ECMlink MTX-L Wideband - Odd Logging Behavior

[llxkevinxll]

Hello,

Seeing some strange behavior from my Innovate MTX-L wideband when being logged by ECMLink. I have attached two images, one from the end of last year and one from a few days ago, as well as a log from the second image showing the strange readings. The wideband signal used to update quickly and be precise. The signal now shows as a step function, with pre-defined logic levels and a much slower update rate. This wideband 5v signal also runs the narrowband simulation and I believe it's slow rate of update is affecting drivability to an extent. Has anyone seen this before?

A few other facts:
1. I have added an Innovate digital boost gauge and pulled switched 12V from the same ECU pin as the wideband.
2. I did reprogram the gauge to display lambda for my impending switch to flex fuel. It has since been switched back. No change in 5v output behavior.
3. I updated the FW but no change in behavior was seen.
4. I have not changed any wideband switchpoint or narrowband simulation settings in ECMlink between the two images.
5. I have re-calibrated the wideband sensor in free air.
6. The gauge itself updates quickly and smoothly between readings, just as it always did.

Thanks for your help,
Kevin

 

[EC17PSE]

What i found out from innovate is they have to have their own power and not share it at all!
I first installed mine with another item and it would frequently run weird and then switch to 7.4 and flash like it was warming up again, after i spoke to innovate they said try its own power line and it worked,
So i want to say its possibly the power sharing is part of the issue and now i never share power with the WB.

Not saying this is the actual fix but its worth a shot

 

[llxkevinxll]

What i found out from innovate is they have to have their own power and not share it at all!
I first installed mine with another item and it would frequently run weird and then switch to 7.4 and flash like it was warming up again, after i spoke to innovate they said try its own power line and it worked,
So i want to say its possibly the power sharing is part of the issue and now i never share power with the WB.

Not saying this is the actual fix but its worth a shot

I had considered that. I will definitely give it a try and see what happens. Thanks for the tip.

 

[AWD-Tony]

IIRC the ground should be common with the ecu. I wired mine directly to the battery.

 

[my98gsx]

I have 2 innovate widebands and hate both of them. They always go out of sync - and need to be re calibrated. Go through the steps listed in the instructions, which require an open air restart. If your battery was ever low, or disconnected I can almost guarantee it needs to be re-calibrated.

Edit - I over looked that you did re-calibrated it already... I would say try it again if you only did it once. These gauges are extremely finicky.

 

[ThunderChild]

Mine has been great since day one

Long as they have a good solid ground and steady power supply (mine is through a single SPDT 30a relay for all 3 of my innovate gauges, fed from battery directly.) They work great.
Position of sensor, location in exhaust and narrowband sim seem to be the most common issues I've see with these gauges, as well as the aforementioned proper wiring.

 

[llxkevinxll]

Thanks for the replies guys. Changing power wiring is my first plan of action. Unfortunately I am away for work this week so I'll get to it as soon as I can and reply here with the results. It would make sense that the only thing I changed was the power draw on that ecu pin and now the gauge is acting funny.

 

[enriquez2000]

My mtxl kept burning through O2 sensors.. I am done with innovate!!

It would start by reading off then eventually not reading at all. I would have to turn off any O2 simulation and run solely off VE table to get home when it would go out

 

[Brembo]

I never knew that innovate had weird issues like that. I always thought people hated on aem wideband because they suck well I guess the grass is not greener on the other side. I don't know how you guys are wiring these things but I never power anything from ecu. Always from the fuse box with one of those add a line fuse holders. Never had any problem but I am using aem and also I am pretty sure they use the same sensors. Good luck with your diagnostics and let us know what fixed it.

 

[enriquez2000]

I never knew that innovate had weird issues like that. I always thought people hated on aem wideband because they suck well I guess the grass is not greener on the other side. I don't know how you guys are wiring these things but I never power anything from ecu. Always from the fuse box with one of those add a line fuse holders. Never had any problem but I am using aem and also I am pretty sure they use the same sensors. Good luck with your diagnostics and let us know what fixed it.

Problem with the innovate and sensors was the controller killing them. I switched to a cheap glowshift with same 4.2 sensor and been strong for years now.

I was killing sensors about every 2 to 3 weeks... sometimes more. To the point vatozone stopped warranty on them

 

[curt-s]

I have had my mtxl with a 4.2 sensor for 3 or so years now. Replaced a uego with it due to slow response and horrid link voltage compatibility..
havent had a problem, havent encountered shock cooling even though its on acc power, and it has been in a mix of stock o2 location or downpipe.
I just cant find my cable to do a firmware upgrade so i can use 4.9 sensor..

no problems here

 

[my98gsx]

I don't want to hijack this thread into a wideband debate but I am glad I am not the only one having problems with innovate products. The best one I have used is by far autometer, but it does not have a narrowband output which I need so I am stuck with either AEM or Innovate.

Kevin, keep us posted on the fix of this problem. My innovate started acting up in my s2000 last night, I laughed as this thread was still fresh in my mind.

 

[llxkevinxll]

Quick update, I disconnected the boost gauge to reduce the current draw on that ECU +12v pin, no change in the wideband logging behavior in ECMLink. Next step is to go back into the gauge setup and see if I messed something up in there.

 

[llxkevinxll]

Issue is resolved.

I went into the programming software for the controller and hit factory reset on all of the pages. Some of the values had been adjusted either accidentally or with the FW update I did a few months back. After resetting everything to factory, I noticed the 5v Analog Out 1 linear line passed through 2.45V at 14.7 instead of 2.49 that ECMLink had set for the narrowband sim switchpoint. I made that adjustment in ECMLink as well and now I have a wide band signal that matches the gauge display and updates quickly. There is a setting in the gauge setup software that allows you to choose an update rate. Mine did not have any of the options selected. By factory defaulting the settings, it selected 1/12 sec, the fastest update rate selectable. I have a feeling this was the issue the entire time. Hopefully this is helpful for anyone else who runs into this same issue.

thanks for the replies,
Kevin

You must be logged in to view this image or video.