Will the ScanGauge II work on my
vehicle?
The Scangauge II will work on most cars and light trucks
since model year 1996. There are also some 1994 and 1995
models which the ScanGauge II will work on (Ask us). There
are some vehicles built after 1996 that the ScanGauge II
will not work on or has some limitations in the gauges and
trip information (Ask us). |
Will the ScanGauge II be able to
clear my
trouble codes and turn off my "Check Engine" light?
The ScanGauge II will clear
the codes and turn off the check engine light on 99% of 1996
and newer vehicles. It has been reported that it can not do
this on some trouble codes in the Dodge vehicles. |
How can the ScanGauge II do all
of these
things with only a single connection to the vehicle?
ANSWER: Since 1996, all cars and light trucks sold in the US
have been required by law to have an On-Board-Diagnostic
version 2 (OBD2 or OBD II) connector inside the passenger
compartment. It is required to provide diagnostic
information and allow resetting of the CHECK ENGINE light.
It also provides a lot of other operating information. The
ScanGauge II performs the diagnostics functions like a
conventional scan tool. It also goes beyond this and uses
the other data to add many more useful functions. |
Do I need to know what Protocol
my car uses?
No. The ScanGauge II automatically determines which protocol
your vehicle uses and switches to it. |
Can I use the ScanGauge II on
more than one car.
Yes. There are no restrictions on moving it from car to car. |
Can my 1995 Ford Mustang use it?
Maybe. Some 1995 and even some 1994 vehicles are OBD2
(sometimes shown as OBD II) compliant. Look at the emissions
stickers under the hood. If you find one that says OBD2 or
OBD II, you should be able to use the ScanGauge II. |
Can I use the ScanGauge II to
tell how fast and how far my teenage son drove the car last
night?
Yes. This information is stored in the trip computer and it
can be recalled by you for up to a day after he used it. |
What if my son disconnects the
ScanGauge II while he is using the car.
If the ScanGauge II was disconnected during the trip, a
disconnect indicator will be displayed in the trip data. |
My speedometer only goes to
90MPH. Can the ScanGauge II show speeds above this?
Yes, the ScanGauge II can show speeds up to 158MPH. |
Can I tell how high the coolant
temperature has been getting on my wifes car?
Yes. The maximum coolant temperature is stored by the trip
computer and can be read back by you later. |
Can I use the ScanGauge II to
save fuel?
If your car reports information on fuel consumption (99% of
cars and light trucks do), and you use it to adjust your
driving habits, you can save a lot of fuel. |
Do I have to reset the trip
computers for each trip?
No. The CURRENT trip can be reset manually if you desire. It
is automatically reset after the ignition has been off for
more than a few minutes. The DAY trip will accumulate the
entire days trip information and reset itself after the
ignition has been off for more than 8 to 9 hours. The DAY
information is moved to PREVIOUS before it is automatically
reset. |
The MPG gauge reading changes
very quickly with slight changes in throttle or load. Can I
smooth this out to better determine the affect of speed on
fuel economy?
Yes, use the TRIP MPG function in the CURRENT mode. After
reaching the desired speed, reset the TRIP. The average MPG
since it was reset will be reported. |
Can the ScanGauge II show if
there is a difference in MPG between using my truck with the
tailgate up or down?
Yes.
See Tailgate Up/Down and Gas Mileage. |
The ScanGauge II shows a trouble
code of E0468. How do I figure out what this means?
There are many sources to decode this. A search of the
internet for Trouble Codes for your particular vehicle is a
great way to get them. Print them out and keep them in the
car for future reference. You can also find them in the
vehicle shop manual and after-market service and emissions
manuals. |
What is FRZD in the ScanGauge II?
When a trouble code is set, the data at that time (RPM,
Coolant Temperature, Speed, Throttle Position, etc.) are
captured like in a freeze frame. FRZD can be used to recall
this data to help diagnose the problem. |
What are the dimensions of the
ScanGauge II?
The ScanGauge II is 4.8"Wide, 1.5"High and 1.0"Deep. |
When I press SCAN it says -Not
Ready- in the lower line. How can I tell which OBD test has
not been completed?
There is a way to do this
using the CMNDS feature in the ScanGauge II. See
Finding Incomplete OBDII Tests Using
the ScanGauge II. |
How do I find the plug to connect
the ScanGauge II?
The OBD2 connector is supposed to be located within 1 meter
of the steering column. It is usually under the dash and
just to the right or left of the steering column. Sometimes
it will have a cover over its face. Other locations are
under the dash on the passenger side under the dash, behind
the ash tray and in a rare case, under the ash tray in the
back seat armrest. The pictures below show the OBD2 plug in
a typical location. |
