DashScan II Operation
Foreword
The DashScan is really simple to operate. All features are selected using a single button!
This button will from now on be referred to as "the button". Even though the one-button operation
is as simple as can be, it is not advised to "play" with the DashScan while the vehicle is moving,
as this can be distracting result in personal injury, property damage or even death! Only operate
the DashScan while the vehicle is not moving (for safety´s sake)!
Selecting "Trip Computer" or "Scantool" modes
The DashScan features two different modes, "Trip Computer" mode and "Scantool" mode. You can switch
between these modes at the time you turn on your ignition: If you turn on the ignition with the
button pressed, the DashScan goes into "Scantool" mode after it has been in "Trip Computer" mode,
or vice versa. You can release the button after about 2 seconds after turning on the ignition. Now
DashScan will stay in that mode, until you repeat the procedure.
Even if you turn your ignition off and on again, it will be in the mode you selected last.
"Trip Computer" mode
In "Trip Computer" mode the DashScan uses the vehicle’s speed sensor output to calculate various trip information:
- Current Speed (mph or km/h)
- Trip odometer (miles or km)
- Trip time
- Average speed
- Inside temperature (Fahrenheit / Celsius)
- Outside temperature (Fahrenheit / Celsius) (with optional outside temperature sensor only)
- Mileage estimate (in l/100km and ltr/h or mpg, only with mileage chip)
- Total fuel used (in ltr/gallons, only with mileage chip)
- Front tire information (TPMS version only)
- Rear tire information (TPMS version only)
These positions are cycled through by pushing the button. Additionally it is possible to customize
the DashScan by selecting US or metric system. These preferences are retained by the DashScan even
if the ignition is turned off or the battery is removed.
Current speed
In current speed position, the current vehicle speed is displayed in mph (US system) or km/h
(metric system). The display is only updated every 0.7 seconds to ensure a smooth reading. The
maximum speed DashScan can display is 150 mph (or 240 km/h). The system (US/metric) can be toggled
by pushing the button for one second.
Trip odometer
The trip odometer shows the distance traveled since turning on the ignition. The reading is also
dependent on the US/metric system preference. The distance is shown with "km" or "mls" appended.
The trip odometer can be reset by pushing the button for one second. Resetting the trip odometer
also resets the trip timer and the trip average speed.
Trip timer ("Tm")
The trip timer shows the elapsed time in hours/minutes since turning on the ignition. The trip
timer is reset by resetting the trip odometer.
Average speed ("Avg")
In this position the average speed since turning on the ignition is calculated and displayed.
The reading again depends on the US/metric system preference. The average speed is calculated
from the trip timer and trip odometer.
Inside Temperature ("In")
This shows the inside temperature in degrees Fahrenheit or degrees Celsius (depending on the
Celsius/Fahrenheit preference). The preference can be toggled by pressing the button for more
than one second.
Outside Temperature ("Out")
On DashScans with the optional outside temperature sensor, this position shows the outside
temperature. The preference is the same as with the inside temperature and is also changed
the same way.
Mileage and total fuel used
If your DashScan is equipped with the mileage coprocessor, you will see a mileage estimate
in the form of "xxx mpg" if you have set DashScan to the US system, or "xx.x l"
(which is the fuel consumption in liters per 100km) if you
have set DashScan to the metric system. If the car is moving with less than 10km/h when
in metric mode, the display switches over to ltr/h.
The mileage reading only works with the mileage
coprocessor chip, and only works on V6 vehicles equipped with an 86-88 ECM!
The mileage estimate is not exact, it estimates the current mileage depending on the injector
open time. The real mileage also depends on fuel pressure, fuel temperature, etc., so it
may differ from the estimate DashScan displays. Click here
to read the complete description of the MPG-Chip.
Note: in order to see the mileage estimate, you must have set the appropriate jumper as described
below!
Front/rear tire information (TPMS version)
The TPMS version of the DashScan displays the display shows an "up-arrow" for front tire and a "down-arrow"
for rear tire information. The pressure for left / right tire are displayed in bar (e.g. 2.1/2.0 meaning left tire
2.1 bar, right tire 2.0 bar). If no data has been received yet for this tire, three dashes are displayed.
If the key is pressed for more than 1 second, the display changes to showing the tire temperatures in
degrees Celcius. If the key is kept pressed, the display will eventually change to display TPMS
battery percentage.
Setting Preferences
The DashScan retains several configurable options in its memory, even if the power is removed.
Some settings are toggled/cycled by pushing (and holding) the button for more than one second
in various display positions, others are set by installing "jumpers" on the jumper field on
DashScan.
The system can be set to miles or kilometers and to degrees Fahrenheit or degrees Celsius.
After changing from miles to kilometers or vice versa, the trip timer should be reset. Otherwise
DashScan will work with a "mixed" system resulting in possibly erroneous readings.
It is also possible to select how much the display should dim when the headlights are on
(provided you have hooked up the dimmer input on the display unit). While holding the button
in Average-Mode, the display will change to the next setting after one second. When the setting
has changed, release the key and push it again for one second to see the next setting. There are
a total of 8 settings ranging from dim to full brightness. Make sure you have the headlights on
while doing this, or you won’t see the effect! Note: In some cases the display may flicker when at
a certain brightness. This is caused by interference between the display blanking and the display
multiplex rate. Since the multiplex rate varies with each display’s tolerance, it is impossible to
compensate for this. Usually the display adapts to a different multiplex frequency after a few
seconds. If it doesn’t, select a different brightness. If you select maximum brightness, the
display will not dim at all when the headlights are turned on.
The following table shows the effect a long push of the button has:
Position Name | Short Push (Next) | Long Push (Special Function) |
Speed | Trip odometer | Select km or miles |
Trip odometer | Trip timer | Reset trip odometer, timer and average speed |
Trip timer | Average speed | Reset trip odometer, timer and average speed |
Average Speed | Inside temp | Set dimmer brightness |
Inside temp | Outside temp | Select Celsius or Fahrenheit |
Outside temp | Speed (or mileage) | Select Celsius or Fahrenheit |
Mileage | Speed (or total fuel used) | none |
Total fuel used | Speed (or front tire info) | Reset total fuel used |
Front tire info | Rear tire info | Temperature, Battery status |
Rear tire info | Speed | Temperature, Battery status |
DashScan also features a jumper field of 8 jumpers (6 jumpers for TPMS version) to select different options.
Caution: Setting jumpers in position without having the proper hardware options installed
may result in erratic behavior of the unit! The jumpers are numbered 1 through 8(6) with jumper #1
being the jumper closest to the edge of the board.
8 Jumper version | 6 Jumper (TPMS) version |
Jumper # | open | closed |
1 | Scantool in V6 mode | Scantool in L4 mode |
2 | don't display total fuel info | display total fuel info |
3 | no mileage chip installed | mileage chip installed |
4 | trip and mileage resettable separately | resetting trip data resets mileage |
5 | reserved | reserved |
6 | reserved | reserved |
7 | Show version info on ignition on | no message |
8 | normal mode | calibrating mileage chip |
|
Jumper # | open | closed |
1 | Scantool in V6 mode | Scantool in L4 mode |
2 | don't display total fuel info | display total fuel info |
3 | no mileage chip installed | mileage chip installed |
4 | trip and mileage resettable separately | resetting trip data resets mileage |
5 | Show version info on ignition on | no message |
6 | normal mode | calibrating mileage chip |
|
Retaining data after shutting off the ignition
Your DashScan is equipped with an EEPROM to retain the current readings after turning off the
ignition. So, if you’re on a long trip you don’t lose your trip odometer, timer and average speed
readings while you refuel the car. However, if the trip odometer wraps (exceeds 999.9 miles / km/h)
or the timer wraps (23:59) the trip functions are automatically reset to zero. You can of course
manually reset the trip functions at any time. The memory also stores the amount of fuel used.
"Scantool" mode
In "Scantool" mode, the DashScan displays important engine data. It establishes a connection to
the ECM’s ALDL output, sets the ECM in diagnostic mode ("10K mode") and reads and displays the
engine data. The DashScan should only be switched to "Scantool" mode for diagnostic purposes,
since it puts the engine in diagnostic mode, in which it doesn´t behave normally, e.g. some P/N
restricted functions are enabled and some closed loop timers are bypassed. If the problem has been
diagnosed, switch back to "Trip Computer" mode.
If DashScan can not established a connection with the ECM, the display’s shows "No Data". If this
happens, the ECM is not sending data or the connection is faulty.
As soon as the display is on, the button can be used to select different scantool "positions".
The left of the display shows the name of the selected position, the right of the display shows
the current engine reading. The Fiero V6 normally offers these positions, which can be cycled
through with the button (L4 does not show all positions):
- Trouble Code Status (either "No Codes" or cycles through codes stored)
- CTS: Coolant Temperature Sensor (in degrees Celsius)
- MAT: Manifold Air Temperature (in degrees Celsius)
- MAP: Manifold Absolute Pressure (in Volts)
- TPS: Throttle Position Sensor (in Volts)
- O2: Oxygen Sensor Voltage (in Volts)
- Bat: Battery Voltage (in Volts)
- RPM: Engine RPM
- VSS: Vehicle Speed Sensor (in mph)
- EGR: EGR Duty Cycle (in percent, V6 only)
- IAC: Idle Air Control Valve position (in steps)
- Int: Integrator Variable
- BLM: Block Learn Variable
- O2X: Oxygen Crosscounts
- BPW: Base Pulse Width (in ms) (V6 only)
- Adv: Spark Advance (in degrees, from a fixed offset!)(V6 only)
- P/N: P/N Switch status (valid on automatic transmission vehicles only)
- EGR: EGR switch status (V6 only)
- ACRQ: A/C request status (valid on A/C equipped vehicles only)
- LP: Loop status (open/closed)
- ACCL: A/C clutch status (valid on A/C equipped vehicles only)
- TCC: Torque Converter Clutch status (valid on automatic transmission vehicles only)
- Shft: Shift Light Status (valid on manual transmission vehicles only)
- Fan: Fan relay Status (L4 only)