OBD scan tools

I would believe that all OBD-II tools should comply with the OBD-II standard.
Gen-III should not be any different from Gen-II at all other than that the number of parameters stored in newer vehicles may be more or slightly different.

BTW, Costo is selling a cheap (cheapest, I'd say) OBD scanner just to read error codes (and look up the codes at a website) for $35. Saw that yesterday in Costco.

 

This one AutoTap - OBDII Diagnostic Scanner My current one is old and does not support CAN. I'm ordering the new one tomorrow. You will need a laptop or PDA with this though

Unlike other manufacturers, I believe Toyota only publishes what they are made to. Much, Much more data is there though.

 

ScanGauge is also useful but not in the Gen III since none of the "secrets" have been cracked. But it is a little cheaper than the AutoTap, and runs without a laptop, but not nearly as featured.

11011011

 

I picked up my IV on Saturday. My wife and I then drove it home to Colorado, 1350 miles over 2 days.

Since I would be breaking it in quickly, I wanted to monitor RPM and coolant temp, to make sure I was varying the load and not overstressing the ICE.

I hooked up my scangauge which includes those functions. I also had it track our total driving time for each day. It was fun to see how much RPM varies in response to slight changes in grade, speed, etc. It helped me feel comfortable that the car was doing just fine while also helping me understand the workings of the HSD. Definitely worth it in my opinion.

 

The scan gauge, will it give you percent of engine load and percent of throttle opening, mass airflow and the like? What about timing, and or knock retard?

 

Yes to all.

It will report a subset of the following depending on which are implemented on a Gen III.

The SGII will also report all the good manufacture specific stuff, like hybrid battery voltage, hybrid battery state of charge, energy flow and many more PROVIDED you know the scan codes for this information.

The Gen II has been fairly decoded so most of the scan codes are available online (or by PM'ing me ). The Gen III hasn't been cracked so all you get are is "GENERIC" engine information. No Hybrid stuff.... Yet... hopefully someone is working on publishing the Gen III decodes.

11011011

 

How are the codes broken? What does it take to participate? The ScanGuage has a very small screen and practically no interface how can it be used for such a large variety of information.

 

I think people use a PC solution rather than a hand held to figure that stuff out. I'm considering something like that. So far I've been thinking between Autoenginuity and OBDLink cl. Autoenginuity is more expensive by quite a bit. Anyone know what makes it better than obdlink? On a hardware level are they about the same? Is it just the software?

 

Well for example, whenever the 2007 Prius wants to report it's voltage, it sends out a message to all the computers that can be simplified to be "Here's my Voltage". Well the other ECU (computers) get tons of messages, so each one is given an "identifier". The identifier for voltage in the 2007 Prius is "0033". The identifier for Voltage in the 2010 is not "0033" but something else. Nobody knows what it is, but there are thousands of possibilities. What we are hoping someone will do, is go through all those possibilities until they see something that looks like voltage. This is generally referred to as reverse-engineering. I call it code cracking. Anyway, until someone cracks to codes for the 2010, we won't get any of the cool information like [post="950412"]this stuff we know for the 2007 Prius[/post] (<=follow the link).

To answer your next question, about how on the SG, it's programmable. You can program the code for 25 "extra" gauges. Then you can scroll through them. Yes, you only see 4 at a time, but you really have a lot more.

11011011

 

1- Dash Dyno by Auterra; is a display unit for live data as it happens in a vehicle.
2- CJ4 9240-LT OBD-II Scan Tool & Labscope; is a diagnostic tool for generic and enhanced applications (on the 9240-IR or 9240-LA models).
3- Auctiva; is an eBay auction management system, that does not have anything to do with automotive diagnostics.

The CJ4 9240, in any of its models, displays live data, graphs, allows capturing snapshots of whatever is in the screen, it can be connected to a PC, laptop, iPhone, iPod, iTouch via USB cable, Bluetooth or WiFi.
Now, the basic model 9240-LT will retrieve and display generic data only. While the 9240-LA (the IR has been upgraded and made into the LA model) will retrieveand display enhanced, vehicle specific data, allow testing of independent systems and even usedfor key programming on certain makes.

The 9240-LA has a specific program for Toyota to access all of the systems, from engine to ABS, SRS to transmission, etc.

Again, the CJ4 can be used as a stand only unit or with PC/iPhone software.

Hope this gives you a better information on the question that you posted.

Robert
automotiveperiphals . com

 

a64pilot posted the OBDII scan tool back in 2009 above.
I am wondering if this one is also good for the Gen III?
Any other recommendations?