Air\Fuel Ratio Gauge

[Justin101]

i just bought a Auto Meter Air\Fuel Ratio Cobalt Series Gauge, im just wondering how hard it is to install? it came with instructions but looks confusing! is it something i can do myself or should i have my local Performance Shop install it? thx all!

 

[yamahaSHO]

You can do it yourself... You just need to tap off one of the O2 sensors or install another one. I'd personally get a wide band O2 kit before installin an A/F gauge. The narrowband gauges don't really tell you much.

 

[SASHO91]

then again you dont really need a wide band on a non modded sho. Or better yet, a heavily modded one... but i would still get one..... jason were did you get yours from? i want one too.

 

[yamahaSHO]

I got mine from www.plxdevices.com.... Josh carries them. And yes, you do need one on a heavily modded SHO. I mention a wide band because with out it... you're just in it for the light show.

 

[AutoSHO]

As Jason said, running an Air/Fuel gauge off the stock sensors is really not going to tell you any worthwile information. A wideband is an *extremely* good idea for a modified car - without it you will have no way of knowing if you're running to rich or leaning out.

 

[SASHO91]

Wow i get flamed really hard for mis-typing something. i meant, or better yet a heavily modded sho need one..... i meant it like the heavily modded needs it more than a stock sho..... my bad....

 

[Justin101]

ok guys thx but where do i get one of those wideband sensors? off that site? and how much do they run? and can i just get the bosch wideband sensor or do i have to get the whole $300 kit?

 

[AutoSHO]

You have to buy the controller along with the sensor, so you will need the full package. If you're just looking for the gauge to look cool and give a vague idea of how the motor is running, you'll be fine with the stock sensors. If you really want to know how the car is running down to a tenth of a point AFR, then the wideband is the way to go. If you're planning on major mods to the car, a wideband is a good idea. Otherwise, chances are you don't really need a WBO2 setup.

 

[Justin101]

ugh thats what i thought. im not running huge mods right now, i just have exhaust and cone filter intake. i may run a larger MAF in the future but thats my extent of the engine performance mods. now i cant jus get the new bosch wideband sensor and get the narrowband to wideband converter? all i want is a relative idea of how my engine is running.

 

[yamahaSHO]

No, you'll need the whole kit as stated above.

 

[AutoSHO]

all i want is a relative idea of how my engine is running.

Chances are you can just tap into the existing oxygen sensor signal then. It will move around a lot (looks cool) but what you're basically looking for is that it jumps to the rich side when you get on it.

 

[Justin101]

can anyone give me some dummy instructions so i can see if i can do this all myself!? :banghd:

 

[DavidT]

you want to tap into the 02 wire on the ECU side, not the 02 sensor itself. In my ex 91 I tapped into the ECU 02 wire located in split loom coming up near the oil dipstick tube/ intake plenum. I BELIEVE it is a BLUE wire. I am not 100% sure though. (maybe green, ahh heck...)
It is JUST a light show though/ gauge pod filler
However, $300 is too steep for the real deal (wideband 02) IMO. Unless your sho is a dragster.
Here is pic.:

 

[yamahaSHO]

The ECU is probably the better way to go, but you can tap directly off the sensor itself. You're just looking for the 0-1 volt signal.

 

[Justin101]

ok well im totally confused ill let my local shop do it! thx anywayz guys!