scan gauge mounting

[a64pilot]

OK, almost sold on the scangauge, I have been using Autotap, but that requires a laptop. Where and how have you guy's been mounting the scangauge? Anybody use the rearview mirror mount? Is the wire long enough to be routed up the A pillar and is there enough room?
Picture if possible please. I want to be able to view the Scangauge without taking my eyes off of the road

[royrose]

Here's mine. I just used the strip of velcro tape that came with the scangauge. Easily visable. I love to see that zero rpm when rolling down the road at 40 mph or 996 rpm when gliding down a slight hill at 60 mph.

[RodJo]

Originally Posted by royrose

Here's mine. I just used the strip of velcro tape that came with the scangauge. Easily visable. I love to see that zero rpm when rolling down the road at 40 mph or 996 rpm when gliding down a slight hill at 60 mph.

The BlendMount also looks like an option as long as you have the autodimming mirror: MGT Motorsports Shopping Cart

I understand from another thread (radar detector mounting) that these mounts are pretty good quality.

[a64pilot]

I want to mirror mount the thing, but I'm afraid of running the wire through the A pillar as I have NO experience with air bags in A pillars, so I don't know how to go about that. Obviously I don't want to interfere with the air bag functioning.
Anybody have experience with running wires up the A pillar?

[tumbleweed]

Originally Posted by a64pilot

I want to mirror mount the thing, but I'm afraid of running the wire through the A pillar as I have NO experience with air bags in A pillars, so I don't know how to go about that. Obviously I don't want to interfere with the air bag functioning.
Anybody have experience with running wires up the A pillar?

I might suggest that you mount it, with the supplied velcro, to the steering column as pictured by Royrose above. Then if you don't like it you can always move it, i.e. do it the easy way first. I have mine mounted that way and you need only take your eyes off the road very briefly too look at it. You can set it up to put the two parameters you will use most often on top where you will see them first.

EDIT: Another thing to consider, if you mount it up near the windshield might not a thief think it's some kind of radar detector and break in to steal it? I had a control head for a VHF radio stolen from my work vehicle a few years ago, it was completely worthless without the rest of the radio. I'm pretty sure whoever took it thought it was a radar detector or a GPS unit of some kind. If it's down on the steering column it's a little more out of sight anyway.

[topkick]

I would also agree with royrose and tumbleweed about mounting behind the steering wheel. I have mine mounted there and to look at it is so brief that it is not at all distracting.

I had used the mirrow mount with the scan gauge II on my Honda Ridgeline and it takes much longer to raise your head and look at it mounted. I changed back to the dash board.

I ran it through the A pillar on the Honda but did not have air bags located there so I can't help with any information.

[a64pilot]

It'll be next month before I buy it anyway, but I liked the mirror mount as it looked "cleaner" and honestly less likely to irritate my wife. Got to keep my hobbies a little low key as usually you really just can't justify them, you either understand or you don't. She usually doesn't.

[RodJo]

Originally Posted by tumbleweed

I might suggest that you mount it, with the supplied velcro, to the steering column as pictured by Royrose above. Then if you don't like it you can always move it, i.e. do it the easy way first. I have mine mounted that way and you need only take your eyes off the road very briefly too look at it. You can set it up to put the two parameters you will use most often on top where you will see them first.

EDIT: Another thing to consider, if you mount it up near the windshield might not a thief think it's some kind of radar detector and break in to steal it? I had a control head for a VHF radio stolen from my work vehicle a few years ago, it was completely worthless without the rest of the radio. I'm pretty sure whoever took it thought it was a radar detector or a GPS unit of some kind. If it's down on the steering column it's a little more out of sight anyway.

To me, I would prefer not to take my eyes off the road if I didn't have to. Isn't that the whole purpose of the new display location?

I don't know about the theft issue, I guess it depends on where you park. But theft would seem less likely if it's mounted on top of the mirror because of the window tinting, location, etc. A dash-mounted unit would seem much more visible to someone passing by (probably looking for GPS units), whereas they would probably have to knell down to look up at the mirror mount. In any event, the unit might easily detach from the mount anyway.

Originally Posted by topkick

I had used the mirrow mount with the scan gauge II on my Honda Ridgeline and it takes much longer to raise your head and look at it mounted. I changed back to the dash board.

I don't understand the difficulty with looking at the rear view mirror in a Prius. Shouldn't you be doing that as part of your eye scan while driving anyway? You should still be able to see the road at the same time. I guess that all assumes that at least the seat is adjusted correctly.

Originally Posted by a64pilot

It'll be next month before I buy it anyway, but I liked the mirror mount as it looked "cleaner" and honestly less likely to irritate my wife. Got to keep my hobbies a little low key as usually you really just can't justify them, you either understand or you don't. She usually doesn't.

I agree it looks cleaner -- assuming you can run the cable along the A-pillar. But keeping the wife happy is probably the biggest plus.

[hotbrass]

Where is the OBDII on the 2010?

Thanks!

[Jim Calvert]

I also like the simplicity of the steering column installation, but one thing about that install that bothers me is that the cable exiting the right side of the scangauge is visible.

Don't know if something can be done about it, though. I installed a back-up camera monitor (wireless) in my VW recently, and was able to route the monitor power cable UNDER the base of the monitor and through a small hole in the dash. As a result the cable is completely hidden, as is the hole.

Jim