Scangauge II - Location in a 8th Generation Honda Civic?

[-mr. bill]

Sadly, the backlight on my ScanGauge II was intermittent, then last night went seems to have gone permanently off.

BUT - wonderful customer service - they are shipping me a replacement with an Return to Manufacturer Authorizaztion (RMA) for the old one. And since the days are long I should only get hurt by a few night segments.

Until recently, the picture below is where I've had the ScanGauge II mounted. I've got a spare trim piece to hack. I originally intended just to fish the cable up and do a minor through that trim to the gauge.



Now I'm thinking of a more major hack.



But I am strongly considering locating the ScanGauge II here as above, and have had it here for a few days now and I like it. The trim is missing in this picture, and would require a bit of surgery to get the gauge located there.

Plus - my 7x7 year old eyes can see it.
Plus - it lives somewhat sheltered under the upper cluster shade.
Minus - buttons are out of safe reach while driving.

On the minus - I've not been using the buttons while underway at all, but I've only had it since the very end of April.

Need advice - will I regret not having access to the buttons?

Thanks.

-mr. bill

[msantos]

If you managed to drill through the "plastic" screen the precise holes for each of the SG buttons and you managed to secure the SG inside the upper instrument cluster then perhaps it could work.

Such a mod is also pretty visible to the service personnel. In my case, my dealership did not raise any issues when they saw my SG-II plugged in during the last oil change visit. But, if I had to go to another dealership especially for warranty fulfillment I would likely enjoy having a means of removing the SG-II entirely just for giggles.

I mounted mine on the lower center console (between the cup holders and the shifter with velcro pads). I like it there because I'm not looking at it all the time (not monitoring the iFE) and it also gives me the opportunity to temporarily move it to another car. Lately, I've been doing that a lot...

Cheers;

MSantos

[psyshack]

I set my SG1 right on the dash above the speedo. Wrap the cord around the steering wheel.

**** is it Ugly!!!

[-mr. bill]

To make it clear - there's a sort of "shelf" on the trim. All I'm going to do is "lower the shelf" in the center. The ScanGauge II will still be attached with velcro, but it will be slightly farther back and under top gauge cluster sun visor. The largest advantage is that I don't have to refocus between speedometer and ScanGauge II.

Is there any reason to need to use the ScanGauge II buttons while driving? I use them for fill up (stationary) and right after I've plugged it into the car to get the four gauges I want (again, stationary).

-mr. bill

[psyshack]

Originally Posted by -mr. bill

To make it clear - there's a sort of "shelf" on the trim. All I'm going to do is "lower the shelf" in the center. The ScanGauge II will still be attached with velcro, but it will be slightly farther back and under top gauge cluster sun visor. The largest advantage is that I don't have to refocus between speedometer and ScanGauge II.

Is there any reason to need to use the ScanGauge II buttons while driving? I use them for fill up (stationary) and right after I've plugged it into the car to get the four gauges I want (again, stationary).

-mr. bill

Use the buttons!!! We need you to work them. Check that load, Intake air temp. Water temp. Current, today and tank mpg. Look over the MAP. You are driving a Si right? We need that data.

Learn to short shift that car like it was a Accord. Use the 6MT. Make me feel bad for not paying MSRP for a Si.

Heck play with the gas used in the car. Look over the timing advance or retard. Given the fuel you might be running in it. My R-18 has a 10.5:1 compression ratio. And in the summer months. It like reg. unleaded per the book. Come winter it like 91 to 93 octain.

Put that SG where you can play with it and drive with it!!! Our cars are so cool. Not even a SG1 can make it to fugly,,,,, Well except in my eyes. And you can bet if and when they come out with data logging I will buy a SGII+.

And you SGII owners have problems.... LMAO

[-mr. bill]

The replacement came in the mail today.
Couldn't resist:

Take two ScanGauge II's.
Add one ethernet patch cable.

And....



-mr. bill

[Right Lane Cruiser]

Originally Posted by psyshack

I set my SG1 right on the dash above the speedo. Wrap the cord around the steering wheel.

**** is it Ugly!!!

Mine too!! I should take a pic of mine installed... I'm tall enough that it only covers part of my view of the hood so it really isn't a problem. And I wouldn't give it up for ANYTHING!!

[-mr. bill]

Decided to go with the small hack, and just slightly modified the visor assembly, meter (lower). This runs a small patch cable out to the ScanGauge II.

This DIY is provided as-is, use at your own risk, blah blah blah.




Parts list:

• Highly recommend Helm Service Manuals, but you might be able to get by with the instructions for installing the XM Radio. (Not Shown)
• ScanGauge II
• Visor Assembly, Meter (Lower) [I got mine from hondapartsdeals]
• Cat5e SuperFlat patch cable [I got mine from vpi] (In hindsight, I might have gone with a longer cable.) IMPORTANT - NOT CROSS or X
• RJ45 Coupler F-F Straight [ditto] IMPORTANT - NOT CROSS or X
• KTC Trim Tool Set (Helm Service Manual has the Honda contact info, or try various specialty auto tool web stores.)
• Wire Ties and Cushion Tapes (Not Shown)

What we'll be doing:

• Remove 7, Visor Meter Assembly (Lower)
• Remove 18, Cover Assembly, Driver (Lower)
• Remove 15, Cover Assembly, Instrument Driver (Lower)
• Remove 8, Meter Panel

1. Confirm operation of RJ45 F-F Coupler - Patch Cable and ScanGauge II.
2. Remove the Visor Meter Assembly (Lower). YOU WILL NEED THE KTC TRIM TOOLS TO DO SO. See the service manual. Start with the four tabs on the right, then the three in the center, then the two on the left. Now you can see what you are facing for the modification. You'll want to remove 1/16" of material at the center of the leading edge of the visor, wide enough to clear the cable. Use tools you feel comfortable with for this. I used a dremel and Xacto knife.
   
3. You've got the anti-theft code for the Radio? Write down the station presets.
4. Disconnect the negative terminal for the battery.
5. Remove the Cover Assembly, Driver (Lower) - the instructions are even in the Owner's Manual for this step.
6. Remove the Cover Assembly, Instrument Driver (lower) - just tabs. See details in service manual or the XM installation instructions.
7. Remove the Meter Panel - a screw and tabs. Disconnect electrical connectors. See details in service manual or the XM installation instructions.
8. Run the ScanGauge Cable from the DLC (honda speak), under the steering wheel, over the knee brace, and then fish up past the ventilation ducts to the upper meter area. CONFIRM THAT YOU ARE NOT GOING TO INTERFERE WITH STEERING MECHANISM, INCLUDING RANGE OF MOTION OF THE TILT/TELESCOPE!
   
   
9. Connect RJ45 F-F coupler to ScanGauge cable, and the CAT5e SuperFlat cable to the coupler. Secure with wire ties and cushion tape as required.
10. Reconnect electrical connectors and loosely install Meter Panel.
11. Verify connections, reconnect negative terminal and check operation.
12. Disconnect negative terminal.
13. Reinstall rest of trim.
14. Reconnect negative terminal.
15. Enter the anti-theft code for the radio, restore presets.
16. Enjoy.

-mr. bill