a/f guage.
Thread Starter
Registered Member
Joined: Jan 2007
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From: highland springs va
a/f guage.
i just installed one in my civic. i hooked everything up right according to the directions it came with. but when i drive the car it is all the way over to the lean side and when i floor it the light gets brighter but when i drive normally the light stays dim. anybody know what could cause this?
Racetracks
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 15,668
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From: How long is a piece of string?
Re: a/f guage.
Sounds like you have a power or ground problem with the gauge, and the difference in voltage with engine RPM is making it brighter or dimmer. No idea. It should sweep from lean to rich more than once a second if it's working properly, except under fairly heavy throttle.
My advice on how to fix it:
Sell it.
You have a narrowband O2 sensor, and a narrowband gauge isn't really good for anything except entertainment. I won't bore you with the technical details of how the O2 sensor is read by the ECU, but take it on faith that the O2 sensor isn't very accurate. Any reading off of an inaccurate sensor is inherently an inaccurate reading. I'll explain why it sweeps back and forth from lean to rich like a metronome at part throttle if you want, it's boring but you may be interested.
If you want an actual idea of what your A/F ratio is, you'll need a wideband O2 sensor and gauge. Not cheap, but if you want meaningful data than that is what you get.
My advice on how to fix it:
Sell it.
You have a narrowband O2 sensor, and a narrowband gauge isn't really good for anything except entertainment. I won't bore you with the technical details of how the O2 sensor is read by the ECU, but take it on faith that the O2 sensor isn't very accurate. Any reading off of an inaccurate sensor is inherently an inaccurate reading. I'll explain why it sweeps back and forth from lean to rich like a metronome at part throttle if you want, it's boring but you may be interested.
If you want an actual idea of what your A/F ratio is, you'll need a wideband O2 sensor and gauge. Not cheap, but if you want meaningful data than that is what you get.
Thread Starter
Registered Member
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 613
Likes: 0
From: highland springs va
Re: a/f guage.
i was hoping you would chime in. haha you seem to know your shit in every other thread. i just had it laying around and got bored so i figured i would hook it up.
1.6L Elitist
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,207
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From: NOVA
Re: a/f guage.
Sounds like you have a power or ground problem with the gauge, and the difference in voltage with engine RPM is making it brighter or dimmer. No idea. It should sweep from lean to rich more than once a second if it's working properly, except under fairly heavy throttle.
My advice on how to fix it:
Sell it.
You have a narrowband O2 sensor, and a narrowband gauge isn't really good for anything except entertainment. I won't bore you with the technical details of how the O2 sensor is read by the ECU, but take it on faith that the O2 sensor isn't very accurate. Any reading off of an inaccurate sensor is inherently an inaccurate reading. I'll explain why it sweeps back and forth from lean to rich like a metronome at part throttle if you want, it's boring but you may be interested.
If you want an actual idea of what your A/F ratio is, you'll need a wideband O2 sensor and gauge. Not cheap, but if you want meaningful data than that is what you get.
My advice on how to fix it:
Sell it.
You have a narrowband O2 sensor, and a narrowband gauge isn't really good for anything except entertainment. I won't bore you with the technical details of how the O2 sensor is read by the ECU, but take it on faith that the O2 sensor isn't very accurate. Any reading off of an inaccurate sensor is inherently an inaccurate reading. I'll explain why it sweeps back and forth from lean to rich like a metronome at part throttle if you want, it's boring but you may be interested.
If you want an actual idea of what your A/F ratio is, you'll need a wideband O2 sensor and gauge. Not cheap, but if you want meaningful data than that is what you get.
A narrowband gauge is fairly useful for an acid trip, but thats about all.
Slammedxpert
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 6,825
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From: Virginia Beach
Fitty Tuckin
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 12,375
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From: VA's West Side - 540
Re: a/f guage.
You can connect a/f gauge to a wideband. But there really is no point when the wideband already comes with a gauge.
My car came with a a/f gauge, I just keep it hooked up for the light show.
My car came with a a/f gauge, I just keep it hooked up for the light show.
Retired OG
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 6,398
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From: The OC, Cali
Re: a/f guage.
Are you using the Auto meter A/F??? If so, its worthless. In my opinion, A/F gauge is only for cars that is Boosted or serious All-Motor setup. If you just have a car with just intake & exhaust, its worthless. Plus those Auto meter A/F gauge are garbage.Nothing but a pretty color display. The best are the wideband ones. AEM,Greddy, Etc...
Fitty Tuckin
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 12,375
Likes: 0
From: VA's West Side - 540
Re: a/f guage.
Are you using the Auto meter A/F??? If so, its worthless. In my opinion, A/F gauge is only for cars that is Boosted or serious All-Motor setup. If you just have a car with just intake & exhaust, its worthless. Plus those Auto meter A/F gauge are garbage.Nothing but a pretty color display. The best are the wideband ones. AEM,Greddy, Etc...
Slammedxpert
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 6,825
Likes: 0
From: Virginia Beach
Racetracks
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 15,668
Likes: 0
From: How long is a piece of string?
Re: a/f guage.
They very often don't, that's just a common setup. I usually just log/display with a laptop because the gauges don't match anything else usually, and add a lot to the cost of the system. Once the car is tuned I really don't care what the A/F ratio is real-time.
