Watch Dog or ScanGauge II questions?

I like the look of the Bully Dog Watch Dog better than the Scan Gauge II. SG does get the nod for its size and $ though. If I get one of these I would like to monitor these items:

Coolant Temp
Transmission Temp
Battery Voltge
Real Time Fuel Economy

Does anyone with one of these gauges know if the 09 Tacoma can have these items read? I did see that not all items can be read from all vehicles so I thought I would ask before I lay out any $. As always thanks for any reply.

 

No tran temps w/the S/G.

 

Watchdog Does All Those EXCEPT The Trans Temp Iv Had Mine For Couple Months Now And I Like It.

 

Does the Tacoma even have a trans temp sensor?

 

Thanks for the replies guys. Pity about the Trans Temp. That would be a major + if it would give you that readout.

usaf167aw, with the Watchdog can you pick the 4 items to display (on left) and then pick some different item for the large center display? The one I have seen only shows the RPM's but since I already have a tach I would like to show something else there. Also what would you have to do to clear codes, like the engine maint oil change light. Thanks again for the reply.

 

Yes

 

IIRC the reason why SG is having problems is that Toyota uses 2 sensors for the tranny and the SG can only read one sensor at a time. SG hasn't figured out a way to read 2 sensors at the same time.

 

That's their excuse?

Why would they need to read both? They gotta find out WHERE the sensors are and which one is best to take temps from.

That's probably part of the problem.

Scangauge probably can't identifiy HOW to get the data from one sensor or the other and Toyota probably takes both data and manipulates it into something else (which Scangauge can't access).

 

Why would they need to read both? They gotta find out WHERE the sensors are and which one is best to take temps from.

Thats exactly what I was thinking. If the truck has two sensors, maybe before and after a cooler, or wherever, just pick one. It will serve the same purpose. The actual temp is not really the main thing it is seeing if changes are happening. I know if my trucks trans runs at 200 degrees unloaded and now it at 300 I have some issue to check out. If there is a sensor tape into it and use it.

 

The tranny temp thing (with Scangauge) has been around for years. I was communicating with them about all that before I bought my Scangauge (2 years ago). They kept leading me to believe "We're working on it".
It's been 2 years and I highly doubt they'll have tranny temps or oil pressure anytime soon.

But then again, they're probably working on a new unit (like Scangauge III). It'll probably have all that stuff that we want ....but it'll require us to send them our hard earned money to upgrade or buy new units. I'm just guessing.... From a business standpoint, why would they bother with new features when they could encorporate it into a new product & a money making efforts in the long run?

 

Well if makes you fell any better (and if Scanguage is reading our posts), I have not bought a Scangauge because they can't tell me my Tranny temp or oil pressure. Just having the mpg is all they think people want.

 

But then again, they're probably working on a new unit (like Scangauge III). It'll probably have all that stuff that we want ....but it'll require us to send them our hard earned money to upgrade or buy new units. I'm just guessing.... From a business standpoint, why would they bother with new features when they could incorporate it into a new product & a money making efforts in the long run?

Isn't that always the case. Throw you a crumb here and there, but sock you with the new model later. It has all the features the "beta testers" who laid out there money want.

Just having the mpg is all they think people want.

LOL, now real time MPG is very nice but I have been figuring out MPG with a calculator since my first car, a 63 Chevy II (no laughing please).

 

Exactly....

Don't get me wrong, I love having my Scangauge. But the way they handled that whole situation is disappointing. A 'ding' in their reputation (in my mind).

 

yes 4things real time and you push button and it will give you a details about each read out. the one i like the most is that watchdog shows exhaust gas temp (egt) thats really nice when towing IMO

 

Haven't they already done exactly that--adding the X-gauge features to the existing product, and upgrading older ones for a pretty low fee?

I think you are not considering the value of loyal customers, and the likelihood that good customer service will result in loyal customers who bring in new customers.

It works for Valentine One.