2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission ScanGaugeII functionality on '98 12-valve

[cfarrar]

I've really been enjoying my ScanGaugeII that's installed in my VW TDI. I'm buying a 1998 12-valve 3500 cab-and-chassis and would like to know whether anyone is using a ScanGaugeII in a '98 12-valve. The ScanGauge web site ScanGaugeII - Trip Computers + Digital Gauges + Scan Tool says that their product is compatible with 1998 models, and I've confirmed this with them. It lists the earlier 2nd-gen diesels as being incompatible, though. The word from them was that Dodge may have done enough to meet OBDII compatibility for 1998, but that many of the ScanGauge functions may not work for that year and they didn't know which ones would work. One group of functions I'd hate to be without is the group of trip functions. They are really useful. Instantaneous fuel economy is also useful to me. Since the 12-valve engines have mechanical fuel pumps, I'm doubting that the fuel-related trip functions on the ScanGaugeII work in this class of engine. Does anyone have experience with this to shed light on it?

 

[JoeBioDiesel]

When they're talking '98s, they're talking about '98. 5 24V trucks with the VP44 injection pump. You've got a mechanical P7100 pump and it's definitely not capable of instant fuel economy readings.

Joe

 

[cfarrar]

Thanks. The factory representative said that all 1998 Dodges are OBDII compliant and the ScanGaugeII is compatible, but he didn't know the extent of the information available. I didn't see a way for the mechanical fuel pump to send data, so what you say makes sense and was my suspicion.

 

[Lightman]

The 1996 and 1997 are also OBD II compliant it was required by 1996.

 

[NoSeeUm]

I am not sure the ScanGauge even cares about the fuel pump. It is fairly generic to begin with.



I believe it uses tank size, tank level drop rate, engine displacement, engine type, engine load (maybe), plus some fuzzy specific fuel comsumption logic to come up with its numbers.



Jim