AEM A/F gauge - crazy rich numbers?

[sledneck22]

I finally have had time to work on my sled. Towards the end of last year, i swapped out a POS a/f gauge for an wideband AEM. I think I set the gauge up correctly with the new sensor I bought but have been getting goofy readings.
At idle the gauge shows 4.7-5.5 a/r ratio. It never really moves off from that. I would think the sled wouldn't even run with number that rich would it? Anyone ever have lights in the gauge go out? I bought it used but was supposed to work but I still haven't figured it out. It's hard to tune a sled when you have no baseline.

08 mtx apex custom rear mount mits turbo running low 6lbs of boost w/ boondocker piggy back custom intake plenum and only 1900 miles.

 

[TurboTime]

Items that could potentially be the issue. A bad sensor which needs to be replaced or the position of the bung/senor. It should be located right after the turbo...

Oh and one more thing, did you calibrate the new A/F gage?

 

[sledneck22]

Sensor is after turbo. Calibrated the sensor as well.

 

[Riceburner]

Something really goofy going on IMHO

The AEM's we have dont even give a # below 10. Just a blinking line.

You are correct, it would not run that fat.

 

[sledneck22]

Thinking about it... It might be an innovate a/f gauge. either way it has never truely worked since I got it. Regardless, 5.5 isn't correct. Unless somehow I spilled raw fuel down the exhaust pipe haha.. But that should burn off when warmed up i'd think.
Do you think I have to wait the entire warm up sequencing on the gauge before starting the sled? Would that make a difference? It's like a 50-60 second warm up timer when I first start the sled...

 

[sledneck22]

I got the sled running well last night. And still at idle, I was getting 4.2 or something. And it isn't a burnt out digital number because the led bar on the outside of the ring was showing it super right too. I'm probably going to order a new sensor again... and recalibrate it, and hope for the best I guess.

 

[BigDog05]

sledneck22: I know there are guys that really like the Innovative A/F guage, but there are also guys that got rid of them and went to AEM. I spent my first 2 seasons with my turbo changing sensors and recalibrating the thing.

Sometimes it would work. They are very finicky to grounding location. Do a search on Innovative A/F. Most posts would be back in 05-08 or so.

Its in a box in the garage. Have used a AEM ever since with no problems. Leaded racing gas does kill the sensor faster than unleaded.

 

[sledneck22]

I suppose i'll just bite the bullet and get an aem eventually.
Riding last night, it started out saying 4.2 or whatever, I just ignored it because I knew i wasn't building too much boost and had 50/50 91/110. But at the end of the night i noticed it wasn't reading anything anymore. Just displayed "- - -" so something else is wrong with it now.

 

[NO2]

I found the AEM gauge on Ebay, brand new, for $150.

 

[nate007]

I run both AEM and Innovate gauges on my sleds, and can't say I'm partial to either one, except my Innovate has a needle instead of digital which makes it seem easier to read instead of the numbers jumping around alot.
If I remember right, a power issue will cause it to read full lean, or 22:1. It sounds to me like you just need to pull the sensor out and re-calibrate it. If you may have gotten fuel on the sensor it might be bad as well, but calibrating it should tell you that. Just be sure to calibrate it OUT of the pipe where it's in open air, otherwise your readings will be way off.
I have one sled with the G2 w/b gauge and one with the MTX-L gauge, which one do you have? Assuming you have the MTX-L since you said you are getting the "---".
Unplug the sensor and power up the gauge for at least 30 seconds. You'll get an error code since it's not finding the sensor.
Then power it down and connect the sensor in FREE AIR. Power it back up again and the gauge will read "HTR". Leave it on, and after about 30-60 seconds, the screen will switch to "CAL", and calibrate itself. A few seconds later, it will start displaying afr, and since it's in free air, it should default to the 22.4 afr. You can then power it down and install the sensor, unhooking it if you have to, but if you power it up before you have it re-connected, you're calibration will be lost. Just remember to have it connected before powering up again and you should be fine.
I've had good luck with both Innovate and AEM sensors, btu I use Innovate far more in my shop on the cars I build due to the LM-2 capability and dyno compatibility. Years ago, I didn't have as good of a feeling about AEM as I do now, and I think AEM has come a long way in product development. If you already have either one, I'd vote to just get that working corectly. Especially since you only need it until you get it tuned and you're not running closed loop.

 

[sledneck22]

I think I have the older XD-16 gauge. not the newer MTX-L

 

[nate007]

In case you don't have the manual, here's the link. I'm sure that it's got to be a simple issue, and once it's figured out will be just fine.
http://www.innovatemotorsports.com/supp ... Manual.pdf

 

[sledneck22]

Thanks, I do have that manual and calibrated per that to no avail.
I'll try to calibrate it again this weekend and if that doesn't do it then maybe i'll try a new sensor.

 

[TurboTime]

I think I have the older XD-16 gauge. not the newer MTX-L

I have the XD-16 and it has worked great the past 3 seasons. Just make sure that it is calibrated and that the sensor has a chance to warm up. Moisture is the devil with these bosch sensors...

 

[rxrider]

Make sure Your Innovate is set for Reading gasoline as it supports Readings from most types of fuel.

The readings you state suggests that the meter is set for methanol which has a stoichiometric air-fuel ratio at 6.4:1 - this number is where all fuel and air is burned.