Innovate Lc-1 And G2 Gauge Question

Just installed an LC-1 controller, WBO2 and G2 gauge in my 02 GT.

Everything seems to work fine except once in a while after an engine start the gauge needle does not move off '8'. The gauge cycles after starting, returns to 8 and just lies there. The controller LED is on solidly which, according to the manual, indicates the LC-1 is operating normally.

If I turn off the ignition, wait a second or two then turn the ignition on, the gauge will cycle, return to 8 and, after a few seconds, move up normally.

I've got the WBO2 in the factory H-pipe's front, driver-side bung and am using the LC-1's narrow-band simulator to drive the PCM input. With the gauge lying at '8' for a few minutes the car was driving fine and I didn't see an SES so I'm thinking the LC-1 is working okay (at least the NB sim output...)

Has anyone else seen this behavior?

Noobz347 said:

Trinity... you need to feed the gauge with the narrow band output that you're using for the PCM.

Your gauge should he a 1 volt input.

It sounds like you're trying to send raw WB signal straight to the gauge. The gauge is not capable of processing that input.

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I don't think this is correct.

My G2 instruction sheet indicates that the green signal wire on the gauge is to be connected "to the LC-1's BROWN wire." It also states that the "gauge is setup to work with the Innovate Motorsports' factory wideband output of 0v = 7.35 A/F and 5v = 22.39 A/F." The LC-1 manual states that the "LC-1's analog output 2 is factory programmed to provide a linear output between 0V and 5V for an AFR of 7.35 to 22.39." Analog out 2 is the brown wire.

Like I said, the gauge operates normally when it works. During cruise it flits around 14-15.5:1 At 8psi it's down at 11:1 and when the PCM goes into fuel cut during extended decel the gauge reads up to 18:1. If the voltage input range was being saturated (i.e. the gauge wants 0-1V and I'm feeding it 0-5V) I wouldn't see this otherwise correct operation.

Curious: Where did you read that the gauge is supposed to be 0-1V instead of 0-5V?

The gauge that I run is a Greddy analog gauge...

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Ah, I see.

If your gauge is designed the read the wideband directly, I'm not sure why you'd need the LC-1 unless you wanted it to data-log.

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Well, the LC-1 is still needed to control the current pump in the WBO2S. The sensor itself is of no use without such a controller. I think that some gauges may include a controller (e.g. AEM 30-4100) but in Innovate's case the controller is the LC-1 (or the LM-1 you've got...) The G2 has no such control capabilities.

Noobz347 said:

The outputs on my LM-1 are programmable. Perhaps yours are too?

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Yes, they are but I've left them in the factory default configuration.

You might be able to set the dwell rate and buffer. Just a thought.

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There is a control in LM Programmer that allows one to configure the update rate of the narrow band output. You can select instantaneous or 1/12, 1/6 or 1/3-second update rates. I've left it alone and figure I'll only touch this setting if I get a SES light indicating some sort of O2 sensor error on B2.

The only other thing that I can think of is that they were pretty specific about mentioning how the voltage reading comes from the voltage difference between the signal output wire and whatever ground you're using. If that sounds like possible problem area, you might look into switching to a different ground location.

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Yeah, I read that too. I have two grounds, both tied to the metal of the center console stack (screws beside the driver's footwell.) One ties the main LC-1 system ground, heater return and return for the calibration switch/LED and the other serves as the return for the gauges (illumination for both and power for the G2.) Both grounds are clean and tight and located within about a inch of each other.

I'm thinking there's an issue in the G2 itself but am not sure. When I turn the key on the needle cycles from '8' to '18' and back again. If I start the car while this is occurring the needle stops back at '8'. If I wait for this initial sweep to finish and then proceed to start, the needle sweeps again. I've got the switched 12V power coming from fuse 20 and I guess it's switched off when the key is turned to 'start.' I wonder if the repeated power cycle puts the G2 in a strange state (or the LC-1 for that matter since it is getting power from the same switched source; but when the gauge is inoperative, the LED is on solidly so I think the LC-1 is fine...)