Scangauge vs Ultragauge

[Robin Masters]

I'd like to pick up one of these to monitor various temps (coolant and transmission temps mainly).

From the folks out there that use these, what are some of the pros and cons of each option?

1. Can you monitor oil pressure with these?
2. Can you reset codes with both devices? It looks like the Ultragauge will read codes but not clear them?
3. The Ultragauge site claims that the UG will not monitor the transmission temp. Can you UG guys verify this?

It looks like there is about $100 difference between the two units, I'm just trying to wrap my head around the key differences for those of us with 80's.

Thanks.

 

[george_tlc]

1) no (afaik, not available from our obd2)
2) yes, both can clear
3) no (not available from our obd2)

I have an UG, been reliable and works great and is inexpensive.

I also have a BT dongle and run torque pro on my (android) phone & tablet.

cheers,
george.

 

[sl3807]

I also have a BT dongle and run torque pro on my (android) phone & tablet.
.

I bought a bluetooth scanner off amazon for $25, and the Torque pro App for $5. No complaints, works great.

 

[Robin Masters]

Transmission Temp

Thanks for the replies guys.

George, regarding the transmission temp, wouldn't the 80's ecm have to know the ATF temperature to know when to fire the A/T Fluid Temp light on the dash? I'm just trying to think through this, so correct me if I'm wrong.

 

[george_tlc]

Thanks for the replies guys.

George, regarding the transmission temp, wouldn't the 80's ecm have to know the ATF temperature to know when to fire the A/T Fluid Temp light on the dash? I'm just trying to think through this, so correct me if I'm wrong.

Search this sub-forum... None of the OBD2 reader companies have figured out how to access the data - assuming it is even there.

cheers,
george.

 

[Timpanogos Slim]

Search this sub-forum... None of the OBD2 reader companies have figured out how to access the data - assuming it is even there.

cheers,
george.

If it's there, it's there, and if it's not, it's not. the OBD2 system may or may not expose that data.

Do we even know if there is an actual temperature sensor? The dash just has an idiot light. Could be a simple bimetal switch that bends when it gets hot enough.

The real frustration is modern systems like my Mk5 GTI, where you KNOW the data is in there, but it just isn't funneled into OBD2 where a normal scanner can read it. VCDS has no issues reading all of the available data, but that's a usb cable into a laptop.

 

[george_tlc]

The EWD implies it is a sensor versus a switch. The sensor goes to the ECU.

The 'idiot' light is driven by the ECU.

The data stream appears to not provide the ATF temperature, since none of the OBD2 readers can provide that information. Some folk have requested the reader companies to provide the reading, but they have not been able to. OBD2 has different data, some is 'standard', some is manufacturer specific.

cheers,
george.

 

[Robin Masters]

Thanks

Good info, thanks. I'm not sure that I can see that the Scangauge is worth a $100 premium over the UG unless I'm missing something.

 

[Timpanogos Slim]

The EWD implies it is a sensor versus a switch. The sensor goes to the ECU.

The 'idiot' light is driven by the ECU.

The data stream appears to not provide the ATF temperature, since none of the OBD2 readers can provide that information. Some folk have requested the reader companies to provide the reading, but they have not been able to. OBD2 has different data, some is 'standard', some is manufacturer specific.

cheers,
george.

There's a lot of talk out there about vehicle-specific non-standard PIDs but there is no guarantee that there's a PID for what you want.

I'm unclear on how my ultragauge determines what gauges are available from my VW. For example the manual makes a lot of reference to cars having either MAF or MAP, but the VW has both and the UG only tells me about the MAF. When i asked the UG folks why it doesn't find the MAP sensor, they said it's because my car doesn't have one. I'm quite certain that it does because i can read and log it's data stream with VCDS.

But the VAS protocol is not OBD. And i have no reason to believe that VW or their vendors would go to the trouble of creating a nonstandard PID for something that VW's dealer techs will never read with anything but VAS.

 

[ironhippy]

I have a scangauge, I originally bought it when I had a 4runner and could get transmission temps.

Now with the 80, it's hard to justify the extra price. Mine is working intermittently and will be a pain to try and return.
The extra cost doesn't seem justified.

I will say that I think the look of the scangauge blends in with our old dash/interior better than the ultraguage does.

 

[hh65flyer]

When you set up a gauge on Torque Pro you choose from a (long) list of avail data-streams. If the vehicle is running and you are hooked-up, the data is in green and it will also show its current value. There's like 20 different guage types to choose from but not a tremendous amount of data out there IMO.

And no, no trans temp. I haven't tried it in the 06 yet. It will be interesting to see what different things there are to look at. Finally I have something to do when the Mrs is behind the wheel!

 

[inkpot]

I have a scangauge, I originally bought it when I had a 4runner and could get transmission temps.

Now with the 80, it's hard to justify the extra price. Mine is working intermittently and will be a pain to try and return.
The extra cost doesn't seem justified.

I will say that I think the look of the scangauge blends in with our old dash/interior better than the ultraguage does.

I prefer the ScanGauge II for the size/profile makes it easier to mount on the dash. For the money, I would of bought the Ultra Gauge, but it was not available when I bought my SG. John

 

[Robin Masters]

Thanks

Thanks to all for the replies. I pulled the trigger on an Ultragauge yesterday.