OBDII Enhanced Interfaces

[hobbes]

I'm going to get an OBDII scanner for my '97 LC (and to use on other cars to a lesser extent). One of the scanners I'm looking at, AutoEnginuity, has "enhanced interfaces". For some extra money, it allows you to tap into non-OBD sensors and control them to an extent. Since 1996 was the first year of mandated ODBII systems, I'm wondering how much functionality the "enhanced interfaces" has with a '97 Cruiser. Does anyone have any experience with them (amount of data, usefulness, thoughts)?

Thanks...John

 

[Hants]

I use AutoEnginuity (with the Toyota Enhanced interface) on my Palm. The ODBII functions seem pretty rudimentary to me... my guess is that in 1997 there wasn't much "extra". I think most of the Enhanced functionality is for newer vehicles.

 

[Romer]

I have an autoxray that I bought on clearence at checker for $225. 4000 model I believe. You can't control any of the data, but you can read a lot of the Toyota specific data. (Have to tell it it's a Toyota first)

 

[Grench]

Another option?

Does anyone have one of these?

http://www.scangauge.com/

How many of the extra functions work?

 

[casey]

get the cheap one at Harbor Freight. Picked mine up today for $30 w/ coupon.

 

[hobbes]

Casey, is that a code reader you are talking about? I'm going with a scanner for a couple reasons. One of which is that as the newest of these vehicles is now nine years old and many of the sensors are/will show their age. I don't think codes are necessarily "flagged" on some of these issues.

Anyhow, my question was along the lines of the NON-OBDII expansion capabilites of the software.

 

[flintknapper]

I have an autoxray that I bought on clearence at checker for $225. 4000 model I believe. You can't control any of the data, but you can read a lot of the Toyota specific data. (Have to tell it it's a Toyota first)

Hey Romer,

I've got an AutoXray 5000, but not any "enhanced" modes. Do you think it is worth the money to get the enhanced features? I really don't know what they are.


Thanks, Flint.

 

[casey]

Casey, is that a code reader you are talking about?

That one is just a reader. The scanner is $75

 

[Romer]

There is a mis-conception on some of what a scanner is. The scanner allows you to read real time data as you are driving.

Mine does not have enhanced features it reads real time about 16-20 parameters like fuel, temp, load, etc

 

[Whipp]

Does anyone have one of these?

http://www.scangauge.com/

How many of the extra functions work?

I have the previous generation of this device. It works great with the OBDII functions but doesn't have any Toyota specific functionality.

There is an option to send commands to the ECU, but you have to manually enter them; it'll store up to 10 pre-entered commands. I've never done it, and have no idea what they do.

 

[scottm]

I have http://myscantool.com/, I like it. I can read a fair amount of sensors, and read the results of various self-tests the vehicle does. It helps to be able to graph readings in real time, to analyze what they're doing in different conditions. I posted the graphs of my O2 sensor readings here, it was fun, but nobody looked at them and came up with anything more helpful than the obvious. It often takes some time and effort to learn what your sensor are supposed to be doing. There were some great posts about O2 sensors when I had my problem, that info helped quite a lot.
https://forum.ih8mud.com/showthread.php?t=75975
https://forum.ih8mud.com/showthread.php?t=89849

 

[GXO]

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=94217