Ultragauge mount

[AstroWyo]

I finally mounted the Ultragauge in my Astro and had to share a pic. I used the suction cup and put it over the rear view mirror. I had to unscrew the OBDII port to have enough wire to run it that far but am really happy with the placement. I like glancing up rather than down. I'm not sure about safety; the manual says that placing it on the dash, suction cupped to the windshield to the driver's left is safest. Now I need to finish setting up the functions.

[ccookie66]

Looks pretty cool! Whats it do? Track your MPG and such?

[AstroWyo]

I discovered it on a post here last year and bought one for about $60 or so and finally put it in. It reads OBDII signals like Engine Coolant Temp, MPG, MPH, RPM, Fuel Trim, Fuel Pressure, MAF, MAP, etc. You can search the web and it'll come up with videos by owners plus the company site with loads of infor. At the very least, I like using it to monitor MPG.

[Jasen]

Looks good up there.

[JuneauCabbie]

I love mine. It also gives you error codes when your service light goes on..

I track my remaining fuel, instantaneous mpg, coolant temp, and rpm mostly. Since my Safari is a taxi, I want to be pro-acive about problems. Best to fix things early rather than lose time on the road.

[ccookie66]

I discovered it on a post here last year and bought one for about $60 or so and finally put it in. It reads OBDII signals like Engine Coolant Temp, MPG, MPH, RPM, Fuel Trim, Fuel Pressure, MAF, MAP, etc. You can search the web and it'll come up with videos by owners plus the company site with loads of infor. At the very least, I like using it to monitor MPG.

OBDII? Would it work on a gen 1 van that only has OBDI?

['cudapaul]

No.

[footprintsinconc]

looks nice, what brand is that? how do i know if i have an ob1 or ob2?

another question, the van comes with a computer that tells you mpg and instant mpg, so you would want this for more than just reading mpg, right?

[AstroWyo]

The brand is Ultragauge. You'll find it using an internet search. '96 and newer is OBDII. My van, a '96, doesn't have that computer that yours has. You might not want this at all, just depends on what you want to know about your van. If you spend some time learning how to use it and setting it up, I can see how it may give a heads up about a coming problem. Sounds like JuneauCabbie uses it for that.

[ihatemybike]

Green has the info-center in it and I run a ScanGaugeII in it. Really like the ability to track more than what the info-center shows and to be able to read/clear codes anytime I want.

[WoodButcher]

Really like the ability to track more than what the info-center shows and to be able to read/clear codes anytime I want.

Me too, I have it in my '97
One thing though, there is another brand, same tools for the most part that I would have preferred for the front mounted control buttons. It could be mounted in-dash where as my UG needs the back accessible.
Can't remember the name!

[ihatemybike]

I named it in my post above, the ScanGaugeII. It costs more and the display isn't as nice, but the buttons are on the front, the menus are easier to use and it's simpler to use for hypermileing efforts.

I use the previously mentioned UltraGauge in Grumpy. It's good, but I hate the buttons on the back, having to scroll through the menus even when just going back a screen and having to manually reset the trip for hypermileing. The display in very nice though.

[WoodButcher]

rofl,,, senility at 50, who'da thunk it?

[AstroWyo]

I just have to add to this: on a forum for one of my other vehicles, someone posted a suggestion for another OBDII scanner that looks to be super nice for iPod, iPhone, iPad. And they offer bluetooth connection for it. It's a company called GoPoint Technology. Looks to be really user friendly, especially with the video clip of the cute young mom getting into her SUV and seeing the check engine light come on. She solves the problem, saving her family hundreds of dollars, and all because she has an iPhone and the GoPoint scanner.

[ihatemybike]

Yeah, but then you had to remember your iWhatever every time you drive. I'd rather have a dedicated device that stays in the vehicle.

[Mr_Bowtie]

I use to have the Scan Gauge II in my car, but I hated how lagged the tach readings were. I sold it and got a tach instead. But, everything else it did was great. The Ultragauge looks pretty cool for a much nicer price....I almost want to get one for the Van.....hmmmm.

[AstroWyo]

Yeah, but then you had to remember your iWhatever every time you drive. I'd rather have a dedicated device that stays in the vehicle.

Good point unless you want to pick up a used iPod Touch for cheap. I did that for my music and just leave it hooked up all the time. Cheap iPod, though, still costs way more than the UltraGauge.