Scangauge 2 first impression

[the1euge]

Well, im nearly brand new with the S/C & GTP scene but I've done a bit of reading up on some things and after putting together a open cone air filter, i thought better of dropping a whole ton of $$ on mods without knowing what was going on with the car.

so my second "major" purchase for my 99 was the Scangauge 2.

My first impressions:

"Pros:" Overall pretty happy with it. refreshes at about .5 seconds so its fairly accurate for a portable casual scanning device. Bright enough to read clearly on a sunny day, and has a dim function so you don't have it blaring at you at night. comes with a function to fine tune your background color (which didn't make much difference to me, but it might to someone). Installed in seconds and was pretty straight-forward to set up, including adding the additional "X-gauge" functions (KR, HP, Engine Torque, BAR). Small size fits in the cubby below the radio nicely, or up on the dash next to the HUD (where i have mine, temporarily)

"Cons:" Doesn't have an oil pressure gauge, which is something i really wanted beyond KR. Some of the gauges it comes with / can be installed are ones i already have ie: MPH, RPM, MPG, remaining oil life, water temp, and some others i can't remember. Engine torque readings seemed very inaccurate (i don't think I'm running with 500 engine torque ??). Sometimes .5 seconds is just not fast enough - i'll have to try full throttle on the highway, because there just isnt enough time to see if its reading properly around here.


so for its price i do like it. im not yet prepared to sped over 300 for a scanner,or later perhaps a scanner/tuner, so this seems like it will do just fine in the meantime.

took some picture of it (sorry for the crappy images -it appears blurry and hard to read, but its my cellphone taking the pics, but i can take some decent legit ones tomorrow if this interests anyone)

Closeup (Dim is on)

Horrible picture, but its location up near the HUD

Full Dash {looks as if you cant read it, but its quite clear}

 

[SyntheticShield]

Ive been waiting for a GP owner to review one of these. I agree, it would be nice if you could tie in some after market sensors to it like oil pressure and such.

Thanks for taking the time to do the review.

 

[Sabrewings]

Ive been waiting for a GP owner to review one of these. I agree, it would be nice if you could tie in some after market sensors to it like oil pressure and such.

Thanks for taking the time to do the review.

Just get the Aeroforce Interceptor gauge. It has two analogue inputs for any sensor you want. I have mine, and it's freaking awesome. I have no need for another oil pressure gauge (my car already has one).

I'm not sure how much that "Scangauge" goes for, but the Interceptor gauge goes for $240 and displays a lot more, plus it mounts in gauge pods for a cleaner install.

Just my $.02.

Interceptor OBD2 data stream gauge and scan tool by Aeroforce Technology

 

[SyntheticShield]

Well this is true. But the scan gauge does a few other things I like as well. Plus I already have a three gauge pod with oil press. and tranny temp. I guess its 6, 1/2 dozen. The ScanGauge is a bit cheaper than the Aeroforce, but you can gang three Aeroforce gauges together. I also like having a dedicated gauge to the oil and tranny.

So I dunno, I guess you could go round and round depending on what you want or are looking for.

 

[Sabrewings]

Well this is true. But the scan gauge does a few other things I like as well.

Like what? The Aeroforce has cool stuff like CASE learns, fan control (low and high whenever you want), and trim resets. Plus 0-60, 1/8 mile, and 1/4 mile times (estimates, of course). I dunno, someone mentioned this scangauge to me before I bought the Aeroforce and it looked cheap in comparison with less possibilities. But, like you said, it's all in what you're looking for.

 

[s1795so2]

I love bothe gauges, but there are some subtle difference that might make one more appealing than the the other.
I know you can display up to 8 gauges at a time on the interceptor, but Im sure it so small you can't read it, while a scangauge 2 displays 4 and is easy to read.
Also from what I have read egt, map, afr, fuel pressure and a coule of other good to knogauges don't come built in to the interceptor, but they do come on the scan gauge 2.

Both are great and probably even though I do not need to I will probably find room for both in my car.

 

[s1795so2]

Like what? The Aeroforce has cool stuff like CASE learns, fan control (low and high whenever you want), and trim resets. Plus 0-60, 1/8 mile, and 1/4 mile times (estimates, of course). I dunno, someone mentioned this scangauge to me before I bought the Aeroforce and it looked cheap in comparison with less possibilities. But, like you said, it's all in what you're looking for.

scangauge 2 has everything you just mentioned, except the only thing I am not sure about is the case learn, since I am still learning everything about mine. Also it has a hp estimate screen, and a real time torque reading gauge.

Both are really cool gauges and since I will probably get both, I might do a comparison write up between the 2 of them forthe community.

 

[Sabrewings]

I love bothe gauges, but there are some subtle difference that might make one more appealing than the the other.
I know you can display up to 8 gauges at a time on the interceptor, but Im sure it so small you can't read it,

I have no problem reading mine, and it's almost touching the windshield by the a-pillar.

Also from what I have read egt, map, afr, fuel pressure and a coule of other good to knogauges don't come built in to the interceptor, but they do come on the scan gauge 2.

MAP is there by default, as is the narrowband AFR. The scangauge 2 can't pick up anything the car's computer doesn't. And it doesn't pick up EGT, wideband AFR, nor does it pick up fuel pressure (to my knowledge, since the car has no such sensors) so they won't be displayed properly on the scangauge 2. Where as a Interceptor gauge has two analogue inputs to add the senders to the gauge and have it monitored as well. It also features the torque and HP estimates, instantaneous MPG, average MPG, etc. The scangauge 2 has 12 different values it can show, while the Interceptor gauge has 30+. The only thing the scangauge has the the Interceptor doesn't is the trip computer stuff, but my car has that anyway.

I've fiddled with the scangauge and found it clunky and not so useful, but like I said everyone has different tastes. We just need to be sure we're clear on the facts of what these things can do and what they can't.

 

[IndeedSS]

I bought both, and sold both. What I like the most about the scangauge II with X-gauge is that since I have an Impala, I don't have to deal with the 3 pod gauge cluster which IMO looks out of place, like, well, we all know what the huge winged slow disposable cars look like.:th_shakinghead1: Oh yeah the price was about $90 less than the Aeroforce, and only needs connection to the OBDII port, no other power access needed. This gauge is also very handy for throwing in quickly for a quick monitoring.

The Aeroforce can scan more total parameters, has the additional input/outputs (connector your scanner, other sensors, WB etc.

Really two somewhat similar things you may buy for different reasons. IMO there is no right or wrong, it's a matter of what meets your needs.

My HPTuners is all I need.

 

[garyd02gtp]

I have read that the scangauge had issues with KR readings, the MOST important reading IMO. Most sounded VERY inaccurate- so why get it??

 

[IndeedSS]

I have read that the scangauge had issues with KR readings, the MOST important reading IMO. Most sounded VERY inaccurate- so why get it??

they were accurate, however, the decimal point was missing ie 11 was actually 1.1, as I understand it. We can certainly prove this since I have an HPTuners.

 

[Sabrewings]

Oh yeah the price was about $90 less than the Aeroforce, and only needs connection to the OBDII port, no other power access needed.

I can't argue with the price, but it offers more in a smaller package. As for the power, mine simply plugs in to the OBD2 port and works.

 

[the1euge]

just as an update for everyone, took a couple daytime pictures and captured a bit of a movie (i tell you its tough to get the camera to stay still and stick to the dash after you've trim shined the hell out of it)

note: my gtp is weird... if i keep it in first gear it will auto shift into second, but in second it wont auto into third, so in the movie the KR goes way high because it hits the rpm limiter (or so im telling myself)

at idle:

light throttle:

and the movie: only need to watch the first 30 seconds or so, unless you want to cruise around with me and listen to me curse at some suv.
YouTube - gtp Scangauge run

 

[SyntheticShield]

Pretty interesting. Can you explain what the LOD and FIA are for or what they mean?

 

[s1795so2]

Fia is intake air temp.
Lod is engine load.

Sabre what ae you talking about the scangauge only has 12 different gauges it can show? I can have 23 gauges that come with it and 16 xgauges I can add to it on top of that.
That is well over 30 gauges I can show. Hp and Tq reaadings are on both, as is mpg and whatnot to do with that.
Also fuel pressure readings come with the scan gauge, It is abbreviated Fpr, and is read at the fuel pump.
I looked into it, and I was mistaken on the afr, and egt as I went out and played with mine to see.

 

[stkks]

Well I can only comment on the AeroForce Scan Gauges. They have so many features, realt time data, DTCs, and so much more. And with these you are not limited to only one or two specifice gauges. You can chenge them up whenever you want. Here is my set-up, and I wouldn't trade it for the world.

 

[the1euge]

I had initially seen the aeroforce gauge and was very highly debating on purchasing that, but i just wasn't quite committed to installing a pillar cluster or the HUD pod yet.

That being said, when i do decide to go that path, i more than likely will decide to get one.

anyways for reference the scangauge in addition to being an obdII scanner also servers as a trip computer computing:
» Maximum Speed
» Average Speed
» Maximum Coolant Temperature
» Maximum RPM
» Driving Time
» Driving Distance
» Fuel Used
» Trip Fuel Economy
» Distance to Empty
» Time to Empty
» Fuel to Empty

as well as gauge readings of:
» Fuel Economy
» Fuel Rate
» Battery Voltage
» Coolant Temperature
» Intake Air Temperature
» Engine Speed (RPM)
» Vehicle speed (MPH and KM/H)
» Manifold Pressure
» Engine Load
» Throttle Position
» Ignition Timing
» Open/Closed Loop

i have only added a few of the xgauges (you enter a few codes in one of the options menus to enable said gauge) but thus far the following can be added:
» Horsepower
» Short and Long Term Fuel Trim (4 banks each) <- ?? no clue
» O2 sensor values
» Elapsed Time Since Engine Start
» Knock Retard
» Barometer V6
» Barometer V8
» A/F Ratio
» Remaining Oil Life
» Engine Torque
» Trans Fluid Temperature

I'm pretty sure there are others not necessarily listed, but mostly to due with the trip computer (ie: cost per mile gauge)

all basically taken from scangauge.com

 

[Sabrewings]

The one I played with must not have been the "Xgauge" version. Oh well, like I said to each his own. I've always felt that the "blockiness" of it makes it stand out like it doesn't belong. It has its uses, but I still feel it to be more limiting than the Aeroforce.

Just my opinion, though.

 

[IndeedSS]

Engine TQ numbers were mentioned relating to the ScanGauge readout. Someone said their TQ numbers read 500 and that it couldn't possibly be right. In the tuners some of the tables edit based on TQ. Notice that the TQ tables run up to 640 lb ft. It is quite surprising that adjusting the pressure table between 440 and 640 firms up shifting on a stock car. Im not sure how the PCM determines this but it's not the same numbers a dyno will give.