it not being as good due to ___. If you want to spread the gospel about how great MXL is, why not make your own thread?

i don't mind people chiming in with there thoughts, thats why I have a bunch of qualifiers with the review. If i was FI, I would prolly want a dedicated set of guages like the RB, I already have a stand alone wide band, so with that a boost gauge I would be good.

Even still, the ability to monitor other things like open/closed loop, ign advance, and actual RPM is nice, not to mention the ability to quickly clear CEL.

Its not the perfect solution for everyone, but I bet man folks here would get value from it.

I just purchased mine and it scans correctly, but my traction control light remains on with the scanguage plug in, the cruise on light flashes, and my tach and speedo flash with the current RPM/MPH every other second. Linear-Logic is replacing my unit as my friends works fine in my car. But I agree the simplicity and size of the unit is great. Plus when that check engine light comes on you can quickly see what the issue is and if it needs attention. Plus it comes handy when Auto X as you can track your top speed, RPM and mpg...ect.

Okay so since nobody has said.....Where do you order this from?

i bought it from thinkgeek.com for $169.

later on I bought another from a reseller on ebay for $150. cheapest i could find.


btw, the problem I mentioned having.. I wrote to them and scangauge tech wrote back:

Is he saying my batt voltage is not stable? Anyway, free fix for my problem, and one week ETA on returning it to me.

I had the same issue before...but not anymore
You may want to check out this thread:

https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.p...ight=scangauge

I for one thank you for this info. It is much better than other things I have seen in this price range. Where can I get it?

...look up 2 posts.

Shit, thanks. don't know how I missed that.

Okay, it's December 2006 so is this feature available yet?

"ScanGauge II to USB Interface available in September 2006. Allows data logging, field upgrades, data downloads and more"

Thanks for the info. :) that is exactly what was going on. I didn't test color background, just going to get the new one and go. Maybe a bad batch was made indeed..

by the way I have the Escort GT2 timer and it is equally fun to play with. So far it appears pretty accurate. :rock:

I haven't heard anything about it being available yet, and I think it's at an extra cost ($100?). at that price point I'd just buy a canscan for logging.

Cool. Do they have a website or is the geek store the only way to get it?

Sounds Hella nice can't wait!!!

http://www.pureenergysystems.com/sto...nGauge/USB.htm

Sorry to revive an old thread, but can some of you who have this post pictures of how you mounted this? (waiting for photoshop pics now of someone humping a scanguage)

I found a couple old pictures, but that was about it. I am having trouble figuring out the best place for it in the 8.

Thanks!

I ended up going with mysql's method. I think that's the best choice.

I never mounted mine, it's still laying in the ashtray. The biggest problem with the guage is the size of the cable, it's too big and stiff (add your own joke here) to hide or route out of sight. The dash on the 8 just doesn't have any blank spots to add much of anything.

Unfortunately i've got my radar detector plugged into the cigarette lighter, so there is not enough room left for the scangauge there. Plus I wanted it in my line of sight - didn't want to have an accident while checking my water temp :)

I was able to run the cable at least temporarily around the left side of the gauges, in between the silver and the black on the left side. Then I ran it down behind the left side of the steering column, wrapped it around the opening down there, and tied it off with a twisty tie. Was intended it as a temporary solution, but I just might leave it that way. Then if I want to use it in another car, it is easy to remove.

Anybody know if it is possible to get an idea of your oil temp by looking at the water temp and intake air temp? Want to try to get an idea of how hot my oil is getting to see if I really need to change it more often than the standard 5000 mile interval.

Well, I've been watching my water temp the last couple days. Its in the mid 90s F here. Highest I've seen the water temp is 211. That's with average driving and a few redlines. Anybody have any thoughts on oil life with those kinds of conditions?

Interesting thing is that the dash water temp gauge reading shows its usual spot after warming up. But the actual water temp is only like 160 degrees then. It stays in the same spot all the way up to the 211 that I got. So I think not only is the oil pressure gauge a dummy gauge in the 8, but the water temp gauge is too. I think it sits on that normal spot as long as the water temp is within a certain broad range, just like the oil pressure gauge. Has me thinking about getting those gauges pulled and replaced with functional gauges. Since I've got the scangauge with the water temp, maybe a functional oil pressure gauge and a oil temp gauge.

the water temp moves up until it gets to the normal range and then doesnt move again until the water temp passes 220

you can not "pull" the guages and replace them

I just hooked up my ScanGauge II and everything is fine, except that the 'custom color' option doesn't work. All I can get as backlight is green. I can set the other colors from 0 to 3 but nothing happens, the backlight remains green. Did anyone else have such a problem or is my unit defective?

I'd rather like to match the stock orange / red lights instead of the green - it looks out of place.

Are you hitting "Save" after you set them? Made that mistake myself a couple times.

If your dash guages start behaving weird you'll have to set the color back to white. Mine and some others here have had the colored backlight setting turn on the DSC lamp and mess up the tach.

Yes, I did hit 'Save', still no dice.
Actually, while you select the color components (before even hitting 'Save'), the screen is supposed to change to that combination, but this only works with the green, such as: no backlight, low intensity green or high intensity green. No other color appears.
This is weird. I'll ask Linear Logic's tech help line if they know some fix.

Has there ever been a fix found for this? This has happened to me twice when I've started the car. I used the Scangauge to reset the codes, turned off the car (when it was warmed up) and started it again and the DSC light went away.

Got one of these today and I'm very happy with it. It has an amazing amount of features for $159.99 shipped.

The reason the AIM option is so tempting is the addition of external sensors. I love the idea od the Scan Guage but the missing oil temp and pressure are what holds me back.

Scan gague II settings
 

Does anyone know what is the right setting is for the Scan Gage II? My unit doesn't seen to be give correct "miles to empty" numbers. With a full tank it says that I can drive over 260 miles, which hardly seems correct on the 8.

I wonder if it has anything to do with the engine size setting. I have this set at 1.3L, but I am not sure if the unit knows the difference between a rotary and piston engines.

Anyone else has a similar experience?

what kind of MPG reading do you guys get?
mine doesn't seem to read the correct figure.
it fluctuates between 1.0 to 50 something, and sometimes it shows 9999
I rarely see readings that's in 15 to 20 range. make me wonder if i have a defective unit or not.