I thought I would detail the capabilities of the the VMS unit.



Detail Info Here

I just installed the unit in my M2. Unfortunately with a Magellan 7200 GPS on top of the dash, back up monitor on the dash and CB below the dash there was really no where to put it other than where the radio was. Since I don't use the radio it was no biggie for me to to yank it. I'll post some photos of the install on Monday.

This weekend will be my first chance to use it, but I have had a chance to check out all of the features and it is very cool!

I'll start with the drive button, hit it once you get the screen that is showing on the unit now, MPH, rolling MPG, torque & coolant temp. Hit the button again and you get another screen with different parameters showing such as horsepower, trans temp, boost, ect. and hit once more and you get a big clock in the center with parameters around it.

The scan button runs through all of the parameters at a set speed, such as every 5 seconds a new screen pops up. (You adjust the scan speed to scroll faster or slower) The cool thing is that the unit has a feature that you can use to scan your motor and determine what sensors your motor can provide the unit and remove any parameters that are not used. I'll try to write down all of the parameters available on my motor this weekend, it has to be about 20 or so.

Love the trip button! I don't know how many times I would have loved to have had info like gallons used. My GPS will tell me distance covered & distance to go, but the VMS will keep a history of that along with the date.

Diag button which is the diagnostic button. Wish I had this for the last 6 months! I have had a pesky check engine light coming on and have had not clue what it was or how quick I needed to get it in for service. This button will show all issues the motor may encounter and keep a history (unless your mechanic erases all info like mine did!)

Info button gives you a pre-flight check list which you can check off as you go through it, engine info, like serial number, total number of hours, and more, a maintenance manager which will warn you when you need to have a particular item services.

Prog button is the programing button which allows you setup the unit with the info and display type that you want.

Obviously the unit is not cheap, and Alan (DRFun) has found another unit called the Cantrak Unfortunately they do not detail exactly what the unit can do, it would seem (from the info I could gather) that it is basically a digital gauge display with diagnostic features. But don't know how many parameters it will display.

Anyway I will post some more thoughts next week after I have had a chance to see it in action.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Warpath,

Thanks for the details on the VMS, Bill! I look forward to the pictures and related "user experience" report.

You have to dig around a bit to get the specs on the CANtrak. Click on the GEM Software link on this page: http://www.cantrak-int.com/productdatasheets.html

Here's brief summary of the CANtrak specs. I haven't purchased this unit but will share my thoughts if I do.

DISPLAYED DATA IF RECEIVED FROM THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION ECU’S:

ELECTRICAL
Electrical Potential
Battery Potential Switched
Net Battery Current
Alternator Potential
Alternator Current

FUEL
Fuel Remaining
Fuel Rate
Instantaneous Fuel Economy
Trip Fuel Economy
Trip Fuel
Trip Fuel Rate
Total Fuel Used
Fuel Leakage 1
Fuel Leakage 2

DISTANCE
Distance Remaining
Trip Distance
Total Vehicle Distance

PRESSURE
Fuel Delivery Pressure
Barometric Pressure
Auxiliary Pressure 1
Boost Pressure
Air Inlet Pressure
Air Filter 1 Differential Pressure
Injector Metering Rail 1 Pressure
Injector Metering Rail 2 Pressure
Coolant Pressure
Engine Oil Pressure
Transmission Oil Pressure
Clutch Pressure
Air Start Pressure
Injection Control Pressure

TEMPERATURE
Engine Coolant Temp
Engine Intercooler Temp
Engine Oil Temperature 1
Transmission Oil Temperature
Turbo Oil Temperature
Fuel Temperature
Intake Manifold 1 Temp
Air Inlet Temp.
Exhaust Gas Temp
Auxiliary Temp 1
Engine ECU Temp
Exhaust Gas Port 1 Temp
Exhaust Gas Port 2 Temp
Turbo 1 Compressor Inlet Temp

PERCENTAGE
Fuel Level
Acceleration Position
Throttle Position
Engine Oil Level
Coolant Level
Estimated % Fan Speed
Drivers Demand % Torque
Actual Engine % Torque
Torque Use at RPM

SPEED
Input Shaft Speed
Output Shaft Speed
Engine Speed
Turbo 1 Speed
Engine Desired Operating Speed
Navigation Wheel based Vehicle Speed

TIME
Total Engine Hours
Trip Engine Hours
Service Hours

MISC
Torque Convertor Lock-Up Engaged
Current Gear
Selected Gear
CANTX Disable

FAULTS (SUSPECT PARAETER NUMBER) AVAILABLE WITH RELEVANT MESSAGE SUCH AS TOO HIGH/TOO LOW.)
Engine coolant pressure
Accelerator Pedal Position
Engine Load
Fuel pressure
Fuel level
Water in fuel
Engine Oil level
Engine Oil filter differential pressure
Engine Oil pressure
Boost Pressure
Intake manifold temperature
Air inlet pressure
Barometric pressure
Engine coolant Temperature
Coolant level
Transmission oil pressure
Crankcase pressure
Battery voltage - switched
Battery voltage - actual
Exhaust temperature
Fuel temperature
Engine oil temperature
Transmission oil temperature
Fuel rate
Engine speed
Total Engine hours
Total Fuel used
Auxiliary Temperature #1
Navigation Based Vehicle speed
Engine speed sensor
Timing Sensor
ECU 8V DC Supply
5 Volt DC Supply
Engine Fuel metering

WOW!

I guess if you can live with out the preflight checklist you can save yourself about $1200.

WOW! Talk about comprehensive info-getters. Like Ed McMahon used to reply to Johnny's info-spiels; "EVERYTHING you wanna know about your truck, is in these boxes!!!" Anybody dare say, "Wrong, Diesel-breath"? I think not.....
Gary

Hey Alan, you mentioned the unit was $400, did that include the GEM software?

Got to play around a little with the VMS last weekend and it is awesome to have all of that data available if you desire to monitor a certain aspect of the motor.

Primarily I monitored HP, Torque, trans temp, coolant temp, and MPG.

Love the trip info and now I can track MPG, this trip it was 8.6

I am adding some trim to the unit tonight and will take some photos of the install.

quote:

Love the trip info and now I can track MPG, this trip it was 8.6
I am adding some trim to the unit tonight and will take some photos of the install.

I can't remember what you said you got at last report, but the mileage should be getting better as you go. Is this happening?
Are you talking about some SS trim like you did on the last one? If so it oughtta look good, as I thought it added a touch of class without being overdone. Looking forward to the pix.....
Gary

Should have clarified that, interior trim. I added a bunch more of the wood grain pieces that Freightliner left out. Really looks nice.

The unit on top of the dash is my Garmin StreetPilot 7200. Nice big screen.

The VMS unit is next to the AC vent in the middle, perfect place for it.

Looks good! A place for all, and all in place!
BTW, was the mileage improved?

quote:

Originally posted by Warpath:
Hey Alan, you mentioned the unit was $400, did that include the GEM software?

I had the same question and asked for pricing confirmation earlier this week. I'll let you know. (If it doesn't include the GEM software and is just the display, it's of little use to the common truck owner.)

BTW, thanks for sharing pics of your dash. What is the six-lobed knob below your backup monitor for?

That is where I had my XM unit. I never used it, always monitor the CB.

I need to try to get that off very carefully with out ruining the dash in anyway.