Very rough signal from the wideband controller
#1
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Hello!
Once again I need your input on this. I've tracked down all the bugs from my ECU, my car is now almost perfectly tuned and running smoothly except for a small detail or two... I have to thank a lot of you guys (especially Braineack) for your input as you've been very helpful in tracking down all the problems I've had.
The Megasquirt sure has a steep learning curve initially, but it all makes perfect sense now![wink](https://www.miataturbo.net/images/smilies/wink.gif)
However there is still a detail I haven't been able to figure out a solution to, and for that matter, I don't even know if this is normal.
I have an Innovate MTX-L wideband controller, and I've set it up nicely on the MS. The controller has worked fine for a long while and the measurements on the controller gauge are correct and accurate. However, the same doesn't happen on the Megasquirt. The input from the WB controller, despite being "correct" as an average signal, is not stable at all. In fact the signal constantly oscillates with a deviation of about +/- 1 AFR at a rate of about 5-6Hz maybe?
While this was not a problem for base tuning the car, it does become a problem now that I want to enable EGO corrections and log the AFR data for further fine-tuning.
Is this even an expected behaviour?
I've added a screenshot from MegaLogViewer that shows this problem (notice how the AFR keeps oscilating). Sadly I can't upload the whole log, it's several megabytes too big!
Once again I need your input on this. I've tracked down all the bugs from my ECU, my car is now almost perfectly tuned and running smoothly except for a small detail or two... I have to thank a lot of you guys (especially Braineack) for your input as you've been very helpful in tracking down all the problems I've had.
The Megasquirt sure has a steep learning curve initially, but it all makes perfect sense now
![wink](https://www.miataturbo.net/images/smilies/wink.gif)
However there is still a detail I haven't been able to figure out a solution to, and for that matter, I don't even know if this is normal.
I have an Innovate MTX-L wideband controller, and I've set it up nicely on the MS. The controller has worked fine for a long while and the measurements on the controller gauge are correct and accurate. However, the same doesn't happen on the Megasquirt. The input from the WB controller, despite being "correct" as an average signal, is not stable at all. In fact the signal constantly oscillates with a deviation of about +/- 1 AFR at a rate of about 5-6Hz maybe?
While this was not a problem for base tuning the car, it does become a problem now that I want to enable EGO corrections and log the AFR data for further fine-tuning.
Is this even an expected behaviour?
I've added a screenshot from MegaLogViewer that shows this problem (notice how the AFR keeps oscilating). Sadly I can't upload the whole log, it's several megabytes too big!
![Giggle](https://www.miataturbo.net/images/smilies/gay.gif)
#3
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So it should actually oscillate that much? It's sad I can't upload a video from the computer screen, but the AFR dial on TS is all over the place while running! Does seem a bit dramatic and errr... erratic?
If I'm tuning for a specific AFR of 14.7 for example, it doesn't help me much that the dial is just randomly pointing somewhere between 13.8 and 15.6... Can't I somehow minimize this effect?
If I'm tuning for a specific AFR of 14.7 for example, it doesn't help me much that the dial is just randomly pointing somewhere between 13.8 and 15.6... Can't I somehow minimize this effect?
#8
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Yes, the wiring harness should have a separate ground for the sensors that is only grounded through the ECU. Seeing that you have a '91 Miata, that probably is not the case:
http://www.boostedmiata.com/MS/harness_MS_pinouts.jpg
The second wires from the right, black with green stripes, should be the signal ground. However, in early miatas (at least in mine, which is a '91) the black/green wires were grounded to engine block from several spots. I ended up joining those wires with the black grounds and running new wires to the sensors to make a separate signal ground. This seemed to work pretty well in clearing the noise altough mine was never as bad as yours.
http://www.boostedmiata.com/MS/harness_MS_pinouts.jpg
The second wires from the right, black with green stripes, should be the signal ground. However, in early miatas (at least in mine, which is a '91) the black/green wires were grounded to engine block from several spots. I ended up joining those wires with the black grounds and running new wires to the sensors to make a separate signal ground. This seemed to work pretty well in clearing the noise altough mine was never as bad as yours.
#11
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I have:
1994 1.8
MSPNP Gen 2
Innovate MTX-L
When I first installed the MTX-L I followed what was common practice and ran the single ground wire to the ground location found underneath the throttle body.
Ever since I installled the MTX-L I've always had problems with the AFR figures not matching up to what I see in Tuner Studio and I'd like to fix it.
Now looking at this pin out diagram, what wire should I splice the MTX-L ground wire into?
2A
2B
2C
2D?
![](https://www.miataturbo.net/attachments/megasquirt-18/53294-very-rough-signal-wideband-controller-9495-standalone-ms3x.jpg?dateline=1346104034)
I'd be seriously grateful if someone could give me a concrete answer and solve my AFR mismatch issues. BTW - massive thanks to whoever runs that Boostedmiata website. It's a great resource.
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#16
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the LC-1 handled the grounds a bit better with the seperate heater and sensor grounds...but now that they tie together, I'd opt to put the Black wire of the MTX-L on 2A/2B.
The sensor grounds actually ground the sensors to the ECU, so there should be no voltage offset, if you tie things into that which need a chasis ground, it'll screw up all the sensor readings as it introduces an offset. Or something to that matter.
Or run it directly out on its own wire to the TB grounding screw.
Last edited by Braineack; 08-30-2012 at 10:38 AM.