Cheap ScanGauge II alternative

[fj80toyman]

Got mine yesterday after ordering Friday. I was also surprised at how small it was but it's not going to make it any easier finding a mounting spot for it. I'll come up with something, maybe in front of the shift lever.

I sized it up to put above the rear-view mirror but it gets in the way of the sunvisors. That would be the cool place though. I'm going to have to build a little mounting bracket. Attaching something to the windshield is illegal in Kalifornistan, and just my luck, I'd get busted.

My 80 is a 01/95 production date, so all you OBDII nay-sayers against the '95 out there, it has 33 'gauges' just like the '96's and '97's that folks are reporting.

The one thing I was hoping it had but doesn't is the fuel sender. It will just use the fuel amount (capacity) of the tank to calculate fuel economy. Not as accurate but not the UG's fault.

I'll post up some pics as soon as I figure out a cool place to put it. I think it was definitely worth the get-in price. I am still in awe that they don't offer the display in metric units! How'd they leave that out? I've spent years working in °C, now I have to re-convert everything back to °F.

Dan.

 

[Darasick]

I got mine in and haven't had that much time to dig into it, but I'm kinda bummed that the Battery Voltage Gauge is not available Does anyone know why? It seems like it would be there, since the gauge is available in the dash cluster!

 

[Ebag333]

I got mine in and haven't had that much time to dig into it, but I'm kinda bummed that the Battery Voltage Gauge is not available Does anyone know why? It seems like it would be there, since the gauge is available in the dash cluster!

Just because the battery voltage is there on the gauge doesn't mean that it's given out by the ECU. The gauge display might not even go through the ECU. And even if the ECU did report the voltage, it might not do so in a standard method, and the voltage would be what the ECU sees and may or may not be the actual battery voltage.

 

[firetruck41]

Just because the battery voltage is there on the gauge doesn't mean that it's given out by the ECU. The gauge display might not even go through the ECU. And even if the ECU did report the voltage, it might not do so in a standard method, and the voltage would be what the ECU sees and may or may not be the actual battery voltage.

I assume there is voltage reported to the ECU since the SC II reports it, though whether it is battery or ???, I don't know.

 

[dgerst]

Got my 9.00 rebate Friday via Paypal. Probably less than what my labor cost me going through the (painful) rebate proccess but at least it was prompt. Still loving the Ultra-Gauge though. At under $50.00 to my door it's well worth it.

 

[Koffer]

After reading these posts I just ordered one as I'm running a SC and getting ready to do some fan and fan clutch work so having this will help me see what kind of temps I'll have before and after .

Thanks everyone for being the beta testers for this , I'd rather pay the extra few $$$ and know it works then be out $40 right out of the gate on a dud

 

[Ebag333]

I assume there is voltage reported to the ECU since the SC II reports it, though whether it is battery or ???, I don't know.

The SC could simply be reading the voltage it gets, as it does get power directly from the port. I doubt it though, far more likely it's reading it from the ECU.

From what I've read, there are tons of stuff that's stored in the ECU, way above and beyond what the UG or SG shows. Problem is you have to know how to query it. Most of the queries were not really standard until OBD-II got a rewrite (CAN spec). CAN was required in 2008, but from what I've read many vehicles used it long before then (maybe 2001 give or take a few years). That's why tranny temp is there, just no one knows how to access it.

Got my 9.00 rebate Friday via Paypal. Probably less than what my labor cost me going through the (painful) rebate proccess but at least it was prompt. Still loving the Ultra-Gauge though. At under $50.00 to my door it's well worth it.

I skipped the rebate myself.

After reading these posts I just ordered one as I'm running a SC and getting ready to do some fan and fan clutch work so having this will help me see what kind of temps I'll have before and after .

Let us know what you think of it, and what your results are.

 

[Koffer]

Got mine today , very nice unit as for the rebate , wow it was more work then expected .
So far the small amount of playing with it since I'm on call for work.
I just need to figure out the best mounting for it in the 80 , I think I may need to order one for the E350

I also liked how they had the just about every toyota landcruiser , but the FZJ80 listed, the Megacruiser, 90 series ,diesel units toyota coasters and a bunch of other toyota models that would only be in country's that are metric so who knows what the thought process was

 

[photomike]

Lemme guess, no workee on a 93.

 

[Bluetribal]

Well I didn't get in on the deal at $40 like most of you but $75 to my door, still have to do the rebate so at $66 I still think it's a Helluva deal.

Anyway I thought I would share what gauges I customized and how I cut my fuse dash cover for the plug to fit.

First the cover, this was a test fit and the edges have been cleaned up a bit.

I was able to peal the diagram sticker up and then re-glue it after making the opening for the plug.

I didn't think I would like the suction cup arm but it's not bad. I bent it and put it as far down as possible so the arm is wedged between the dash and the windshield for a firm fit that should hold up to off-road abuse.

Here is the LINK to the full write-up.


So far I have only filled up two pages with gauges to watch mostly because I am bummed it won't read a few that I would like.

A. MPH
B. Engine Coolant Temp
C. Intake Manifold Absolute Pressure (PSI)
D. % Engine Load
E. Intake Air Temp (F)
F. Mass Air Flow Sensor 1

G. Timing Advance
H. Distance To Empty (DTE) (Miles)
I. Mass Air Flow Sensor 2 - Calculated - Not sure why I chose this? Will probably change it.
J. Catalytic Converter Bank 1 Sensor 1 Temp. (F)
K. Ultra Gauge Internal Temp (F)
L. Catalytic Converter Bank 2 Sensor 1 Temp. (F)


These are the gauges I would have liked to display but they were not offered on our LC's
1. Fuel Pressure
2. EGR Flow %
3. Battery Voltage
4. Outside Ambient Air Temp. (F)
5. Engine Oil Temp. (F)
6. Average MPH - General

 

[arndog123]

Can the MPH be calibrated for bigger tires like the Scangauge? My dad wants to install larger tires on his 100 series LC and wants a functional speedo.

 

[dgerst]

Can the MPH be calibrated for bigger tires like the Scangauge? My dad wants to install larger tires on his 100 series LC and wants a functional speedo.

Yep it sure does. Just drive it a measured distance and tell it you went that far.

 

[Bluetribal]

OK I just went through the rebate rig-a-marow (SP?)
And rather than just tell you it was a hassle here is some useful info.

You will need the date your vehicle was built (Found on your Driver Door)
You will need to go through two settings on the Ultra Gauge so take a pen and note pad into the vehicle.
And most importantly when you select "other" for vehicle since only Land Cruiser 90 is listed you need to type in "LandCruiser" with NO space. This drove me crazy for 5 minutes!!!!!!!!

Now I just need to find a road with mile markers where I can drive slow enough to calibrate it for actual speed.

 

[Darasick]

Why would you cut the fuse cover when you could turn the OBII connector?

 

[Bluetribal]

Obviously I didn't know it could turn. Turn How Exactly? To Where?

Anyway it's just a cover and I was planning on buying another one from the next Oak Interior 80 to be parted out incase I ever got rid of the gauge.

 

[Darasick]

Obviously I didn't know it could turn. Turn How Exactly? To Where?

Anyway it's just a cover and I was planning on buying another one from the next Oak Interior 80 to be parted out incase I ever got rid of the gauge.

Your OBDII Plug has two mounting positions. Remove the screws that secure the plug, turn the plug so that it's facing down, and screw them back in. You are able to close the fuse panel with your Ultragauge or ScanGauge still plugged in.

 

[Bluetribal]

Ha!!!!
Well I just hit up a guy in the parts for a new cover.

 

[firetruck41]

Also put 2 nylon spacers on the screws, between the connector and panel, and it will work even better.

 

[Atoyot1031]

I got one of these as well a couple months ago. It has been nice. After trying several locations, the wife decided she likes the middle of the wndshield on the bottom the most. I ran the cord along the mount and tucked it beneath the windshield gasket, and behind the dash. OUt of sight, out of mind.

This beats the heck out of a SGII, IMHO.

 

[Bluetribal]

How big of a spacer? I think I have a 1/4" spacer that I used for my aftermarket speakers.