Anyone using a "ScanGauge"?

Caver Dave

Caver Dave

Just holdin' it down here in BFV
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Was looking to throw a tranny temp gauge ('99 5.7/4L80E) in the "new" SUB, but found folks recommending (specifically Jeanna @ Black Bear) the Linear-Logic ScanGauge to monitor tranny temps + 36 other parameters (X-gauge)...

While I don't put any value in the trip/mileage crap, the ability to read PCM sensor inputs (specifically tranny temp in my case) & OBDII diagnostics for an extra $100 (over the cost of a "real" gauge/sender/mount & <1 minute install time) is pretty appealing! Even more useful as it could be used on the other 2 OBDII vehicles in my stable for checking codes, etc...

However, I'm a bit hesitant *just* because AutoZoo is carrying them! :rolleyes:
 
I've got one in my Metro. Yeah I know badass car right, but when you drive 1.5 hours one way to grad school you figure out real quick the jeep is cool but saving money on gas is even better! Anyway, I bought mine over a year ago to help with hypermiling in my little Metro and it has definitely paid for itself with the gas savings, being able to diagnose problems with not only that car but others in my fleet, and monitor my water temp one time when I had coolant problems and had to make it home during my commute (that was a fun trip home). Don't worry about the Autozone thing, it just means the general public is more aware of their gas consumption and they are looking to save some cash.

Buy it, eventually it will pay for itself in no time.

ps. if your curious about saving gas check out this site---> http://ecomodder.com/
 
Me? Nope, no trepidation here!

While I would've thought more folks would see the benefit (again, mileage aside... since it's not normally a concern for offroaders) and be able to report... everyone here probably has a TechII scanner or a laptop loaded with EFIlive/HPTuner! :lol:

Plan to research a bit more to insure that ecomodder's $149 is best I can do & pull the trigger this weekend! :beer:
 
I was going to get this for the trans temp in my crew cab as well. Then I found out I can swap in a cluster from the same model and it'll work.
 
Caver Dave said:
Was looking to throw a tranny temp gauge ('99 5.7/4L80E) in the "new" SUB, but found folks recommending (specifically Jeanna @ Black Bear) the Linear-Logic ScanGauge to monitor tranny temps + 36 other parameters (X-gauge)...
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Are you sure the 99 Old body style has the Tranny Temp sensor for the pcm to read? I know all of the new body style trucks do, and will light up the message center if you go over a set temperature, as well as showing up in the scan gauge or if the gauges are swapped for ones from a 2500HD, SS, Escalade, or Denali.

I have looked into getting one as well, but just haven't laid out the cash for it. Jeanna and Justin know their stuff though, I'm sure they will be able to check for you if there is a Trans Temp sensor in the old body style trucks or not.
 
GubNi said:
My concern is I wouldn't want to trust the PCM etc for a trans temp.
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The Trans Temp sensor for 99+ NBS GM trucks is fairly accurate. The analog gauge in the stock dash is horribly inaccurate. The readings obtained through Scanguage or EFILive/HPTuners is pretty close to what is read through an actual trans temp gauge, both of which can be +/- 10-15* from the in dash gauge reading, depending on how well it was initially calibrated. The one in my 01 2500HD tends to read 15* cold at all times so I use that rule of thumb to determine my temps.
 
GCncsuHD said:
Are you sure the 99 Old body style has the Tranny Temp sensor for the pcm to read?
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Fairly sure (according to several Cheby heads)... supposedly as far back as '91 in 4L80-series. And according to the weiney at Linear Logic that responded when I asked the same question... they offer a 30 day no question money back guarantee :rolleyes:

GubNi said:
My concern is I wouldn't want to trust the PCM etc for a trans temp.
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Well, I figure if the engineers can get the entire thing (kinda complex, but simple at the same time) to run period they might have a hand up on us guessing about the TFT (Transmission Fluid Temp) sensor... Now if'n it was a Ford, I'd be worried! :lol:
 
Caver Dave said:
Fairly sure (according to several Cheby heads)... supposedly as far back as '91 in 4L80-series. And according to the weiney at Linear Logic that responded when I asked the same question... they offer a 30 day no question money back guarantee :rolleyes:
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Interesting, although I wonder what purpose it would serve? Our 98 K2500 5.7 with 4l80E overheated the tranny and puked fluid going up Black Mountain without so much as a check engine light. On the 99+ newer body style trucks, if the tranny overheats it will say "Transmission Hot" in the message center, heck even my 01 Dodge Dakota had a "Trans Temp" dummy light in the gauge cluster.
 
GCncsuHD said:
Interesting, although I wonder what purpose it would serve? Our 98 K2500 5.7 with 4l80E overheated the tranny and puked fluid going up Black Mountain without so much as a check engine light.
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FWICT, the only function it has is to drop out the OD. Since it's not emissions/engine related, it appears it will NOT throw codes/light the SES... OR if it ever does, you junk is already molten when it does

Tater's '97 K1500 Z-71 (4L60E?) w/ <10K barfed pulling an empty trailer up I-95 and never once indicated anything was wrong :rolleyes:
 
Caver Dave said:
FWICT, the only function it has is to drop out the OD. Since it's not emissions/engine related, it appears it will NOT throw codes/light the SES... OR if it ever does, you junk is already molten when it does

Tater's '97 K1500 Z-71 (4L60E?) w/ <10K barfed pulling an empty trailer up I-95 and never once indicated anything was wrong :rolleyes:
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The 98 K2500 I spoke of was pulling a empty ALUMINUM trailer when it puked:lol: Then again it did have a heavy 9 ft dump bed on the truck.

I was just saying, I would figure, if it had the capability to read the temp, you would think they would at least wire it to a dummy light. I should have said "check gauges" light though rather than SES.
 
so this scanguage works on ANY obdII vehicles? how does it tune anything? how is the tuning on it?? ive got a 97 chevy 3500 w/ vortech 350/4l80e im looking for a tuner for
 
redneckjeep87 said:
so this scanguage works on ANY obdII vehicles? how does it tune anything? how is the tuning on it?? ive got a 97 chevy 3500 w/ vortech 350/4l80e im looking for a tuner for
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NOT a tuner! It only monitors sensors, reads DTCs and "calculates" mileage/performance... go read at the link I posted
 
So did you do this? I have been looking into this for a tranny temp gauge in my 05 ford... Just wondering if you had done it and how it was working.
 
A friend of mine let me borrow one of his ( he has 3 ) when I got my Runner last spring.

I used it to monitor engine stuff and to try and track mileage, which I was never really able to get it to correlate to anything close to what I was doing, I'm sure it was a setting I didn't have right in the mileage tracking.

That aside, I didn't really find it that much more useful than my OBD2 scan tool that displays live data, aside from being able to group the 4 functions you want to watch together.

If ya don't have an OBD2 scan tool, this will work for that, read codes and reset the MIL, so it is useful beyond being just a gauge set.
 
tripped38 said:
So did you do this? I have been looking into this for a tranny temp gauge in my 05 ford... Just wondering if you had done it and how it was working.
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Not yet... working on dropping the fuel tank (little bitty 44 gallon steel tank :rolleyes:)... before I install the hitch... before I lay out $150 for the ScanGauge that may be needed for tank/pump replacement! :lol:

But I WILL buy one eventually...
 
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