Scan Function of Microtuner
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Joined: Aug 2003
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Scan Function of Microtuner
I just ordered a set of electric fans from Troyer Performance. The website says that I need a special scan tool to read engine coolant temperature. Will my microtuner do this? BTW, I just moved and I've misplaced the instruction manual. Doh!
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Joined: Mar 1999
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From: New Orleans LA
No, the microtuner does not have the sensor scan function. It only reads the OBDII diagnostic codes.
Go to radio shack and buy the IR thermometer for U$40. Great little thing. Just remember the little note about the 20 deg difference reading the radiator.
Fritz
Go to radio shack and buy the IR thermometer for U$40. Great little thing. Just remember the little note about the 20 deg difference reading the radiator.
Fritz
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From: Central Florida
Just remember the little note about the 20 deg difference reading the radiator.
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Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 325
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From: New Orleans LA
IAW Mike Troyers instructions the IR temp gun will read 20 to 25 deg F lower at the radiator. So with the coolant at 190 deg, the temp gun will read around 170 deg.
I verified this with my own gun. After a 30 minute drive with AC on, the radiator temperatur near the top hose was 170 degrees. It is very important where you aim the IR gun. On the pax side of the radiator right under the USA stamp is the highest temp. It drops significantly as you head towards the driver side.
On mine it read 167 at the USA point and went down to 110 on the other side. The Troyer instructions say to aim next to the upper radiator hose.
Fritz
I verified this with my own gun. After a 30 minute drive with AC on, the radiator temperatur near the top hose was 170 degrees. It is very important where you aim the IR gun. On the pax side of the radiator right under the USA stamp is the highest temp. It drops significantly as you head towards the driver side.
On mine it read 167 at the USA point and went down to 110 on the other side. The Troyer instructions say to aim next to the upper radiator hose.
Fritz
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Joined: Mar 1998
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From: Virginia
Hi chunky1, etc.,
No, the Micro Tuner is an OBD-II code scanner, it's not a PID-reading diagnostic tool - so you'll need to either borrow a scan tool, or just do what most others installing our electric fan kit do - either pick up or borrow an infrared "point & shoot" thermometers to calibrate the turn-on temps.
Don't worry, we go over this 20 degrees Fritz is talking about very thoroughly in our installation manual - so you don't need to worry or freak out over that 20- degrees he's talking about, all of that will be thoroughly described in your documentation.
What he's talking about is simply that the body of the radiator & the heat sinks (which are the fins, where the temperature probes for the controllers go) are always going to be 20-25 degrees (F) colder than the actual engine coolant temperature as reported by the ECT (engine coolant temperature sensor). Just like it's supposed to be - after all, those fins are the heat sinks & that is how the heat is rejected. So if you don't use a scan tool, but instead use a point & shoot thermometer to calibrate the turn-on temps of the fans, you simply have to take that into consideration, that's all - and all of this is in the documentation, we go over that thoroughly, so don't worry about that now. When you actually *get* your kit, just read the installation manual and you'll be fine.
No, the Micro Tuner is an OBD-II code scanner, it's not a PID-reading diagnostic tool - so you'll need to either borrow a scan tool, or just do what most others installing our electric fan kit do - either pick up or borrow an infrared "point & shoot" thermometers to calibrate the turn-on temps.
Don't worry, we go over this 20 degrees Fritz is talking about very thoroughly in our installation manual - so you don't need to worry or freak out over that 20- degrees he's talking about, all of that will be thoroughly described in your documentation.
What he's talking about is simply that the body of the radiator & the heat sinks (which are the fins, where the temperature probes for the controllers go) are always going to be 20-25 degrees (F) colder than the actual engine coolant temperature as reported by the ECT (engine coolant temperature sensor). Just like it's supposed to be - after all, those fins are the heat sinks & that is how the heat is rejected.
So if you don't use a scan tool, but instead use a point & shoot thermometer to calibrate the turn-on temps of the fans, you simply have to take that into consideration, that's all - and all of this is in the documentation, we go over that thoroughly, so don't worry about that now. When you actually *get* your kit, just read the installation manual and you'll be fine.
Last edited by Superchips_Distributor; Sep 10, 2003 at 08:58 PM.
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Joined: Jul 2003
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From: Central Florida
OK, that makes sense. Thanks for the explanation, thorough as usual.
With luck (and a couple side jobs) I'll be ordering the fan kit in a couple weeks. Just in time for the cooler weather, naturally.
With luck (and a couple side jobs) I'll be ordering the fan kit in a couple weeks. Just in time for the cooler weather, naturally.