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In June, I bought a ScanGauge II to go with a new, 2011 Camry, which did not come with an MPG display. Since that time, I've had problems with the ScanGauge not always turning on when the car is started. IF... - and the IF is important - I notice it didn't power up, I can press the menu key and all is fine. If I don't notice, the MPG for the tank is screwed.

Calling LL to ask initially resulted in the receptionist / support gatekeeper telling me that it's a power problem with my car. Digging further, I found that in fact there was perfectly acceptable 12 volts on the relevant pins at all times, even when starting. Also, CAN data was present on the appropriate pins immediately after starting. So, I called back. I got someone technical on the phone, although he said he wasn't the engineer.

Apparently, the ScanGauge relies on seeing a voltage drop followed by a ramping up in voltage - this is on the power source - immediately after starting. Apparently, whatever is going on in the Camry - and I have actually tried it on two other Camrys... a 2011, and a 2009 - doesn't always make this thing happy. I was told that "this happens on some cars", which is true, since I have read about others having the problem, and not just on Toyotas. I suggested that there be added a way to make it never go to sleep, or even if the LED is turned off, make it keep trying to talk to the ECM so it doesn't mess with the mileage. Apparently, this isn't gonna happen.

So, has anyone here that has run into this problem come up with a solution? I thought about powering it from an ignition switched line, but - just in case no-one has noticed yet - the current day's data is not committed to flash / NVRAM until just prior to it going to sleep on it's own. Said another way, if you unplug it from the OBD connector, or unplug the 8 ping connector, it forgets that you drove since the last time it went to sleep on it's own. So, that won't work, either. I think it's time for LL to add an option for it staying awake. It doesn't draw that much that it will kill a battery on a car that's driven frequently.

Try setting the type of engine on "Hybrid."

I had a similar issue with the wife's Suzuki. All I did was just got in the habit of hitting the home button just before starting the car. It would also turn off in her car if I went into a FAS. Since I will be looking at the SG within a few seconds of driving I would quickly notice if I forgot to turn it on, so even if it affected the tank MPG it wouldn't be by much.

Try setting the type of engine on "Hybrid."

What does that mode do? I've read what the manual says the mode is for, but the issue is that it doesn't turn on when the engine is started, not that it is shutting off unexpectedly.

It seems that the problem happens in enough vehicles that LL should take notice, and if nothing else, make a firmware change that will allow the user prevent it from going to sleep. Something along the lines of "I've stopped seeing data changes, so I guess the engine's off. Let's write the trip data to NVRAM, and call it an end of trip for the counter purposes. Also, let's shut off the LEDs to reduce current. Time goes on.... like overnight... All of a sudden, I see lot's of data flowing. Has it been > 10 hours since I last saw lots of data? Yes=New day, else same day. "

This kind of FW mod would get around any need for hardware mods on their part. They've apparently guessed there should be wild voltage swings when the car is started. That apparently doesn't always happen on all vehicles. Unfortunately, it appears that what we've got now, is all we are going to get. The last change to the XGauge manual was 10 April 2009, so there's apparently no further testing or development by them on that front, either.