Does anything like a ScanGauge exist for us?

[sixt9coug]

Pretty self explanatory but does anyone make a ScanGauge or similar product for the 1994/95 5.0 cars? The 3.8s are listed on their site (I know because of the OBDII thing..) but the 5.0 is not listed. Is there a similar in-car product that exists for our OBDI cars?

I have a temp gauge that I don't trust so I want to use something that can give me live readings with an actual number.

 

[Chythar]

The higher-end scanners will let you read PIDs - the sensor values that the computer sees. Any scanner that reads OBD! systems and says it can read live data will tell you what you want to know. I have an Actron Autoxray scanner (I forget the model number), which does a good job. It can read the value of the ECT sensor, which is what the computer reads to determine coolant temperature. However, you'll be paying over $100 for one of these scanners; mine was about $250, and well worth it.

The ECT is the sensor in the metal heater tube on the passenger-side of the engine. However, the stock gauge displays the value of the CTS sensor, the small brass sensor in the lower intake manifold, just to the right (driver's side) of the distributor. The computer does not read that value, so no scanner will tell you what temperature it's reading. Which sensor is this temp gauge tied into? Knowing the ECT sensor value will help, even if you can't read the CTS value. You can at least see if the computer is reading the same value you're seeing in the temp gauge.

 

[sixt9coug]

Knowing the ECT sensor value will help, even if you can't read the CTS value. You can at least see if the computer is reading the same value you're seeing in the temp gauge.

Thanks and that is pretty much what I want to do. If my temp gauge is off I just want to confirm that the car is running at a safe temp even if the gauge is telling me otherwise.

example -

My temp gauge normally reads between the N and the O in "NORMAL" A few times lately it has been hitting the M. However, this hasn't been very consistent and getting some actual numbers to deal with would help me isolate whats going on. If the gauge is at the "O" then it jumps to the "M", I can look at the numbers and see if there really was any fluctuation in the temp, or a MEANINGFUL fluctuation in the temp to worry about. I.E - if it moves that much but only jumps 5 degrees, the gauge might be a little too sensitive even though there really isn't a problem.

Thanks again!