Engine Data Scanner?

[mpearce]

I don't know how much water this holds for us, but I'm cusious if anyone is using, or has thought about using an Engine Data Scanner?

My wife has an 87 Turbo Buick that's modded. She has a ScanMaster tool that displays all sorts of engine data while she's driving, and racing. There is also a knock gague as well.

The tool she has is a small black box, mounted on the dash, with easy to use buttons to toggle through the sort of things you'd like to check out while your vehicle is operating.

I displays things like: mph, coolant temp, iat, knock retard degrees, etc, etc.

I know a lot of the turbo buick people are tuned pretty aggressively, and Ive seen some people on their boards say, never go over 3* degrees of knock unless you like working on your engine etc. Or, unless you've got good ears, detonation can't be trusted, etc, etc.

So...with this thread about cold air causing more boost, and cold air people using smaller pullies because they have aggressive tunes, etc, etc...would it be practical to have a scan tool (not necessarily this particular one because it's for the Buick, I just used the picture for example) to help identify possible problems while driving, and especially racing? Or does our computer do this for us already, we just can't see it?

Any info from all these experienced minds on this board would be appreciated.

BTW...here is a link, and a picture of the ScanMaster we have in the 87 Turbo Buick.

http://www.fullthrottlespeed.com/itemdesc~ic~050SCAN2GN~eq~~Tp~ .htm

http://www.fullthrottlespeed.com/mmFTSS/Images/SCANMASTER.JPG

[SergntMac]

I've been using this for a while now, it's been very helpful. I have it mounted on a cell phone pedestal, but can take it out and to any other OBDII car, in a snap.

www.scangauge.com (http://www.scangauge.com)

[BlackHole]

I've been using this for a while now, it's been very helpful. I have it mounted on a cell phone pedestal, but can take it out and to any other OBDII car, in a snap.

www.scangauge.com (http://www.scangauge.com)

Problem is Mac that a 1987 Ttype Buick is either a OBDI or earlier electronic PCM controls so it well not work unless it's set up for it

OBD I was around until 1995 then in 1996 OBDII was brought out then in 2008 CAN well make OBDII obsolete don't know who well have CAN first but my bet is Mercedes Benz since they were the originators of it back in 1988 they waited until the patents ran out and let the rest of the Industry use it.

I think OBDII is around 56K
And CAN is 500,000 K in memory.:baaa: :baaa:

[merc6]

My Mazda 6 is CAN BUS making superchips or anything of that sort obsolete. :( I learned the hard when when I tried to use a actron scanner to clear my fuel trim cel my intake sent.

[SergntMac]

Problem is Mac that a 1987 Ttype Buick is either a OBDI or earlier electronic PCM controls so it well not work unless it's set up for it Wow, I really missed the point here, didn't I. I though for sure that Matt was looking for a device of similar capability for his Marauder. Sorry...

[TripleTransAm]

I understood the same as well.

Glad to know there is such a beast for OBD-II...

[mpearce]

I though for sure that Matt was looking for a device of similar capability for his Marauder.

Yes Mac, you are correct. Thank you for the link. The data I am most interested in is the ability to look at knock, or degrees of retard etc, and how much is occurring, or how bad it is. Can you see that "live" when you're driving on the stree or racing, using your device? I certianly do not trust my ears...and if I try...I drive myself crazy thinking I'm hearing something when I really didnt. A tool like this would settle me down, as well as some others out there running aggressive tuning.

-Mat

[mrjones]

The scan guage (www.scanguage.com) does show your "live" timing, and a lot of other functions:speed, tach, ignition, coolant temp, fuel pressure, etc. It will also act as a rudimentary trip computer showing miles, avg. speed, max rpm, max speed... And it will scan trouble codes from your computer and reset the check engine light. About $100.

[SergntMac]

The data I am most interested in is the ability to look at knock, or degrees of retard etc, and how much is occurring, or how bad it is. Can you see that "live" when you're driving on the stree or racing, using your device? -Mat No direct knock sensor data, and I'm not sure if FMC EECs report that to the OBDII. However, you can configure the screen to show 4 functions at a time, live, and if you select the right parameters, you'll should be able to see pulled timing and spark before detonation is audible. No batteries required, works on any OBDII system, screen refreshed 20x per second, great diagnostic tool as well. Happy motoring.

[metroplex]

I thought about hooking up my car code scan tool to my 1981 T-bird. :P

[TripleTransAm]

The Ford PCM does report some knock sensor information over the ALDL link, but damned if I know how to interpret it.

So either Ford has some overall funky way of keeping track of knock, or my ticking head managed to fudge the computer into thinking knock was happening. (truthfully, I should also look at the spark retard to confirm if the Ford PCM works on a 'threshold' system instead of an absolute "oh, I just heard knock!" method).

[Ken]

www.digimoto.com (http://www.digimoto.com)

[Rider90]

No direct knock sensor data, and I'm not sure if FMC EECs report that to the OBDII. However, you can configure the screen to show 4 functions at a time, live, and if you select the right parameters, you'll should be able to see pulled timing and spark before detonation is audible. No batteries required, works on any OBDII system, screen refreshed 20x per second, great diagnostic tool as well. Happy motoring.
Do you have a picture of the scangauge mounted in your MM?