need wideband to drive car on street?

[tazndrew04]

So Im almost ready to start driving my car again and have everything that I need but a wideband. My question is do I need a wideband to drive my car around town? I wont be racing, just cruising/driving it normally around town. Ill be getting a wideband in the next week or so. My profile is up to date.

 

[phantom_19]

You have a bunch of upgrades, especially the injectors. If you are getting the wideband anyway. Just install it in the car. Wouldn't hurt to know your AF ratio at all times.

 

[tazndrew04]

can i just monitor it through ecmlink?

 

[newtodsm97gst]

wideband is necessary IMO, for example, while driving you had a boost leak not a big 1, but enough to throw you air fuel ratio off and you didnt know that you we're going too rich the whole time. that could mess up your motor. you probably know more than i do on dsm world but thats what I just learned, so i got me a wideband, soon dsmlink.

 

[WES_393]

No, link only shows an A/F ratio estimate. I drive my car vey often on the streets and am glad I have my wideband hooked up and logged in Link.

 

[Tiki2777]

You definitely need a wideband. Thats how you get your injectors dialed in, and make sure your afrs are safe. Youve got a 20g and 950cc injectors, dont even mess with it. Id reccommend an innovate mtx-l, it reads the most accurately out of all the widebands on the market, including aem, with a range of 22.4-like 7.8 (IIRC, not 100% sure on how rich it can read, but def sure on lean limit). Theres no avoiding it man, dont ruin your car because you didnt want to shovel out $160. If theres anything else you need to know, ask.

wideband is necessary IMO, for example, while driving you had a boost leak not a big 1, but enough to throw you air fuel ratio off and you didnt know that you we're going too rich the whole time. that could mess up your motor. you probably know more than i do on dsm world but thats what I just learned, so i got me a wideband, soon dsmlink.

Running rich is not what he should be worried about. The most richness wil do is rape your mpg, bog your car, cause stumbling and even stalling, and misfiring (also go through plugs quick.

He should be worried about running lean and blowing his motor from getting knock/pre-ignition/detonation.

 

[tazndrew04]

i hear both the innovate lc-1 and mtx-1 are good wbs. but what is the difference between the two? i was going to go with the lc-1 since its cheaper of the two.

 

[dot45]

ECMLink recommends the LC-1

One difference that should be mentioned, however, is that the MTX-L does not have a separate analog ground reference like the LC-1. We haven't heard of any problems just using chassis ground for the MTX-L, but do keep in mind that it's always possible for ground level differentials to introduce an offset into the reading of any sensor connected to the ECU, not just the MTX-L. But, again, people haven't reported any problems getting the MTX-L to datalog correctly in ECMLink, so this probably isn't a major concern.

 

[crazytsiawd]

what would be the point in having a brand new setup, doing a light tune and driving it around on the street without one, why spend all that money and then cheap out on something so useful that can save you thousands of dollars if something were to happen.

 

[boost97gst]

can i just monitor it through ecmlink?

You still have to have a wb sending a 0-5vdc signal to the ecu to watch it in link. Otherwise, its just an est(which is worthless until you properly setup everything)

If you had the wb, but not the gauge, then yes, you could use link to monitor WB afr