ScanGauge II Review after 2-1/2 years of ownership...

[rspi]

My review of the Scan Gauge II that I purchased for iPd. ScanGauge II is worth the $$$.

I'm a little bit of a number geek and like to know what is going on with certain things all the time. So I decided to purchase one of the Scan Gauge II code scanner, etc., from iPd. Yes you can get them from other places, I just like to do business with companies that support us Volvo owners. So I purchased one in July 2009. My primary reason was to have a trip computer in my '97 960.

I was so busy traveling, working, etc., that the thing sat in the box for about 6 weeks. Eeeekkkk! So much for the 30 day money back warranty. Anyway, I finally opened the box and hooked it up to my 960. My main goal was to check my fuel consumption. I'd like to know what kind of gas milage I'm getting, especially at $3.75 per gallon for 93 octane . Pluged it in and it fired right up. It took about 20 seconds to sync with my ECU but I was ready to start playing then. The 1st thing I did was check my CEL. Ah, P0330, misfire #3, it reset the code in seconds.

I didn't bother reading the instructions and within 5 minutes I had the thing set up to my cars specs. I set the engine size, tank size, then user colors. That was about it. There are probably 30 different color setting you can set, I set mine to match my outside temp gauge in my dash. Off I went. Now to start checking my fuel consumption. The gauge has a home page that has 4 options, basically the screen from which you choose your direction. SCAN, TRIP, GAUGE, MORE. I chose GAUGE.

GAUGE: On the guage screen there are four displays, one in each corner. From that screen you can program the item you want to monitor in each corner. It was simple to set up, just push the button in that corner and the screen quickly displays what reading you want displayed.
I soon found myself monitoring the following: MPH - TEMP - MPG - LOAD. Not sure why I choose MPH when I have that long needle right in front of me, but a year and a half later, it's still there.
TEMP: The TEMP reading shows degrees of the coolant temp. When I start the car is show how cold the motor is, usually outside temp 1st thing, then it quickly starts to raise. By watching the TEMP I can see when my thermostat starts to close and I'm at full operating temperature. I never push my car before that temp is reached.
MPG: The MPG setting show real time miles per gallon. What I'm getting at the time. Wether I'm driving up a hill, coasting down a street, or have it floored trying to pass another vehicle. Good information if you want to save on gas.
LOAD: This setting basically shows the load that the motor is under, which of couse effects the mpg. So I watch that.
A real nice thing about it is there is 12 standard meters built into the guage that you can set in any position of the gauge display. Simply keep pushing the button in it's corner until you have the meter you desire to be there.

Now, back to the home page. From there I often choose trip. Once at the trip section of the gauge, you can view 4 trip computers, each computer has about 12 screens. The main 4 trip computers are: CURRENT, TODAY, YESTERDAY, TANK. While at the current selection you can view 11 different screens about your current trip.

- Aveage Miles Per Gallon
- Maximum Speed
- Average Speed
- Maximum Coolant Temperature
- Maximum RPM
- Driving Time
- Driving Distance
- Fuel Used
- Trip Fuel Economy
- Distance To Empty
- Time To Empty
- Gallons To Empty
I usually have it set to average MPG so I can see what I'm currently getting on the current trip. From that screen you can scroll through the meters or through the other trip computers. So while looking at todays MAX SPEED, you can easily check what the MAX SPEED was for yesterday, the tank, or today. Very nice. I caught my neighbor on freeway one day when I had it set in my T-5R and I gave him a run from a rolling 40 mph. He drives a Mercury Marauder. Well after all was said and done, I was able to check my MAX SPEED for the day and seen what it was. FUN, FUN, FUN!

OTHER OPTIONS: I was told while taking to Scan Gauge on the phone, that the Scan Gauge II can be set/programmed to display other meters than that 12 preset. The instructions are on their website and some in their instruction booklet. I'm going to program it to show actual horse power and display that on the gauge page instead of the mph.
This gauge also can be programmed to send information to the ECU. I'm willing to bet that it can be set to clear service lights in models that need a computer to reset them like the S70's, etc. If I figure that out I'll be sure to post back.

GLITCH: Urrrrrrrrrrgggggggggggg! I do have one problem. When connected to my 960, the MPG meter doesn't work right. When you first hook up the gauge you are suppose to do a master reset. Then you go to the gas station and fill up. Then you drive around until you have less than 1/4 tank, drive to the same gas station, during the same time of day as before, then fill the tank up. Once you fill the tank back up you go to the fill up section and compare how many gallons you added vs what the computer think you added. If the number is off, you are suppose to use the arrows to calibrate the actual gallons added and record the FACTOR %. Once you do that you press done and the computer is suppose to know your miles/gallons to empty from then on. Well, that works great on my '95 850 T-5R, but not on my '97 960. After I do that, every time, it looses the ability to know my MPG. It will range from 256 MPG and go as high as 1250 MPG. I WISH!!! Scan Gauge has not been able to help me figure the problem out so I'm going to try different things to work it out. I think I'm going to NOT calibrate it after the next RESET and see what it figures out on it's own after 3 or 4 tanks of gas. I have tried the manual method about 5 or 6 times over the past 12 months, it's just not working right with the 960.

Over all I still give this tool a five star rating. I was able to figure out how to increase my MPG on the freeway from 23 MPG to 27 MPG. That alone saves me $35 every time I go and visit family (every 2,000 miles of highway driving) I drive about 30,000 per year so that adds up quick. On my 850 I have been able to get my MPG from 22 MPG up to 25 mpg. Any way you look at it, I'm saving about $525 in gas per year since I started using it. Really can't beat that, it almost covers my insurance cost.

OTHER USES: Since I drive around with the thing in my car, I am able to help others that I see on the side of the road. I have helped several people get their codes and let them know what was wrong with their cars while they were broke down. I also used it to drive a car home that had a broken water pump. I hooked up the gauge, set the temp on the screen, and used driving methods to keep the temp in a safe range without overheating the car, VERY COOL.

OVER ALL: If you don't have a scan tool, get the scan gauge. It's well worth the price and will pay for itself in no time.

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CURRENT UPDATE: I purchased my ScanGauge II in the summer of 2009. It paid for itself in about 90 days.

I finally figured out the problem with my 960. After doing the initial fill up, then the 2nd fill up and adjust the meter, it ran carzy until the third fill up. After the 2nd fill up the adjustment is NOT suppose to be changed and you should only go to the fill up screen when you FILL UP the tank. When you do, just hit the DONE button and then enter the cost of the gas.

During one of my road trips, I used it to find the "sweet spot" in my highway mileage. I was able to get 33 mpg in my 960 and drove... 546 miles before filling up near OKC (started in Albuquerque). This tool is amazing. Just imagine improving your gas mileage 15% to 20%. If you had a discount card that allowed you to save 15% on your gas every time you pumped would you use it? That means you would pay $2.76 per gallon instead of $3.25. Most of us would drive across town to get that kind of gas discount. Don't forget that I was able to get 30% better mileage one of my road trips. That was like me paying $2.27 per gallon instead of the $3.25 charged at the pump.

I recently learned of a few other features it preforms. You can scan the car for codes and it will tell you if your car is ready to pass emissions test. Also, it can be forced to show you pending codes and you can clear them as well.

They recently added a few new features to the gauge. It can now store your TRACK TIMES. It has 5 memories for that. So you can get your preformance times on your own. Awsome!!!

I can't wait to send in my unit for the firmware upgrade. I'm looking forward to using the new features that it offers.

[wheelsup]

With an Android smart phone, the torque app paired with a $30 ELM bluetooth adapter will give you good results as well.

[rspi]

Does the ELM connect to the OBD-II port?

[wheelsup]

Yes and then via bluetooth to your phone

[rspi]

Very cool. Until the phone rings. I hate when that happens. How much does that thing cost?

[wheelsup]

Torque lite is free, the paid version if $4.95, and the ELM bluetooth OBDII adapter is $30-$40 shipped off ebay

I checked the MPG routine, it will do average and instant. You have to input the displacement as 2.4 in the options for it to figure it out. To be honest I think it was off, but the #'s are relevant as far as what would be better or worse.

[rspi]

Very nice.

[PCars]

I spent 6 months trying to figure out where to mount the ScanGuage II. I was thinking of clearing out the ash tray and mounting it there but it's just a bit too long. Where have you guys mounted yours?

[rspi]

I have not mounted mine, it just rides on my cluster and slide around there.

I like it sitting on top of the steering wheel but I really want to make some kind of straps or something to velcrow it to the dash between the ECC and center vents.

[rspi]