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nervousmini

05-17-2009, 07:58 AM

Has anybody heard anything about this gauge from autometer that hooks up to the obdII port and provides some basic live data? I stumbled across it looking to pick out a vacuum gauge for the blazer and found a tiny mention of it... any ideas?

Nevyn

05-18-2009, 12:34 PM

It seems to say it's for CAN-BUS only...that's the drawback that I can ( :D ) see.

nervousmini

05-19-2009, 06:40 AM

It seems to contradict itself, it says CAN-BUS but also OBDII compatible - I gues I'll have to wait a bit and see

Nevyn

05-19-2009, 07:47 AM

Hmmm...Were there non-OBD-II vehicles that were CAN-BUS based? I wonder.

More discussion http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthread.php/70-obd2-mpg-meter-8345.html

Nevyn

05-19-2009, 09:56 AM

Also found it on Auto-Meter's site, finally.

http://www.autometer.com/media_newsarticle.aspx?yr=2008&mo=11&pg=1&aid=97

Looks like it's not out yet, and that it IS only good on CAN-BUS.

nervousmini

05-20-2009, 06:38 AM

Hmmm...Were there non-OBD-II vehicles that were CAN-BUS based? I wonder.

More discussion http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthread.php/70-obd2-mpg-meter-8345.html

I know there were some early BMWs that had CAN-BUS that predated OBDI even.

Anyway looks like it is for CAN based vehicle only - rats! Really looks like a nice meter though.

Nevyn

05-20-2009, 07:51 AM

I bet the limiter is the interface chip. If you took one apart and replaced the IC (probably CAN only) with something like an ELM327 that does CAN, PWM, ISO, etc. I think it'd work the whole way round.

Ryansfolks

07-17-2009, 02:07 PM

I wanted a MPG meter for my smart. I was in contact with Auto meter via email. The guy I contacted said it works on BOTH CAN and OBDII. It does have to be "calibrated" to your car. It seems that all MPG gauges need to be. I for one can't see paying for a scangauge if all I want is MPG. The Ecometer is only a bit more than the old trusted vacuum gauge. Even my Prius on board gauge reading doesn't match the calculated MPG. I'm thinkin vacuum gauge and calculator, applying the KISS principle.

Nevyn

07-17-2009, 02:55 PM

CAN is one of the communication standards used, OBD-II is the type of engine codes/sensors and connector used. There isn't really such a thing as "compatible with both" as they are two different things:

1. All CAN based engine computers use OBD-II

2. NOT ALL OBD-II engine computers use CAN.

Your new Smart should be CAN and this *should* work for it - but other reports on ecomodder.com show spotty results.