Here are a couple other new products that PLX Devices showed us at this year’s SEMA show. These were sneak peeks, with preliminary specs only. Being that they’re going to be part of the iMFD family of products, they caught my attention. As covered in an earlier post, iMFD (Intelligent Multi-Functional Display) is the marketing name for a very cool technology that PLX brought us last year. Their impressive 65K color OLED gauges can be daisy-chained together, along with various sensors, and data from the vehicle’s OBD bus. Because these components are networked together, they can share information with each other. The displays can be customized to show information from multiple sources in an infinite number of formats. These upcoming products will integrate with iMFD to bring even more functionality.  [Read more…]

DrewTech’s booth at this year’s SEMA show was again showing off DashDAQ computers. This time, it was the new Series II model on display. I liked the concept of the original DashDAQ, so I was very interested what the new model has to offer. It turns out that there are some nice enhancements, which help keep DrewTech ahead of the pack.  [Read more…]

Nordskog Performance has developed an in-dash gauge for monitoring surface temperatures. The IR9009 kit comes with 2 infra-red temperature sensors and a gauge. The gauge simultaneously shows readings from both of the temperature sources. This makes for a great way to monitor the surface temps of tires at all times. The kit has a $600 price tag.

Last year, PLX Devices introduced their ground-breaking iMFD (intelligent Multi-Functional Display) gauges and sensors. The thing that makes iMFD so cool is that various devices can be networked together to share information. Different gauges, sensors, and eventually loggers/computers are all tied together. It’s not too expensive to get started, and you can expand as needed.  [Read more…]

Video displays are becoming more and more commonly found in cars. Whether factory equipped with a nav system, or with the addition of a high-end audio/video unit, many cars have LCD displays. Brockway Engineering has leveraged this fact and developed the R2000, an OBD2 monitoring system that provides a video output, rather than an embedded display. This helps to keep the unit’s cost down, and it allows you to cut down on the number of devices cluttering up the passenger compartment. Like other OBD2-based vehicle monitoring systems, the R2000 simply needs to be plugged into the vehicle’s OBD2 diagnostic port to become functional. Plug the composite video output to the display’s input and you’re up and going. The display can be configured to show various real-time OBD2 parameters in one of 6 different screen modes. Up to 4 parameters may be displayed at once. It is also capable of reading and clearing diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs).  [Read more…]

Combination scanner/monitoring gadgets are hot items right now. This is little surprise, because they are able to package the functionality of a vehicle diagnostic tool, a multitude of gauges, and performance recording abilities into a tiny footprint. Additionally, they are a piece of cake to install and can be quite economical.

MSD has a capable offering, with their DashHawk product. The DashHawk can display 2 to 7 parameters at the same time, in various formats on its backlit display. An extensive list of parameters can be monitored, depending on the vehicle. Alerts (audible and visual) can be configured to notify the driver of dangerous situations, such as high temperature levels. 1/4 mile and 0-60 times can also be measured. And, of course, as a scanner, Vehicle Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs) can be scanned and reset.  [Read more…]

That’s right, yet another use for your Gameboy at the track. TurboXS is using the Nintendo Gameboy Advance (GBA) as a core component of some of their vehicle tuning and monitoring products. The DTEC starter kit plugs into the GBA and includes software to use the unit as a gauge display and data logger. In order to make use of this, plug-and-play sensors must be purchased separately. Current sensor options include: boost, EGT, air temp, engine rpm, and wide-band air/fuel. Upcoming options will allow for knock indication and vehicle acceleration readings. The display is configurable and will display in real-time, as well as playback recordings.  [Read more…]

Another new product shown at the 2006 SEMA Show was the G-TECH Pro EGS (Expandable Gauge System), from Tesla Electronics. At first glance, the EGS looks like a modern, large pedestal mount tach with shift lights. However, upon closer inspection, you will notice a bright display screen. As it turns out, this is much more than a basic tachometer; it contains their well-known G-TECH accelerometers (as found in the G-Tech Pro RR). Additionally, an optional wideband sensor allows for air/fuel tuning, and an OBD-II interface provides the ability to display vehicle data.

Tesla Electronics, Inc.

Drew Technologies took the wraps off their new high-tech do-it-all device at the SEMA Show 06. Being that it received a best new international product award from SEMA, it is obviously much more than a simple LCD display to watch movies or navigate you around town. After looking over the product specs, this becomes evident; DrewTech calls it a “cross between a data acquisition system, diagnostic tool, automotive gauge display, and a handheld computer”.  [Read more…]

Greddy offers a slick device that lets you view the data emitted from your car’s sensors, in real-time; the Intelligent Informeter. Up to 25 channels can be monitored (depending on the vehicle), and visual/audible warnings can be set. Limited datalogging functionality is also provided. The device can be a nice (and less expensive) alternative to filling the dash with gauges. Just plug and play. The Greddy Informeter uses the vehicle’s OBD-II communications port to collect and display vehicle data, but a limited selection of older vehicles are also supported by the unit. MSRP is $360.  [Read more…]