I bought one recently and got it working on a Hizpo Android Head Unit in my daughter's "brand new" 2004 Scion xB.

There were a few challenges to get it going, I would call it a Bad UX (User Experience) as I almost sent it back.

I think my mistakes were: DON'T RUN THE APP until you have it PAIRED in Bluetooth.

That said, the PAIRING is WELL HIDDEN in these cheap Chinese head units: I had to look for the OBD app to make it pair, not any normal Android system settings you may find described on the internet. Of course, YMMV!

Next there were some splash screens that came up initially that had BUTTONS BELOW THE BOTTOM of the Head Unit screen!
Impossible to advance past them since you CANNOT rotate a Head Unit 90 degrees like you can a phone!
I only figured out the problem by also loading the app on a phone, where the buttons were visible in Portrait orientation.

How to get past them on the Head Unit? Luckily I keep an SIIG Wireless Mini Multimedia Trackball Keyboard (JK-WR0412-S1) handy when I set up an Android HU, so I plugged the dongle into the HU USB and it worked perfectly!
Some carefully calculated TAB keystrokes then an ENTER got me by the splash screens. And then it WORKED GREAT!

I really wanted some Temps and an Oil pressure gauge, but all we get with our xB's is ECT (Engine Coolant Temperature). So ECT Gauge and Chart, Speed, and Voltage are the gauges on my first gauge panel.

Anyone else go this far? Or further? Love to hear!

Sadly, the Ultragauge Blue product itself seems to be SERIOUSLY ORPHANED. No updates to the app since 2018, and they have closed off all their forums to new users.
They must have a cartload of them they still want to sell as long as they work for you with NO SUPPORT. Sigh.

There are a couple of posts from UltraGauge on a website for Toyota Tacomas, you can google “UltraGauge Wired versus Wireless” I believe to see them in the thread (2018 )
Apparently the mobile phone hosting the app can easily become overloaded in the Bluetooth area (my interpretation of their post) and it will not work well if that happens.

Wish there was an active community, but I guess I am late to the game!

Thanks for any Updates!

 

I have an ELM Bluetooth OBDII unit and Torque App on my phone to do all this with but yes...no oil pressure reading available on it either.
I am considering cutting 2 holes in dash next to Speedo and adding oil pressure/water temp gauges - 52mm.
Volts I get from the Dual USB charging port that replaced my cig lighter 12v and it has volt readout between the USB ports.

 

I guess it's just the two of us still tricking out our xB's! (Daughters in my case).

I am much happier about the Ultragauge Blue after tech support was able to answer my question so I have a big honkin' COOLANT gauge I hope my daughter will monitor often (wish I had an app to return Ultragauge to the screen every 5 minutes and override the music player screen).
But we can't get what is not there (Oil pressure).


Before you cut holes have you seen those (pricey!) replacements for the A pillar trim that can hold gauges?
Google Autometer Dual Pillar Gauge Pod for the 04-06 Scion xB 22682
May be others.

 

If you're looking for a pillar gauge pod you can't beat the quality of Autometer...another option.

 

Sure, have had pillar mounts on other vehicles. I just prefer the line of site next to speedo vs pillar or stereo. Staying oem t1806 on that anyway. Tricking out seems to be subjective term......what's the definition here? OEM mods count? Like adding 06.5 wheel with stereo controls, modifying spiral cable and making harness to run them using oem connections from 07 tC on my 04 since dash harness has no connections for that......

 

Hi, I like to have a way of seeing the situation with the car measurements. In live time is the best. Looks like Ultragauge Blue will do just that for an old model. This Ultragauge can be use also as a radio, for digital TV stations, and CD? Do the Space X have something similar? In my Scion xB 2004, I had install just the Voltage gauge (for $1.49). Will work from 7.5 Volt to 35 Volt DC like a voltmeter.


Here is in red color the car voltmeter. Will not take actions in case of emergency It is just an observant.

Here is the Voltmeter. in the picture. In parking with engine OFF. In driving times, displays 12.6 V to 14.5 Volts. Usually more 13.7 Volts (RMS).

 

UltraGauge Blue plugs into the OBD 2 port under your dash.
Then IN ADDITION you need to upgrade your Head Unit to an Android box.
Two separate products.
Space-X products are only compatible with Tesla vehicles I believe.
BUT tell us where you get the $1.49 Voltmeter!




Here is UltraGauge Blue plugged into OBD 2 port

 

@mrmox The voltmeter is made in Elephant Kok Tong Village, Longgang District, China. And yes, the price was with shipping. I am little embarrassed because was made with slave labor.


Here is how the Voltmeter is delivered in antistatic package. Please see the fabrication code on the plastic bag.

 

Birsan:

My voltmeter in the Android Head Unit OBDII Ultragauge App only reads when the engine is running.

I wish I could get a reading with the key off.

Do you have a switch on your voltmeter?

Thanks.

 

@mrmox, this will be an easy fix. Just connect your unit power at the position of the key ON. If you can. This will give your voltmeter voltage before you will start the engine. Then After you start the engine also will work. Or the easy way is to connect on the back of your cigaret lighting, because on my car is also connected to the ON key switch. Those attachments (accessories) are eating the battery power.
On January 2019, I had install a Supercapacitor battery in parallel with the battery. Driving every other day was OK. Then I took a vacation to Disney in Florida and left the car in the Airport at long term Terminal. When we was back the car had no power. Usually my new battery stay full (in working conditions) for 3 weeks without a Supercapacitor. So I remove the super capacitor package.

I was driving last night in South Jersey in a Corn field. There was dark and no lights from streets or other sources. I observe my voltmeter displaying 13.7 and 13.8 Volts. I had all lights on and AC in third speed (maximum) at 55 Fahrenheit. Then the Red color battery symbol has a bit coming. I do not see this if I am driving in the night time in the City streets, because they are illuminated.

Please let me know if in your Scion xB 2004 car in the night time the Battery symbol is On? ( like very low red color?)
Thank you.

 

I did a night drive just now. NEVER at any time did I see any slight illumination of the Battery Icon while driving. Only came on (fully) when motor not running.

Here is the ECU-reported voltage via UltraGauge on Android Head Unit:
Idle with headlights Normal: 13.7V
Add FOG LIGHTS : 13.4V
Freeway speed voltage came up to 13.99V

Reads 12.4 V with engine off.

Hope this helps.

I added for my daughter an UNSWITCHED power take off (cigarette lighter socket) running into the back seat area. This is for the camping scenario to be able to use accessories without the key in the ignition. I feel the need for her to have a way to notice if she is depleting the battery dangerously, and while I love the UltraGauge and Android Head Unit, they have to boot and Blue Tooth Connect just to read the voltage which is too much trouble.

I had a plug-in-the-lighter device but it was junk reading more than a volt too low vs. a real volt meter. And, even the lighter socke needs the key in as you know. That is why I thought of copying your solution but to a hot wire and adding a switch.

Until then though I bought this item and it has a reasonable voltmeter in it. I think it will serve the purpose.

Quick Charge 3.0 Cigarette Lighter Adapter, CHGeek 120W 12V/24V 3-Socket Car Power DC Outlet Splitter with 8.5A 4 USB Charging Port
Sold by: UpmaxUS

Fine for keeping phone charged... but she might run a laptop using an AC Inverter. But that may well blow the fuse in the Quick Charge 3.0.
I suppose I should test it all for her first. 8.5A *12V = 102 Watts, not considering conversion efficiency. Probably inadequate for her ipad.

 

@mrmox Hi, My voltmeter is more sensitive (no time delay). I can see the voltage of Battery before starting point, on starting point and after. Like from 12.4 V going low to 11.9 V then jumps to 14.1 V, then 13.7 Volts in idling. My Battery is a bit larger. When starting the AC, all lights on, and charger-on for 2 cell phones, the Battery voltage drop to 13.6 V. In the winter time with the electric rear window heating coil and other 500 Watts air floor heater, the battery stay between 13.3 V to 14.4 V (for some reason). I install the heating floor because here in New Jersey gets very cold days/nights in the Winter times. And I drive usually 10-15 minute (the heater cost $22 with free shipping). So, the engine not have time to heat the interior of the cabin. My Alternator is hi-output 200 Amperes (I do not need this much power but was install just in case of an emergency). What I learned that if you not get power, the computer will get wrong information from all the sensors, and then the car will show many defective codes. Also, the computer will try to correct the efficiency of the driving style that will result in failing estimates.

 

@Birsan
So your Supercapacitor was installed to try to prevent voltage droop that confused the computer?

Or some other reason?

 

The super capacitor acting like a capacitor. Help given faster than the Battery the power needed. Also, get charged faster than the Battery. The Supercapacitor, is working if the car is driving every day. If the car stay in parking, the Supercapacitor eats the Battery power slowly, slowly.