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:

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 NameShort Push (Next)Long Push (Special Function)
SpeedTrip odometerSelect km or miles
Trip odometerTrip timerReset trip odometer, timer and average speed
Trip timerAverage speedReset trip odometer, timer and average speed
Average SpeedInside tempSet dimmer brightness
Inside tempOutside tempSelect Celsius or Fahrenheit
Outside tempSpeed (or mileage)Select Celsius or Fahrenheit
MileageSpeed (or total fuel used)none
Total fuel usedSpeed (or front tire info)Reset total fuel used
Front tire infoRear tire infoTemperature, Battery status
Rear tire infoSpeedTemperature, 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 version6 Jumper (TPMS) version
Jumper # open closed
1 Scantool in V6 modeScantool in L4 mode
2 don't display total fuel infodisplay total fuel info
3 no mileage chip installedmileage chip installed
4 trip and mileage resettable separatelyresetting trip data resets mileage
5 reservedreserved
6 reservedreserved
7 Show version info on ignition onno message
8 normal modecalibrating mileage chip
Jumper # open closed
1 Scantool in V6 modeScantool in L4 mode
2 don't display total fuel infodisplay total fuel info
3 no mileage chip installedmileage chip installed
4 trip and mileage resettable separatelyresetting trip data resets mileage
5 Show version info on ignition onno message
6 normal modecalibrating 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):