I just bought an autometer air/fuel ratio gauge, and was wondering if I would be better off running right off the O2 sensor, or if there is a wire that is up by the ECU that I can just tap into? Ideas would be great...thanks guys

 

Just go off the sensor, purple wire after the plug.

Just curious, why did you get one? They just sweep back and forth... endlessly.

a WB is a different story

 

eh, looks kinda cool, and I got a hell of a deal on it from a friend. He bought it, and then ended up selling his car, so he sold it to me for $45 un-opened.

 

yeah, I could only see one as a tuning aide on an older car. for example my E21 has a bosch k jettronic system with a lambda sensor... people used to use A/F gauges on them to help tune, then remove it. honestly a good voltmeter can do the same job.

 

True, unless you do it right and get a WB, all you're paying for is a light show,

But if you aren't planning on going crazy with the performance mods you won't
really have a need for the WB. You're still running stock power right?

 

Pretty much, I got a CAI, but thats it for now. I plan on getting the basics done, I/E, Header, and probably GM Stg 2, and Lightweight flywheel.

 

THe mods you have planned are all fairly safe, so they shouldn't require any real attention to A/F ratio. With that you'd be okay running the narrowband light show,,, they do look cool, lol

But if you intend to go beyond the GM stage 2 at all, you'll want to either spend the money for proper tuning, or buy the WB so you'll know where you are.

I plan on buying the AEM uego when I do Header/exhaust and HPtuners eventually

 

I got it for a cheap price, i figured wth. If I do go more, I will go with a wide band, but that would be atleast a year if not a lil more.

So am I better off going right off the o2 sensor then? Look for a purple wire?

 

As long as you are sticking with GM tuning, you should be fine.

But if you end up getting it tuned, you NEED a wb.

That being said. I have my NB guage hooked up to my WB lc-1 and it does give very accurate reading, but that's because ! nought a WB sensor and controller that has multiple analog outputs

 

Some people have done something similar, buying the WB sensor and controller, then using one of the analog inputs on the Interceptor gauge to display the ratio.

But the controller and sensor combined is most of the cost of the UEGO isn't it? Last time I looked the cheapest you could get a good sensor and controller for was about $250. And for ~$300 for the UEGO you might as well just get that IMHO.

 

Negative. You can get the Innovate LC-1 for $170 and is, as far as I know, the best on the market. 2 programable anolog outputs, (I programmed 1 to replicate stock I2 sensor so I didnt have to weld in a bung) and a serial out for pure digital signal for loging on your computer (THe ONLY wb that has that iirc) and yea, only $170 and the controller itself is VERY small compared to some others I have seen.

 

That's actually not too bad at all, so that's $170 for the controller and sensor? If so I might go that way and pick up a NB gauge for display. Should come in about $100 or so cheaper than the UEGO if that's the case.

 

well, you can get the AEM UEGO for $240, and that has a guage. But the gauge sticks out about 5/8" so it is hideous.

The gauge is pretty pointless, as you can just use your computer to log AFR with the supplied logworks software, or HPTuners. Who really cares abot AFR once your car is good and tuned. I bought the gauge for the light show! granted my light show does give me some useful information, it's not 1/100th as useful as the logs onthe laptop

 

I've got the aem wideband and it comes with it's own o2 sensor... I must say it's a pretty nice guage.

 

i looked under my hood, and i found 3 purple wires. which one do i use?

 

hey man i got the same one. mines the cobalt series. and dont listen to what other dudes say cus i got dogged on because it wasnt WB. you obviously bought it because it looks good just like the ppl who buy things to make their balts look good with no obvious advantage!

i ran mine in the bundle of wires by the exhuast. there was only 1 pink wire there.

 

i ran mine in the bundle of wires by the exhuast. there was only 1 pink wire there.[/QUOTE]

what bundle of wires by the exhuast, where is that at?

 

what bundle of wires by the exhuast, where is that at?[/QUOTE]

ill take a pic of it of it tom. its snowing out. but its right by the exhaust manifold.

 

ill take a pic of it of it tom. its snowing out. but its right by the exhaust manifold.[/QUOTE]

ok thats cool.

 

i looked for the purple wire after the plug, and i found 3 purple wires, which one do i use? please help!!!!!!!!!

 

do you or anyone you know, have pictures of how to wire up a air/fuel gauge. without getting a wideband sensor, just wireing?

 

Without using a Wideband sensor and controller, all you would be able to do is rig up a light show.

If you just want the gauge to look cool, than you can use an autozone gauge with a narrow band sensor, but like I said, without a WB hooked up the A/F numbers will be all but useless... i.e. Light Show

 

yea thats what it is kinda mainly for lol. but im getting an auto meter c2 gauge from jegs. but what wires do i need to hook up besides a power and ground?

 

You should have another wire for an input signal, which would typically come from the WB controller output. I don't know if you can use the signal from the stock O2 sensor or not,,, but if that does work it would do nothing but give you a light show if you are lucky.

 

which color wire is for the stock o2 sensor, just incase i do hook it up like that. i heard it was purple with white stripe, but all i have is 3 purple wires from the ecu under the hood. so if i dont wire the input signal wire i wont have power to my gauge?