Scangauage question for Scott Brady

[Brian894x4]

Scott,

I just read your article on the artic expedition in the Overland Journal (great article and of course, great mag!)

You mentioned using the Scanguage to monitor both water and transmission temps in the article.

I have a scangauge for my Land Cruiser, but the codes to monitor trans temp are not available.

Did you really use it to monitor trans temp and if so, do you still have the codes? I figure there's a chance they might be the same for my OBD II Land Cruiser.

 

[HenryJ]

Sorry, I am not Scott , but I may have an answer for you. has yours received the Xgauge update?
Check this out: http://www.scangauge.com/support/xgauge.shtml

The current software versions with XGauge are 3.14 and 3.15 you can check this from the home screen and pressing MORE>MORE>MORE<VERSION

Version 3.14 was the release of the XGauge update, however the special functions did not work on Toyota Prius, version 3.15 was the release compatible with the Prius

The Add-A-Gauge™ and XGauge will only work on ScanGaugeII, not the original ScanGauge

Free Upgrade if your ScanGauge was purchased on or after July 20th, 2007

The cost to upgrade if yours was purchased before July 20th is $25 (USD) per ScanGauge

 

[Scott Brady]

Xgauge update

Yep

 

[Brian894x4]

Well, the thing is, I have the current updated Scangauge with the current X gauge, but you need certain codes to get certain non-standard data such as trans temp.

Maybe with the Tacoma, the trans temp just works automaticly, but on most models, you have to enter a code for it to work.

The only Toyota codes Scangauge has released for the X gauge is for the Prius, so I'm really curious how this works on the Tacoma. Its sounds like it just works on the Tacoma without any special codes, but not on the Land Cruiser.

Weird. I'm sure I'm missing something.

 

[HenryJ]

Ok, I am starting to see your problem. Transmission temperature is not one of the generic gauges. It is vehicle specific and must be programmed differently for each vehicle.

Displaying Vehicle Specific Gauges

You can add vehicle specific gauges to your ScanGauge.

* To start, from the HOME screen use MORE>MORE>MORE>XGAUGE
* Then in the top right select the number of the XGauge memory you want to use (0 to 24)
* Next <EDIT this will take you to the TXD screen
* Using the commands link at the top of this page find your car and enter the values shown in the TXD, RXF, RXD, MTH, and NAME portion of the page
* When entering values, the buttons on the left are + and - to change characters up and down, on the top right is -> to move to the next space, and OK>
* The NAME does not have to be the one provided on the spreadsheet, those are only suggestions
* Lastly press SAVE

Now you can select your new gauge just like any other one. From the home screen, press GAUGE press the button next to the gauge you want to use for the XGauge. Keep pressing as needed until your newly created XGauge name appears.

You need the values shown in the TXD, RXF, RXD, MTH, and NAME portion of the page.
This is the page: Commands.PDF and your application is not there.
Now I see your dilemma. I am wrong in that I can not help. If Scott does not have the commands, try an email to: scangauge@linear-logic.com
Ron was extremely helpful with questions I had. Their customer service is second to none.

 

[Brian894x4]

Just to add confusion, I noticed that Scott has a seperate transmission temp gauge, indepedent of the Scangauge.

http://www.expeditionswest.com/equipment/tacoma/gauges.html

I now think there was just some confusion in the magazine and in fact Scott doesn't use the Scanguage to monitor trans temps but the seperate gauge with the seperate sender.

Scott, I was just currious where you installed the sending unit for your tranmission temp gauge?

 

[HenryJ]

I too have a separate transmission gauge. That may have been the case.
If the information is available, the ScangaugeII with Xgauge can be programmed for the gauge. I would say inquiry with tech support at Linear-Logic would be the best plan. Be sure to post the commands. I am sure there are others watching. I am curious as to the service experience.

One a side note, I am pleased to report that the two gauges are very close in temperature. The ScangaugeII is a little better in that the range is larger. It will register temperatures below 50F that my other gauge will not.

 

[keezer36]

Scott, I was just currious where you installed the sending unit for your tranmission temp gauge?

An interesting discovery I made recently: I always believed that the sending unit was best in the pan or as close to it for an accurate reading. I recently installed a gauge and due to English/metric issues and a touch of laziness, I resigned to installing the sending unit in the rubber trans hose leading into the radiator, some eight feet of line away from the pan.
A couple weekends ago I checked the accuracy of the gauge by draining the pan across a thermometer immediately after verifying the temp on the gauge (the '05 Tacoma has a drain plug in the pan).
I was expecting about a five degree difference, assuming that the trans oil would cool some over that eight feet of external transmission line. I was surprised to find it was the same temp =/- 1 degree.
Note: the gradations of my gauge and thermometer are both in five degree increments. You have to guess between.

 

[LandCruiserPhil]

Called and talked with tech support at ScanGauge about trans temp option. The tech said Toyota is at the top of their list for new codes and trans temp will be one of them. Not sure on the Taco but 100 and 80 series have a variable trans temp output that is sent to the ECU. So the info is there for the taken.

 

[Brian894x4]

Glad to hear it. I understand, finding this code is very difficult for them.

The Scangauge otherwise, really rocks, so if anyone hasn't bought one yet and they have a '96+ (or '95+ Land Cruiser) it's worth the money for the water temp, volt and intake temp readings along, much more all the other goodies. My only regret is that is only shows 4 different gauges at a time. If it was possible to tie in two scangauges to the same plug, I'd consider doing it.