Scan Gauge issue

[JHarris1385]

Any idea why it would not work on a newer M Class Mercedes?

I had it connected and it would only read "connecting....." for 5-10 without any action.

I could not find a list of compatiable vehicles as I thought it was almost all if not all 1996 and on.

Scan Gauge website did not help either.

[tom4bren]

When I hooked mine up to the RV ('09 Ford E450 Chasis) it did the same thing. When I started the engine tho, it worked fine.

[JHarris1385]

I had the engine running about 10 minutes and gave up

[JHarris1385]

No other insight?

[WormGod]

Just my uneducated guess, having too many friends that drive a Merc....

Merc is VERY proprietary and their internals as well as their electronics are quite unique. Wondering if even though it is OBDII, if there is some "firewall" of sorts their ECM has in place so no tampering can be made WITHOUT an authorized Merc gauge. I know just to unlock the radio you need to have Merc access that even. I think this is the kind of reason why the Merc dealer near me is ALWAYS busy and packed with cars and full of irate customers.

Just a guess, though I can find out by giving my buddy a shout who is a tech there.

[WormGod]

TXT reply from my MB tech buddy:

"Benz does indeed lock out incoming and outgoing data and it can only be read using a proprietary SDS. Benz loves to keep people coming back for their expensive service. You even so much as pop a hood latch once, and you pretty much voided any warranty on the car."

For the record, he doesn't drive a Merc and neither do the other techs there. Imagine that, heh.

[PK]

Those German taxis are expensive heh.

PK

[JHarris1385]

Thanks WormGod...that explains it. I wonder if AutoZone would even be able to? The nearest dealer is not all that close. The car is doing fine just a pesky check engine light that came on.