Dashboard Diagnostic/visualization tools

So, I've been looking around for something in between a scangauge and a laptop based system like techstream lite, AutoEnginuity, or the Auterra Dyno-Scan. Ideally a small color display with both list mode and graphs for all the Prius ECUs/PIDs. Even better if you could add your own code like with a laptop and an ELM327 serial adapter. The Can-view system for the gen II does some of this, and has additional monitors for plug-in conversions, but doesn't look like it is going to be updated for gen III (please correct me if I'm wrong here).

Looking around on the PC forums I could find very little discussion of other handheld/dash mount OBDII tools. However, looking around on the 'net I found two that I thought were interesting. One is the Dash-Dyno:

Scan Tool - Performance Meter, Data Logger, Scanner | DashDyno SPD

It has nice graphing tools and it comes with the software and USB passthrough to run their much more complte dynoscan windows software as an added bonus. The dashboard unit does not read the Toyota specific ECUs but the laptop software does:

http://lib.store.yahoo.net/lib/auterra/ToyotaEnhancedUserGuide.pdf

I sent them email and they don't appear to be interested in adding XGauge type functionality or the toyota specific ECU/PIDs to their handheld tool.

The second interesting one is the DashDAQ:

DashDAQ - Features

It was discussed a bit in this thread:

http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-ii-prius-modifications/56654-dashdaq-can-we-make-new-canview.html

and generated only mild interest as it is a bit expensive ($535 on amazon) and also did not read toyota specific ECUs/PIDs. However, the device has a lot of potential, runs linux (lots of expansion possibilites), and has a very nice PC based display editor so you can make custom gauges and display pages.

One forum member (Fuel Miser) reports to have bought one of these to play with. I PM'd him/her to ask how well it works but haven't yet heard a reply.

I also emailed the company (drewtech) and asked them about toyota specific ECUs/PIDs and they very quickly emailed back that they are beta testing a toyota specific driver that can read PIDs from the following ECUs:

ABS/VSC/TRAC
Advanced Parking Guidance System
Air Conditioner
Combination Meter
Cruise Control
D-Door Motor
EMPS
Engine and ECT
HL AutoLeveling
HV Battery
Hybrid Control
Lane Keeping Assist
Main Body
Master Switch
Navigation System
Occupant Detection
P-Door Motor
PM1 Gateway
PM2 Gateway
Power Source Control
Pre-Collision
Pre-Collision 2
Radar Cruise
Remote Engine Starter
RL-Door Motor
RR-Door Motor
Sliding Roof
Smart Key
SRS Airbag
Telematics
Theft Deterrent
Tire Pressure Monitor
Transmission Control

Now, I am really a sucker for gadgets, and they offered to let me beta test the toyota driver, so I'm likely to get one of these and try it out. Does anyone have more info on this thing or any other comments (other than too expensive) before I buy this thing? Thanks!

 

Well, I ordered this thing and will post some info on how it works out. Hard to tell whether anyone else is interested, but we'll see. It should arrive next week.

 

Yeah, I thought it looked pretty cool too but I'll let you know if it turns out that way after it shows up. They also have a reasonably active bulletin board and I read through it before I jumped on board. The prices from their website are:

DashDAQ without NAV: $545
DashDAQ with GPS but without maps: $625
DashDAQ with full NAV: $695

That's pretty steep. However, the unit logs everything to SDCard and if you have the GPS then it logs all the vehicle parameters along with the GPS: position, time, speed, and elevation. That is what I wanted so I did get the GPS.

It is supposed to arrive next week Wednesday. I'll know more then.