Ecoroute HD price drop - Again

Haven't been around for a while and wasn't sure what this is.. for all who care or need to know!

Flip

Transforms compatible Garmin nuvi into a real time diagnostic computer to help you conserve fuel & money through fuel efficiency navigation
Transform your compatible nüvi into a Real-time diagnostic Computer with ecoRoute HD. This easy-to-install device not only provides fuel and mileage reports, but you get more accurate fuel consumption/conservation Data by tapping into your vehicle's diagnostic system. Calculate your carbon footprint, engine performance and more all through your nüvi.

With ecoRoute HD, you not only save fuel, but the vehicle diagnosing capabilities could also save a trip to the mechanic. After completing a simple setup, you can use your nüvi to run diagnostic testing on vehicle systems, such as the Battery and drive train, and you can Monitor engine data, including temperature and emissions. You'll also receive diagnostic trouble codes and be able to reset your check engine light.
•Compatible with Garmin nuvi 1260, 1370, 1390, 1490, 1690 series

Just got another alert that now it's down to $87! Garmin has dropped the MSPR to $100 so maybe I'll wait just a bit longer before I jump in.

I had no idea the price would drop so quickly. And I thought I got a deal when I bought it for $130 7 weeks ago.

I think the huge turn-off was, they didn't include the required FW for the EcoRoute nuvi's. My 775T is one that has it. Instead, they want me to buy a new unit. That won't happen.

Price drops look like the smartphone are indeed hitting the GPS market below the belt. expect to see all major players starting to adjust to the market trend. Never thought I would be saying this this soon.

I got mine a few weeks ago for $80 (Brand new + free shipping) off of an eBay auction....thought it was a good deal so I jumped on it. Now I see that the MSRP has dropped to $100, and I've seen them now on-line at a few places for around $85, so I still think it was a good deal.

So far, I'm really enjoying it.... it may not be for everyone, but for me (Car Geek), it's a great tool.
Beside being able to see how my hand-held tuner affects performance/mileage, I discovered I had a problem with my CAI (Cold Air Intake) on my truck - it had become disconnected behind the radiator, and I hadn't noticed it(intake temp is one of the parameter it monitors - my intake temps never dropped below 100 degrees!).

I'm now getting almost two more miles per gallon on the truck (last two fill-ups, that's significant!)...don't know if it's the CAI fix, or that I'm driving with a lighter foot (you can really see how your gas mileage is affected by your right foot in real-time), but if I'm careful, the thing will pay for itself...
Like I said: not for everyone, but I'm glad I got mine.
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This would really be worth it to me if the OBDII "Freeze Frame" & streaming data, and fault codes were able to be displayed along with the normal features. I have written firmware for scan-tools in my past and this would be a great little gadget to look at these data too.

So does it not display fault codes at all? Or only not simultaneously with streaming data?

Please add some more detail to your statement.

Thanks,
Daniel

I stand corrected - The manual indicates that some of these features may be present, but it does not go into any great amount of detail.

http://www8.garmin.com/manuals/ecoRouteHD_Supplement_EN-FR_....

It just occurred to me that the vehicle manufacturers probably never intended for a device to be always connected to the OBDII connector. I wonder if leaving something like ecoroute HD in place permanently could have any negative impact on the car's computers.

That same question could be asked of the ScanGaugeII, etc.

Why would you think it would be a problem to have a display device continually connected to the OBDII port?

What I want to know is if you can use a port splitter cable so you can keep an OBDII device connected and still leave an open port for maintenance/inspection purposes.

For example:
http://www.amazon.com/Cable-J1962M-2-J1962F-Splitter-145802/...

My understanding is that one device will take priority over the other... which would negate the purpose of having the spare port.

Ok, I didn't realize the other devices out there were also permanent installs. I thought they were just for checking error codes.

Only because OBDII may not have been designed to be used that way and thus not tested for bugs in that application. Though these bugs, if they existed, probably would have shown up by now with so many installed devices out there.

I have no idea, but if I had to guess I'd say that OBDII probably isn't savvy enough to deal with multiple simultaneous connections.

Certainly someone who is more familiar with the OBDII design spec would be better qualified to answer our questions.

It's 'savvy' plenty.

Most new vehicles use CAN busses and OBDII talks/polls the computers through it.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Controller_area_network

I've read that 2008 and newer vehicles employ the CAN bus.

Do you know if the CAN bus will allow multiple OBD II devices to operate simultaneously?

I want to leave my ecoRoute HD connected and still leave a port open for maintenance or inspection purposes. Otherwise, using a port splitter is of no benefit if I still have to crawl underneath the dash and disconnect the ecoRoute HD (or ScanGauge II, etc.) in order to allow the shop or the inspector to have access to the OBD II port.

With OBDII readers hitting $50 this may bring the price even lower.

Sounds tempting, but I can't justify the cost in my head. the only thing I would use it for is to read/reset my check engine light. which i can get done at the local Auto zone for free.

I have read the info on the site and it says that the Ecoroute will work with a Nuvi 250W Has anyone any real world experiences? Does it work? I have a 2003 Caravan and I'm not sure if that plug is modern enough to make the connection.

Bob

Ecoroute is software on the GPS which has little to do with the plugin for the OBD port. The HD, which plugs into the OBDII port only communicates with some of the 1XXX units. It doesn't talk to your 250.

Don't you love the way they confuse the issue with similar feature/hardware names?

EDIT Check here. https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?pID=38354#productTab

Interesting that none of the newest models other than the 1695 (22xx, 23xx, 37xx) are listed as compatible. It makes you wonder if Ecoroute HD has the same fate as the MP3 player, FM transmitter, line-in jack and other useful features that seem to disappear on new models.

I have never played with EcoRoute - it's not on my units. From what I've read in the past it was/is full of problems in it's routing. I understand it used to determine that anytime you could average about 40 MPH (which is one of the more efficient speeds as far as fuel economy) it would route you to use only those roads that didn't exceed this by much. That meant instead of maintaining a steady speed on the interstate it would take you on city streets with all the stop and go of traffic lights and idling. Is this still the case?

This will give you a quick summary. http://www8.garmin.com/buzz/ecoroute/ .I like the reports you can get from it.They work even if you don't pick less fuel.

Streets & trips will give you pretty much the same thing. The only thing it won't do is read the data from the GPS, but it will calculate costs based on fuel price and route mileage.

I guess I might need to upgrade my GARMIN once again. That will make four units I will own. I only have two vehicles and a bike but I might be looking for an RV and it will need a GPS for sure.

Too bad that that the 250W isn't on the list for Ecoroute.

Bob

Note that this thread is about the Ecoroute HD accessory, NOT the built in feature called Ecoroute

Good point. I have to wonder why Garmin named the HD device the ecoRoute HD. It might have minimized confusion if they had given it some unrelated name.

Seems there are some problems so this is a way quietly get rid of problematic feature, same as in case of FM transmitter and MP3 player...

On Garmin's website they have a 20% off promotion running now using the code FALL20 at checkout. You can get the Garmin Mechanic with ecoRoute™ HD for $79.99

This is still the case on my 3490LMT.

I had bought the ecoroute without the hd receiver for $8. It took me on smaller roads/ shorter paths instead of taking the highway when i set it to best fuel economy.

You might have to have a closer look in nuRoute/Navigation/Automobile. There you will find Calculation Mode. The setting in there will effect the route your Garmin chooses.

Since I have a Scangauge II, I don't think the Ecoroute HD would give me more info than I can get from SGII. I can get the cost per mile/km average fuel consumption for yesterday and today, , the current fuel consumption fuel used per hour and many other functions including resetting fault codes from the vehicle system.

In fact the SGII has functions I have not even explored and also has the capability to create your own digital outputs, I have made one to read the automatic transmission fluid temperature.