Garmin Ecoroute HD - tested

airmon · **Joined:** Mon May 23, 2011 2:25 pm **Posts:** 19

Hi all,
I'm a noob here -this is my first Jeep ( though I've driven various ones a fair bit ) and first diesel. We just bought a very clean '06 CRD w/ 40k last weekend to replace a front wheel drive Escape that was having difficulty getting my '23 Carolina Skiff up launching ramps. After reading a few reviews of the CRD, we were a little afraid that it would be too noisy, but that fear vanished when we drove one. Sure, a little noisier than a V-6 gasser, but not bad. I can't believe Car and Driver are such whiners about a little clatter. My wife has thought the Liberty was cute since they came out, so she got a cute 'Ute that gets good mileage and I got a diesel that pulls the boat really well. Everybody wins!

I'm learning a lot from the members of the forum - Thanks! I've already pulled the Viscous Heater relay ( not a lot of call for heat down here in the Florida Keys....) and am planning on inspecting the CAC hoses, cleaning the MAP and am looking at a CCV filter of some sort. More on that in a bit.

I needed to have some trailer work done, so I towed the boat about 20 miles to a yard. My Escape was a V-6 and never really had much problem once I got on the road, but you can feel the torque of the diesel. On the way, I crossed the 7-mile bridge into a 15-20 mph headwind. With the aero drag of the boat and the headwind I was dipping pretty deep into the throttle going up the grade at the center span of the bridge when the CEL came on. The truck continued to operate normally as far as I could tell. I dropped the boat off to have the work done and half a day later the CEL turned off.

Concerned, I needed to know more about the CEL and recognized this as an opportunity to buy a cool tool/toy. :mrgreen:

I had already loaded Garmin Mechanic application ( free at the Android Market) on my Motorola Xoom Android tablet, so I ordered anEcoroute HD from Amazon for $87. The alternative seemed to be Torque ( another Android application $4.75 at the Android Market ) and a $49 bluetooth OBDII reader of indeterminate quality. Torque (the free version ) wouldn't run right on my tablet, so the choice was pretty simple, though I may go back for the other OBDII reader to use with my PC. Here's another review of the Ecoroute and the Android software from Cnet that has some pictures.

It would appear that Garmin does not yet have an IOS version of Mechanic, so iPad and iPhone users should hold off or find another option. I have an iPhone, so I'll be doing some reading on this and see what alternatives I can find.

It was easy to hook up, though on all of the cars I tried it on, the OBD port in a fairly convenient location under the dash, but the Ecoroute ends up sticking straight down where the driver's legs and feet would be and there isn't anywhere to tuck the end in range of the 4" wire. The CRD OBDII port is next to the center console, so I was able to get it out of the way but the cable still sticks down and could easily be kicked. Not ideal.

This could be fixed with a short right angle extension cable ( $17 online ) so the cable doesn't stick straight down and you'd have enough cable to find somewhere to stash the bluetooth end of the Ecoroute, which is about the size of a pack of cigarettes sliced in half the long way. Also, it wants the bluetooth pairing code ( 1234 - not in the documentation, BTW ) entered each time I connect. That may not been an issue with a Garmin navigation system, but it looks like something I'll have to do each time I use it with my Android tablet.

The mechanic software can show graphs of speed and fuel consumption, selectable virtual gauges ( RPM, coolant temp, etc. ) skidpad data ( seems like it's taken from the accelerometer on the tablet, not the OBDII interface ), a screen that has shift and redline lights and one for OBDII diagnostics. It can read the codes and reset the CEL.

So far, it works as designed on the two gas cars I've tried it on ( my '97 Honda Civic and a neighbor's BMW 325ci ) and some functions work on my CRD. The real time fuel consumption did not work well on the CRD, showing inconsistent and unlikely numbers ( I doubt I was getting 10 mpg steady state at 45 mph ), but the other, non fuel-related functions seem to work. The MAP showed a peak of 32 psi when accelerating, coolant temp, MAF and RPM worked fine. Once this morning it seemed to stop sending data which required a restart of the car and the application to clear up. I'll update if that keeps happening.

I'd say that if you're getting it to help you save fuel on your CRD, it's not worth it, though it might be on a gas vehicle. However, for all of the other functions AND OBDII codes, I think it was better than a simple code reader for not much more.

My trouble code was a P0299 ( turbo underboost ) and as noted above, I'll be cleaning the MAP and inspecting the CAC hoses. I don't think I have a turbo problem since I can see boost pressure building with just a touch of the throttle, which seems unlikely if the bearings were bad. Without the boat and the headwind I can't stay on the throttle for too long without speeding becoming a factor so I have been unable to replicate the incident. Perhaps this evening when I pick up the boat and take it home.

Anyhow, when I searched LOSTjeeps I found a thread on the Ecoroute HD but I didn't see any conclusions. I thought I'd report back and try to contribute a little knowledge.

Squeeto · **Posted:** Wed May 25, 2011 1:02 pm

We have a kludged OBDII system for '06 and most readers fail in "all time" operation. You will have to let us know how many issues you have with the Ecoroute HD.

geordi · **Posted:** Wed May 25, 2011 4:11 pm

You WILL continue to have that software crash-out which will require a reboot of the car to cure. It will take different amounts of time to happen, and sometimes will cause the transmission to violently dump out of overdrive without warning. The best bet is to use any scanner (or device like a Scangauge or your Ecoroute) only intermittently with the CRD.

The problem is how the data bus is created on our CRDs. All using the same cables, we have the engine computer speaking Bosch language, the Transmission computer speaking an older Mopar, the ABS, Body computer, wireless control module, tire pressure module, all speaking a NEWER Mopar... Its a mess. It is difficult to get ANY scanner to truly play nice with the entire system.

I have one of the more advanced scanners around (that isn't a Green Diesel Engineering tuner / scanner OR the Mopar-designed DRB3 scanner) in the AutoEnginuity scanner with the Enhanced Chrysler add-on. This allows me to "inspect" hundreds of sensors and data points... But to manipulate exactly none of them. I can't even change the headlight timing with that $500 thing, b/c they designed it as a "Look-but-no-touching" kind of scanner. That said... It is the only one that allows me to keep logging while driving, and NOT throw the computers into a hissy fit.

I believe this is because the AutoEnginuity is a "passive' member of the data bus, only watching the stream but not trying to interrupt the flow. The Scangauge (and others like it) are not as passive, injecting themselves into the "conversation" on the cables which eventually annoys the timing of the rest of the systems. The result is a data collision, and the system either kicks the offender out and blocks it (what you experienced) OR throws the transmission out of gear b/c the transmission was the one that got kicked off the system.

Either way, the result is not what you want. If you are interested in the AutoEnginuity scanner, shoot me a PM. I'm still mulling the idea of selling it, b/c I want something that allows me to change the options in the system like the Vag-Com did for my VW Jetta TDI.

BTW: Welcome to the forum! I'm located in either Boca Raton or Savannah for when you need a timing belt... And if you get up to the mainland and need a QUALIFIED shop that has experienced the CRD (mine) I can suggest a good honest shop in Deerfield Beach that I've been going to for 20 years now.

Joe Romas · **Posted:** Thu May 26, 2011 6:43 am

Adding to what gordi says besides having controlers speaking every known language except Latin there are TWO master controlers on the CRD's :5SHOTS:

The TCM and ECM and most of the time the TCM is content to take second place :juggle:

On the 06's the ESP adds to the fun :BANANA:

But it's a delicate balance and polling from any outside device will cause problems in less then 30 minutes of driving it they work that long :JEEPIN:

DOC4444 · **Posted:** Thu May 26, 2011 8:02 am

If your low boost is not leaking hoses, check the turbo actuator. These lose range of motion without always completely failing. A VAGCOM will allow you to see how low your boost is.

DOC

jinstall · **Posted:** Sat May 28, 2011 8:25 am

Dam you Doc, lol, Iwas going to suggest the VAGCOM, the only thing that has worked on my CRD. Well that and every kid in the neighborhoods VW, lol.

Joe Romas · **Posted:** Sat May 28, 2011 8:45 am

jinstall wrote:

Dam you Doc, lol, Iwas going to suggest the VAGCOM, the only thing that has worked on my CRD. Well that and every kid in the neighborhoods VW, lol.

But even our beloved VAGCOM has problems communicating after a few minutes of driving :banghead:

Garmin Ecoroute HD - tested

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