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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 (see compatibility).
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 (see incompatible
vehicles). |
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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.
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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. |
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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. |
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Can I use the ScanGauge II on more than one car.
Yes. There are no restrictions on moving it from car to car. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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My speedometer only goes to 90MPH. Can the
ScanGauge II show speeds above this?
Yes, the ScanGauge II can show speeds up to 158MPH. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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What are the dimensions of the ScanGauge II?
The ScanGauge II is 4.8"Wide, 1.5"High and 1.0"Deep. |
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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. |
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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.
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