which wideband?

[KMud]

I think my innovate mtx-l has probably had it, it throws a lot of error codes, intermittently flicks low/high, and has stopped outputting serial data. Is there a better option than the innovate? I would like to retain serial output.

[KMud]

Answering my own question...I'm thinking AEM UEGO or Zeitronix ZT-3. Lost faith in Innovate a bit.

e: went ZT-3.

Edited by KMud on Thursday 18th June 11:44

[MyM8V8]

I've had longevity issues with Innovate. There is a thread on WB's on the efilive forum.

Just make sure it is supported and has serial comms.

[KMud]

Yep, I'm on my second sensor and I think the gauge has got the mental. It's more than 12 months old and Innovate are saying repairs start at $45 so I'll test it out of the car, but I'm ready to sling it if faulty, not worth messing around. The support guy is giving me attitude too

The Zeitronix seems well appreciated and has serial, so I put my £150 on that. The AEM has some fans and is prettier, but also a fair number of detractors.

[MyM8V8]

KMud said:

Yep, I'm on my second sensor and I think the gauge has got the mental. It's more than 12 months old and Innovate are saying repairs start at $45 so I'll test it out of the car, but I'm ready to sling it if faulty, not worth messing around. The support guy is giving me attitude too

The Zeitronix seems well appreciated and has serial, so I put my £150 on that. The AEM has some fans and is prettier, but also a fair number of detractors.

Your lucky, I'm not even getting 3 months out of mine. I dont think the sensor is at fault as it a standard Bosch unit. The problem lies in the Innovate controller AFAIK which then buggers the sensor. Must be something to do with the heating.

Check with efilve that Zeitronic is supported. If so, might go for that.

[stevieturbo]

Sure it doesnt just need a new sensor ?

Innovate stuff goes through a lot of sensors

[KMud]

MyM8V8 said:

Your lucky, I'm not even getting 3 months out of mine. I dont think the sensor is at fault as it a standard Bosch unit. The problem lies in the Innovate controller AFAIK which then buggers the sensor. Must be something to do with the heating.

Check with efilve that Zeitronic is supported. If so, might go for that.

The Zeitronix seems to be supported by EFI live, but all the info on that forum is so old!

The Bosch unit on the Innovate is apparently fragile, but I agree I think my problem is the controller. They are supposed to be very sensitive to grounding and heat, which sounds at least in part like poor design.

stevieturbo said:

Sure it doesnt just need a new sensor ?

Innovate stuff goes through a lot of sensors

I'm getting the impression the Innovate stuff is fragile in general...but it has had a new sensor about a month back. Doesn't take many sensors to pay for a complete WB setup from someone else, so I'm jumping ship. I will however revise my WB installation to make it easier to remove, may go straight through the floor/transmission tunnel.

[jameshsv]

Just had a innovate wideband fitted to my car

[KMud]

jameshsv said:

Just had a innovate wideband fitted to my car

Haha, sorry if I'm upsetting you

Might have a spare sensor for you...

[fastbikes76]

I always use the AEM UEGO, had an innovite before and didnt like it at all. AEM in all my cars and never had one fail even though I run huge methanol content.

[KMud]

fastbikes76 said:

I always use the AEM UEGO, had an innovite before and didnt like it at all. AEM in all my cars and never had one fail even though I run huge methanol content.

Well if the Zeitronix doesn't work out, by the power of elimination...

[jameshsv]

KMud said:

Haha, sorry if I'm upsetting you

Might have a spare sensor for you...

Only time will tell

[fastbikes76]

KMud said:

Well if the Zeitronix doesn't work out, by the power of elimination...

TBF a mate has the Zeitronix and its served him well so far.

[KMud]

In the interest of full disclosure, the serial problem was my fault (egg on face, I forgot there was a null modem connection halfway down the cable when I was troubleshooting, it's tidily hidden), but all the other problems remain. The Zeitronix should arrive tomorrow

For reference, here are the options with EFI live/flashscan: http://www.efilive.com/gas-partner-products

[Behold81]

I have an LC-1 and I use Bosch WB sensor. Only just had to buy my first replacement.

[bimbleuk]

I've got 2 MTX-L. The original one which is 4 years old works fine (serial out to EFI Live) but I just can't program it anymore or update the firmware to match the latest one. I did for while have both installed to replace the narrow bands but as wide's react slowly compared to real a narrow 02 sensor I've gone back to the newer one in my Y pipe, narrows up front.

[monkfish1]

Gave up on innovate many years ago. As per the above, just way to much unreliability. Doesn't sound like its got much better.

[fatjon]

AEM and Techedge. The techedge 3H1 is far and away the nicest and most reliable I have ever used but it's not cheap.

Don't get me started on Innovate crap.

[stevieturbo]

Techedge have been around for a long time, but their units really do still look like DIY stuff, which given the price is not good.

Innovate really did saturate the market as they beat everyone on price at the start, so most accepted the problems...but too many are just fed up now.

Problem is that if EFILive etc want serial and only one or two products offer that same protocol...you dont have a lot of choice.

Daytona Sensors have some decent looking stuff, not overly cheap though.

http://www.daytona-sensors.com/WEGO4.html

Some of the FAST products whilst the display is bulky, dont actually look that bad and arent overly expensive.

http://www.rpmoutlet.com/mt.htm

Or PLX Devices make some really nice gauges, just a pity they like Techedge use really crappy looking cheap control boxes that are essential for the display too.

VEMS do a cheapish wideband and EGT gauge, but again with the cheap/DIY nature of the product, it looks cheap and nasty too

https://shop.vems.hu/catalog/roundv2-wbo2-controll...

[KMud]

Good info

For what it's worth (possibly nothing), the Zeitronix looks better in the flesh than in photos, and the gauge being so shallow opens up options for mounting.