Scan gauge monitor placement?

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Scan gauge monitor placement?

June 14, 2021, 11:17:19 am

I plugged in and programmed the Scan Gauge 2 yesterday. I am curious where others have placed the monitor. I am somewhat reluctant to put another thing on the dash, although it does make it easier to see while driving.

Harold

Re: Scan gauge monitor placement?

Reply #1 – June 14, 2021, 11:52:36 am

Is it a pretty easy install, Harold? This is one of the many things on my “to do” list.

Re: Scan gauge monitor placement?

Reply #2 – June 14, 2021, 11:56:22 am

I don't have a photo of our dash, there's an example of where our ScanGauge is mounted.
https://trail4runner.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/scangauge_on_dash.jpg
It's set to coolant temp, transmission temp, RPM, and intake temperature.
Our 2003 does not have a tachometer.

Larry

Re: Scan gauge monitor placement?

Reply #3 – June 14, 2021, 12:03:11 pm

On my 96, it is on the steering column and barely covers the transmission selector.
It plugs into the OBD port, then you can program it to monitor the things you want.
For me, that is transmission temp, RPM and MPG, none of which came from the factory on my 96.

Re: Scan gauge monitor placement?

Reply #4 – June 14, 2021, 12:45:09 pm

Larry, if Harold’s dash is the same as mine, that location wouldn’t work as it would cover up the gear indicators. It fits nicely, though, in your photo.

Re: Scan gauge monitor placement?

Reply #5 – June 14, 2021, 12:49:21 pm

Greg,
It is simple and straightforward. The included instructions are very good and the online support has good instructions for programming the additional parameters you may want. I'm glad to be able to see the transmission temperature.

When I first purchased it, I was worried that it would be hard to read with my aging eyes, but it is better than expected.

Harold

Re: Scan gauge monitor placement?

Reply #6 – June 14, 2021, 04:36:46 pm

Quote from: HiLola - June 14, 2021, 12:45:09 pm

Larry, if Harold’s dash is the same as mine, that location wouldn’t work as it would cover up the gear indicators. It fits nicely, though, in your photo.

Not wanting the Scan Gauge to be on top of the dash, the next best choice was on the gear indicator
I don't need to look at the gear indicator, I usually know without looking from the position of the shift lever, after 125,000 miles, you get to know your rig well.
The 4L100 4-speed doesn't have a lot of positions on the gear indicator, third gear is chosen by pushing a button on the shift lever.

Larry

Re: Scan gauge monitor placement?

Reply #7 – June 14, 2021, 04:58:27 pm

"I am curious where others have placed the monitor."

In a prior segment of my LD life I had a ScanGaugeII which I mounted to the dash, just right of the instrument cluster and behind the shift lever.

Then, due to the small readout of SGII and my myopic eyesight I purchased an Ultra Gauge.

UltraGauge OBDII Scan tool & Information Center

I mounted it in the same place as before. It is easier to see and out of the way, yet reaches the OBD port quite handily!

Re: Scan gauge monitor placement?

Reply #8 – June 14, 2021, 05:22:54 pm

Photo for Lazy Bones

Re: Scan gauge monitor placement?

Reply #9 – June 14, 2021, 06:52:59 pm

Since we only have a single DIN radio I perched the scan gauge on the upper bezel of the radio. Held on with double sticky tape.

Re: Scan gauge monitor placement?

Reply #10 – June 14, 2021, 08:04:23 pm

Mine is above the single DIN radio as well. I ran the cable behind the days and used a dremel to cut a small hole in the plastic fill piece for the cable.

Rpm. Mpg. Trans fluid temp. Coolant temp.

I look at it frequently.

Rich

Re: Scan gauge monitor placement?

Reply #11 – June 15, 2021, 10:21:23 am

Quote from: Lazy Bones - June 14, 2021, 04:58:27 pm

"I am curious where others have placed the monitor."

In a prior segment of my LD life I had a ScanGaugeII which I mounted to the dash, just right of the instrument cluster and behind the shift lever.

Then, due to the small readout of SGII and my myopic eyesight I purchased an Ultra Gauge.

UltraGauge OBDII Scan tool & Information Center

I mounted it in the same place as before. It is easier to see and out of the way, yet reaches the OBD port quite handily!

Is the larger display the only advantage of the Ultragauge over the Scangauge? Are they made by the same company?

Re: Scan gauge monitor placement?

Reply #12 – June 15, 2021, 01:16:24 pm

Quote from: HiLola - June 15, 2021, 10:21:23 am

Is the larger display the only advantage of the Ultragauge over the Scangauge? Are they made by the same company?

I own both monitors, ScanGauge in the LD and Ultragauges in the two Cherokees.
Which to buy depends on want you want to know and how your eyes work with them.

The Ultragauge has multiple pages and can present a wide range of information...once you program it, including fuel usage and a wide variety of engine functions, most of which are not needed or understood except by mechanics.
Some say they can see the Ultragauge readout better than the Scan Gauge. I find the ScanGauge to be easy to read.
The Ultragauge has come in handy when setting up new engines for the Jeeps, it provides information on how the computer is providing fuel and other engine functions, useful when adjusting fuel injector sizes. This is information that 95% of owners do not need or would find useful unless you are a car enthusiast.
The Ultragauge can also have alarms set for different items, the most useful is one for high coolant or transmission temps.
The two Ultragauges I own were given to me by owners who did not want to deal with the complexity of programming.

The ScanGauge is set up to only show a few items at a time, our shows four. This fine, all I want to know is the coolant and transmission temps. I also monitor the engine speed and air intake temperature (which shows the ambient air temp when moving over 45mph).
The dash has gauges for the coolant temp, voltage, oil pressure and fuel level. The only thing duplicated on the ScanGauge is the coolant temperature, I like the digital readout for the coolant temps instead of trying to determine what the stock gauge indicates, it barely moves in normal usage, even when the temps rise.

Larry

Re: Scan gauge monitor placement?

Reply #13 – June 17, 2021, 09:53:02 am

Thank you for the input from helpful members. I found a location that works for me, the scan gauge is connected and mounted, and I'm looking forward to using it on our next trip.

Harold

Re: Scan gauge monitor placement?

Reply #14 – June 17, 2021, 10:28:20 am

So you’re going to keep its location a mystery 😁

Re: Scan gauge monitor placement?

Reply #15 – June 17, 2021, 10:43:58 am

Quote from: Blueox25 - June 17, 2021, 09:53:02 am

Thank you for the input from helpful members. I found a location that works for me, the scan gauge is connected and mounted, and I'm looking forward to using it on our next trip.

Harold

And that would be ……….?

Re: Scan gauge monitor placement?

Reply #16 – June 17, 2021, 11:19:04 am

I placed it on the dash directly above the gauges.

I'm 6 foot 5 inches tall so it doesn't obscure my view of the road, just a little of my view of the hood of the rig. I like the ability to check the gauge without taking my eyes off the road while I am driving. I looped the cable around behind it on top of the dash and wormed it behind the door seal and then out and under the dash so it is out of sight and out of the way. I do hope the cable doesn't vibrate or rattle on top of the dash, but our upcoming three week trip to the Cascades and back will let me know.

Harold

Re: Scan gauge monitor placement?

Reply #17 – June 18, 2021, 10:11:33 am

I’m little late on this one, Harold. It appears that we chose similar placement, ie; on the dash. Removing the dash paneling and shaping an opening for the Scan Guage cable was fairly simple.

Warren

Re: Scan gauge monitor placement?

Reply #18 – June 18, 2021, 02:13:46 pm

Thanks, Warren. The photo is very helpful. The Scangauge is on my list, just need to pull the trigger.

Re: Scan gauge monitor placement?

Reply #19 – July 03, 2021, 06:47:38 pm

Quote from: Larry W - June 14, 2021, 11:56:22 am

I don't have a photo of our dash, there's an example of where our ScanGauge is mounted.
https://trail4runner.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/scangauge_on_dash.jpg
It's set to coolant temp, transmission temp, RPM, and intake temperature.
Our 2003 does not have a tachometer.

Larry

Hi Larry (or anyone else that wants to comment),

I just added transmission temp to my scan gauge and it's working well. So far my highest temp has been 208ºF.

Looks like I should add coolant and intake temp (unless it is already included and I don't know the code).

I'd request any advice on the following:

-- what ranges of temps are considered normal for transmission, coolant and intake?
-- what would be a too high temp for each of those gauges?
-- and perhaps most importantly, recommended actions if the one or more of the temps does get too high.

Thanks so much for all of your advise. I have more questions, but on a separate topic (AC vent vacuum issue), so I'll post that separately

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