Kuntryboy865
New member
I havent had any problems besides the onstar diagnostics. Im gonna continue to use my ultraguage until i see a priblem.
Chevy does NOT recommend "ScanGauge II" for Sonic
- Thread starter LorbeerTLC
- Start date
Al Marino
New member
I have my bully dog power programmer plugged into my obd port at all times because that's what it was se sighned for. I feel lost without knowing what the temps of things are or a boost gauge ( I have the rs ). Using the programmer saves me the trouble of installing gauges all up the pillar. And its waaaay easier to install. And I can use it on a bunch of other cars later on down the road, and it's updatable.
Swordsmith
242hp/252 ft-lbs BNR EFI
Holy thread resurrection Batman, this thing is from February!
That said, I was amused, rereading it, to see this list of "problems" that could be caused by leaving something plugged into the OBDII port:
That said, I was amused, rereading it, to see this list of "problems" that could be caused by leaving something plugged into the OBDII port:
Yeah I've seen that... but it's a problem with the scanner, which is supposed to shut down to prevent this. That's not a problem with your car caused by the scanner being plugged in, it's a problem with the scanner itself.
If the service department can't figure out they need to unplug whatever's in the OBDII port in order to plug their machine in and reprogram your modules, they shouldn't be allowed out of kindergarten, much less near an actual car.
That's not a problem, it's a feature, and one of the reasons there's -always- something plugged in my OBDII port!
OK that would be a problem, but I've never seen or heard of it being caused by what you've plugged in. Still, if it happens, one of the things to try would be... unplug your UG and see if that fixes things.
OK all of that sounds interesting, but same response as the first one above; never heard of it, but if it Did happen, well I'd try unplugging just to see if that helped.
Since there is no diesel Sonic, I doubt this will be a problem Also, there is no 4WD Sonic. But if unplugging my UG would magically turn my car into a turbo diesel with 4WD, OK, I'd do it, even though it meant turning on Skynet!
Remove the TPMS sensors from all your tires and this won't be a concern. Although, again, I have yet to hear anyone say this has happened to them, and it sounds like just unplugging long enough to learn the tires would take care of the "problem"
See Turbo Diesel and 4WD notes above
laborsmith
New member
Swordsmith hit each nail head on so I will state he is correct and on point regarding each issue. A reason for my responding is to reiterate how happy I am that using the OBDII port for my UltraGauge impairs some OnStar functions.
For those who do not know, OnStar adds about $695 to the Sonic's MSRP and the consequence is OnStar is considered to be one of the most profitable divisions in the GM pantheon. Of course the engine adds a few thousand to the MSRP but the difference is the Sonic is less than useless absent an engine and very useful without OnStar.
Having completed my quarterly pro OnStar rant, I feel better.
Laborsmith
For those who do not know, OnStar adds about $695 to the Sonic's MSRP and the consequence is OnStar is considered to be one of the most profitable divisions in the GM pantheon. Of course the engine adds a few thousand to the MSRP but the difference is the Sonic is less than useless absent an engine and very useful without OnStar.
Having completed my quarterly pro OnStar rant, I feel better.
Laborsmith
Papasonic
Active member
laborsmith
New member
Laborsmith: I thought that was a monthly pro OnStar rant that you contribute.
Caught!
Laborsmith
I lost power steering and traction control when I first plugged in the ScangaugeII. Also, experienced very late shifting.
However, my scangauge's firmware was quite out of date. Linear Logic knew what the issue was when I contacted them, and updated the firmware for free, minus shipping it out to them.
No problems since, and none with the insurance doodad plugged in now.
However, my scangauge's firmware was quite out of date. Linear Logic knew what the issue was when I contacted them, and updated the firmware for free, minus shipping it out to them.
No problems since, and none with the insurance doodad plugged in now.
Swordsmith
242hp/252 ft-lbs BNR EFI
I did lose power steering and got a whole host of Xmas tree lights once when running my Ultragauge. However, I had been trying to hide the wire by running it in my steering column, and it got pinched. Unpinched the wire and all the problems went away. I will admit, therefore, that it is possible that plugging something in could screw stuff up. I just haven't seen or heard of it happening much, and it has always been traceable to something wrong, not with a correctly functioning gauge.
SouthFLSonic
Active member
Be careful with those insurance plug ins they take every piece of information from those and use it against you. My Fiance had it in her car and it would beep if you brake to hard and if you brake to hard three times you can not get the discount. Doesn't matter why even if a cop car came flying down the road in a police chase and almost hits you so you brake hard, it is your fault. Stop and go traffic in south FLA with people who can not drive make short hard stops unavoidable, still your fault.
They also record the time of day you drive so if you drive early AM for work that is another strike against you for driving at a unsafe time of day.
This is just our experience with it to lower the rates because we are both good drivers and accident free for many years but according to them we drive at unsafe times of day, brake hard often and do not qualify for discounts even with clean records.