TLC FAQ

ScanGauge II Install / Tactical LED Light Mod

Jun 12

Accessories, Electrical, How-To, How-To Electrical

Article by: RobRed

Applicable Models: 1996 or newer OBD2 Compliant Land Cruiser

Related Discussion: http://forum.tlcfaq.com/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=135

The ScanGaugeII by Linear Logic is designed for all 1996 or newer cars and trucks that are OBD2 compliant. ScanGaugeII can help you monitor your Land Cruiser systems and provide real-time information not available from the factory gauges. The device features include more than 15 built-in digital gauges, 5 sets of trip data and a pretty easy-to-use Scan Tool that shows both set and pending trouble codes.

The ScanGaugeII is a compact device measuring 4.8 x 1.5 x 1.0 inches and is supplied with a 6 foot OBD2 cable. The ScanGaugeII cable has a right-angle OBD2 connector on one end and a standard 8P8C (RJ45) on the device end. These are important attributes of the cable as it makes it easily extendable (which I needed to do) and the 90 degree OBD2 port connector keeps things off your leg. Additionally the device has two options for the data cable to plug in – one on the back and one on the side making for some flexibility in mounting locations.

I’ve used and own a variety of Scan Tools so adding the ScanGaugeII might seem redundant at first glance. It’s not really. What makes the ScanGaugeII valuable beyond the basic scan and clear codes function is something they call X-Gauge. X-Gauge is a programmable software gauge system that allows you to monitor parameters such as voltage, transmission temperatures, trip data and fuel economy information. X-Gauge gives you the ability to customize the ScanGaugeII by adding additional vehicle specific digital gauges by inputting codes through the front panel. These codes can be found at ScanGauge.com or right here at TLCFAQ.

The impetus for my purchase was the ScanGaugeII’s ability to monitor transmission temperature. In my mind a critical parameter. Now let me say right off the bat that this function is vehicle specific and not all post 1995 Land Cruisers will report this. In fact some late model owners have been sorely disappointed by this reality.

In my original installation I ran the ScanGaugeII cable from the OBD2 port, inside the dash and popped the device end of the cable out under the power port area. I mounted the device itself by using some 3M Trim Tape (double sided tape) and that worked well.

This installation was satisfactory for over a year and I can’t really think of a good reason to change it… well except I’m bored! That mean’s modify. One area of the Land Cruiser that has bugged me from day 1 has been the overhead binnacle to mount a garage door opener into. I think it’s embarrassing to not have Homelink in $50k vehicle. Sure the LX470 got Homelink but that’s such an up-sell feature they had to reserve it for Lexus? Okay, rant over. Time to mod. Seeing that I have no garage door opener in this compartment I went to work scheming how I could mount my ScanGaugeII in it. The interior of the bin is oddly shaped with steps and ridges so I needed a way to mount the ScanGaugeII on a flat surface. Additionally that surface would have to be at an angle so I could view the display from the drivers seat.

I removed the Overhead Console Box and measured up the target location. Then I went to my workbenches overflow storage (read junk box) and located a flat piece of 3/16″ steel. Part of a Simpson Strong Tie by the looks of it. Perfect. It’s a tad long so I rough cut to size with my grinder and hand fit – perfect. Now I needed a way to attach the steel to the pocket. The Strong Tie has small holes predrilled to put nails through so I used two #8 3/4″ long “truss” screws to secure the bracket to the pocket.

Now while I was doing this little project I opted to install 2 little red 12 volt LED lights (look in each upper corner of the photo above). It took about a nano-second to drill the holes and I super glued them from behind to set them in place. I’m wiring them for power to the personal lights already mounted in the Overhead Console Box. I’m triggering them from a rocker switch located on the inside, left of our new ScanGaugeII pocket. I drilled a hole for the rocker switch and on the right side of the pocket drilled a hole for the ScanGaugeII cable to poke through and connect.

The ScanGaugeII includes a 6 foot cable but that’s not long enough to reach the Overhead Console Box. As I mentioned earlier the ScanGaugeII uses an 8P8C connector on the device so a trip to my local computer store and $8 later I had a female-female coupler and 8′ of Cat6 with ends attached. There is tons of room in the headliner to run the cable and it was an easy job to pull the Cat 6 though the headliner and down the A pillar and ultimately behind the glove box. I attached the female-female coupler and then connected the ScanGaugeII cable to the coupler. I tested the connection with the ScanGaugeII and then tidied up the new wires zip tying them in place. I replaced the Glove box and A pillar trim.

The esthetics of the project to this point leave a bit to be desired so I removed the pocket portion from the Overhead Console Box and applied 4 coats of Plasti-Dip to the interior of the pocket. I plan to use the tried and true 3M Trim tape to mount the ScanGaugeII so as part of the paint prep I placed a strip of masking tape on the steel in the shape of the ScanGaugeII. This way the device will be sticking to the bare steel not to the Plasti-Dip when the tape is removed.

I remounted the pocket to the Overhead Console Box. I then wired the rocker for the LED lamps. Nothing fancy just a black unmarked Radio Shack rocker switch and simple power and ground connections. I installed a rubber grommet in the pass-though hole for the ScanGaugeII cable. With the Overhead Console Box in my lap I set up the ScanGaugeII with the 3M tape. Took a breath then removed the backing tape and pushed the ScanGaugeII into place. Then I held the Overhead Console up near it’s mounting position and connected it to the cable via the pass-through. I plugged the sunroof/light control cable into the Overhead Console Box then pushed it into place. I secured it with it’s single mounting screw and called it done.

The result of this relocation has been excellent. The angle is just right and ScanGaugeII has adjustable backlighting for color and 3 brightness levels (Hi-Low-Off) so it’s never intrusive. The LED tactical lighting works as intended and the black switch is stealthy. Most of all I have decluttered my lower center console which makes accessing the power ports much easier and visually less noisy.