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Oct 20, 2017 19:35:51 GMT
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Hi guys,
With the level of tune on my Saab I feel it would be worthwhile to install a wideband air/fuel gauge.
I know AEM is the one to go for, and I probably will go for, but was wondering what the quality differences are between the £30 eBay specials and the AEM one.
Are there any other makes that are good as well? Was also looking at a Stack one.
Cheers guys.
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Oct 20, 2017 20:08:31 GMT
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I only have experience of one.
I had a read up on what was popular, Innovate was one of the most common names but most searches revealed people having problems. My cousin fitted Innovate and it failed, they replaced it and some time later it failed again and he gave up.
I'd read good reviews about PLX so gave theirs a go.
I got the complete setup including Bosch sensor from them, bought on Amazon for £170. The only thing not included was the sensor boss to weld to the exhaust, working for an exhaust manufacturing company meant that wasnt a problem although they are very cheap and easy to get anyway.
Anyway, its great, it has a touch screen, nice functions such as sensor health, reaction time etc. You can display a rolling graph or digits, as well as a ring of LEDs to save actually looking at it. The screen resolution is great.
I had a problem (or thought I did, should have read the bumf better) and contacted their email help in the USA. The gauge just stopped displaying. I got in touch at what I believe would be night time over there and within a short time they replied, couldnt have been more helpful. They advised a few checks but said basically occassionally it might need a reset like any smart device, a few seconds of reset procedure and it was fine again. They asked how I was getting on, I told them and asked if its normal, they said yes, but any problems just get in touch. I told them I was very happy with the customer service and would recommend them to others and they thanked me and sent me a code for money off any other product.
In summary, PLX is not the cheapest but great product and great customer service.
I had worried that I wouldnt get the service as the Amazon seller was in Lithuania I think it was but it didnt make any difference.
If you go for another brand (especially Innovate) have a good search on the net for peoples experiences.
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Oct 20, 2017 20:57:37 GMT
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Still learning...still spending...still breaking things!
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Oct 20, 2017 21:43:48 GMT
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I had a read up on what was popular, Innovate was one of the most common names but most searches revealed people having problems. My cousin fitted Innovate and it failed, they replaced it and some time later it failed again and he gave up. I'd read good reviews about PLX so gave theirs a go. In my research I’d initially done the name Innovate kept cropping up with mixed reviews. I’ve had a look at the PLX website and that looks a very trick bit of kit! The reason I was also looking at Stack was I was thinking of getting one of their boost gauges as my TIM one is rattling it’s nuts off on boost now.
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Oct 20, 2017 22:18:58 GMT
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I had a read up on what was popular, Innovate was one of the most common names but most searches revealed people having problems. My cousin fitted Innovate and it failed, they replaced it and some time later it failed again and he gave up. I'd read good reviews about PLX so gave theirs a go. In my research I’d initially done the name Innovate kept cropping up with mixed reviews. I’ve had a look at the PLX website and that looks a very trick bit of kit! The reason I was also looking at Stack was I was thinking of getting one of their boost gauges as my TIM one is rattling it’s nuts off on boost now. Well, last year also I bought a Stack boost gauge from Merlin Motorsport and it failed within two months! Sent it back to Merlin and they refunded me after it was tested by Stack and indeed it was faulty. I was rather disappointed. So, fed up I bought a cheap Bosch gauge (made in China) and it seems o.k. but probably won't last - thus my imterest in the AEM boost gauge. Still I like the look of the Bosch Style Line range. www.boschperformance.com/products/style-line-2-mechanical-vacuumboost-gauge-black-face-fst-8213
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Last Edit: Oct 20, 2017 22:29:29 GMT by Woofwoof
Still learning...still spending...still breaking things!
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froggy
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,099
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Oct 21, 2017 13:04:47 GMT
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Knock led will be more useful ,
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Oct 21, 2017 13:50:56 GMT
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I have an AEM and its what my Mapper uses, he did use Innovate years ago but has used AEM as they're more reliable.
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luckyseven
Posted a lot
Owning sneering dismissive pedantry since 1970
Posts: 3,839
Club RR Member Number: 45
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Wideband Air/Fuel gaugesluckyseven
@luckyseven
Club Retro Rides Member 45
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Oct 21, 2017 15:09:19 GMT
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I had Innovate standalone on my RX-7 and it was OK... a lot more robust than internet horror stories would have you believe but certainly not 100% reliable either. It every so often just lost its mind and displayed error codes you couldn't clear without plugging in a totally different lambda sensor and letting it re-calibrate.
The actual Lambda probe was supposed to last about ten seconds mounted where I did (about eight inches away from turbo rotary furnace death) but in actual fact it survived well over a couple of years before finally burning out. However, if I knew then what I know now then I'd have bought an AEM, they certainly seem a lot less precious and emotional than Innovate
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keyring
Part of things
Posts: 913
Club RR Member Number: 47
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Wideband Air/Fuel gaugeskeyring
@keyring
Club Retro Rides Member 47
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Oct 21, 2017 18:54:58 GMT
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I run an innovate one on my vrT, and I’ve had quite a few issues with it going into error, which could be down to having it much too close to the turbo, I really need to get a new sensor, but feel it’s a waste of money until I move the position.
But yeah it does make me wonder if some of the errors / being temperamental is a common issue reading from what people have said on here.
Another plus point I’ve read for the AEM one is it doesn’t require fresh air to recalibrate....
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Oct 21, 2017 19:02:44 GMT
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Another plus point I’ve read for the AEM one is it doesn’t require fresh air to recalibrate.... Correct, that was one of the selling points for me. And iirc, AEM recommend that the lambda sensor is mounted at least 18''/450 mm downstream from the exhaust port.
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Last Edit: Oct 21, 2017 19:11:25 GMT by Woofwoof
Still learning...still spending...still breaking things!
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keyring
Part of things
Posts: 913
Club RR Member Number: 47
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Wideband Air/Fuel gaugeskeyring
@keyring
Club Retro Rides Member 47
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Oct 21, 2017 19:21:37 GMT
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Another plus point I’ve read for the AEM one is it doesn’t require fresh air to recalibrate.... Correct, that was one of the selling points for me. And iirc, AEM recommend that the lambda sensor is mounted at least 18''/450 mm downstream from the exhaust port. I thought that was the case, I wish I had looked into them a bit more before buying... Sure mine is only about 10’’ from the turbo which I think has contributed massively to it only lasting 12-15k
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ChasR
RR Helper
motivation
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Wideband Air/Fuel gaugesChasR
@chasr
Club Retro Rides Member 170
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I've been debating getting an AEM for a while. This has not helped. I prefer the clarity of the Stack and Innovate however.
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adam73bgt
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 4,939
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Member is Online
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Wideband Air/Fuel gaugesadam73bgt
@adam73bgt
Club Retro Rides Member 58
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Oct 22, 2017 12:54:37 GMT
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I've been running an AEM wideband gauge in my RX7 for a while now and I've had no issues with it at all, seems to read reliably and is pretty easy to read on the move
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scimjim
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 1,503
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Wideband Air/Fuel gaugesscimjim
@scimjim
Club Retro Rides Member 8
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Oct 22, 2017 21:11:36 GMT
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check which version of innovate you’re reading reviews of - the ONE had problems, I’ve gone for the TWO as it’s meant to be much better.
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I've got a AEM failsafe AFR/boost gauge and it's been faultless. A few of the lads on club polo had issues with their innovate AFR failing after a short while which put me off when I was looking into which gauge to get.
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Last Edit: Oct 23, 2017 6:33:13 GMT by roccoguy
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Oct 23, 2017 12:39:44 GMT
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I've had two Innovate LC-1 systems on different cars. One for more than 10 years now. No issues.
They suffered a bad rep early on as the 2 x 0-5v analogue outputs weren't protected and were very easy to kill. This was fixed years ago.
LC-1 package doesn't include a dash display (though can easily be connected) - mine are connected direct to MS ECU. Never understood why the wideband displays (which are basically glorified 0 - 5v voltmeters) cost so much.
Nick
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1967 Triumph Vitesse convertible (old friend) 1996 Audi A6 2.5 TDI Avant (still durability testing) 1972 GT6 Mk3 (Restored after loong rest & getting the hang of being a car again)
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ChasR
RR Helper
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Posts: 10,251
Club RR Member Number: 170
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Wideband Air/Fuel gaugesChasR
@chasr
Club Retro Rides Member 170
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Oct 23, 2017 20:46:27 GMT
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Response times might be something to do with it. I know my £30 multimeter isn't as quick to respond to changes as my dad's Fluke. I also know which one costs more.....
That said, mine can do dwell angles and be a tachometer which can come in very handy.
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Last Edit: Oct 23, 2017 20:47:01 GMT by ChasR
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Oct 23, 2017 23:54:17 GMT
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Cheers for the info guys! Invaluable as ever! The AEM is defiantly winning my favour at the minute. It’s a shame their boost gauges are digital ones. I love old school needle dials or flashy LEDs, but not 7 bar digit readouts. Knock led will be more useful , I never even knew such a thing existed until I stuck what you said into google. That’s ingenious! I will have to read a bit more about it though as I have a T7 and it looks like it’s only for a T5.
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Last Edit: Oct 23, 2017 23:54:48 GMT by MiniDan
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