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Finally, the check engine light is gone!

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    Finally, the check engine light is gone!

    I've had a mystery code ever since I did my swap (13 O2 Sensor Circuit) that I was unable to get rid of, no matter what I tried. I tried different O2 sensors, DMEs, chips and eventually a new connector and harness but still it would appear. It got so frustrating that eventually I just wired up a little LED light to light up the floor in place of my check engine light and I would check the codes periodically to make sure nothing new had popped up.

    Finally I picked up an Innovate LM-1 and decided to stop fucking around. One selling point for the LM-1 was the ability to set the Analog Output to mimic a 0-1 volt stock O2 sensor but I figured even if that didn't work I'd at least have the wideband monitoring capabilities so I could at least know what the fuck was going on inside my engine even if the DME didn't. Hooking up the LM-1 was pretty straightforward, I had to remove some of the insulation from the firewall/tranny tunnel so the wires at the end of the sensor didn't get pinched (headers) but that was about it. I hooked up a cigarette lighter plug to my flashlight charger wires and plugged the LM-1 into that and then the analog out got wired to the black O2 ground wire in the ECU plug (pin 40.) For the time being the LM-1 lives in the storage compartment in front of the ashtray (it's a perfect fit actually) but I'll find someplace to mount it permenantly.

    Once it was calibrated and installed I plugged in my Snap-On scantool and started trying DME/Chip combos. I had a silver label 506, and then silver and red label 413s and Turner chips for each number. Finally, I ended up going with the silver label 413 with the 506 Turner chip and now have normal O2 sensor function (at least according to my scantool) and no codes. Perhaps this combo would have worked with the stock o2 sensor (I never tried it) but I still think there was a backfeeding issue from the O2 sensor heating circuit and I know have wideband and datalogging capabilities.

    The car runs MUCH better and has a fair bit more power now and the AFRs seem to be bang on what they should be. I've long said the best modification that one can do is fixing the broken bits but it was cool to see it in practice like this.

    Cheers,
    Brendan
    '89 325is S50 Track Montser
    '04 X5 Daily/Tow Vehicle

    http://www.avarestoration.com

    http://www.myspace.com/brendanfiddle


    Click here if you want to be my zombie slave...

    http://www.youtube.com/user/Fidhle007

    #2
    Sounds good Fidhle! :)

    I got my light to go off after I fixed my o2 sensor about a month ago, but the damn check engine came back on 2 weeks ago! :hitler:

    I need to go to RMS so they can scan it again.
    Check out Undr8d Empire on Facebook: www.facebook.com/Undr8dEmpireLlc

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    Scarlet V2 - #Project333Ti by @castromotorsport, @kingsautobodyshop, @bimmerheads, @hardmotorsport, @excel_motorsports & @mateomotorsports - http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=371356

    Your signature picture has been removed since it contained the Photobucket "upgrade your account" image.

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      #3
      i'm confused you're using a simulator for your primary O2's?
      No more e30s for me.
      88 black BMW OBDII 332is dedicated track [sold]
      88 BMW OBDII bronzit 332is [RIP 03/08]
      91 BMW 325i [sold]
      86 Corolla 'Ae86' HB 20v trd [sold]
      http://youtube.com/watch?v=pTj7Hn9v5Rs

      Comment


        #4
        Yes, the Innovate LM-1 has a programmable analog output which I have set to mimic the 0-1v output of the stock O2 sensor. In some swap cars there seems to be a weird backfeeding issue from the heater circuit so I'm guessing having my input signal completely isolated is what cured the problem. It's also nice to be able to monitor my AFRs while I'm driving.
        '89 325is S50 Track Montser
        '04 X5 Daily/Tow Vehicle

        http://www.avarestoration.com

        http://www.myspace.com/brendanfiddle


        Click here if you want to be my zombie slave...

        http://www.youtube.com/user/Fidhle007

        Comment


          #5
          How much did the LM-1 set you back if you dont mind me asking and where did you get it? My check light is driving me nuts.

          www.gutenparts.com
          One stop shopping for NEW, USED and EURO PARTS!

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            #6
            I picked mine up used with sensor for $200. They're out there used occasionally but just ordering something new from Innovate is probably your best bet. I don't think they make the LM-1 anymore though and have moved on to bigger and better things. Try different DME and chip combos though too, you may still get codes on certain combos.
            '89 325is S50 Track Montser
            '04 X5 Daily/Tow Vehicle

            http://www.avarestoration.com

            http://www.myspace.com/brendanfiddle


            Click here if you want to be my zombie slave...

            http://www.youtube.com/user/Fidhle007

            Comment


              #7
              ..so how does this work? is it just a 0-1V simulator or does it actually read the exhaust like your original O2 would and then converts that signal to a filtered 0-1V analog output to the dme?

              i wonder if i can make my own sim for my after cat O2's and eliminate my engine light. also need an AIT.
              No more e30s for me.
              88 black BMW OBDII 332is dedicated track [sold]
              88 BMW OBDII bronzit 332is [RIP 03/08]
              91 BMW 325i [sold]
              86 Corolla 'Ae86' HB 20v trd [sold]
              http://youtube.com/watch?v=pTj7Hn9v5Rs

              Comment


                #8
                The LM-1 is reading the AFRs with a bosch wideband sensor and then is translating that to the 0-1v that the actual sensor would read. It's not a simulator and is reading the actual AFR but is isolated from the rest of the engine management system. The only thing the ECU is seeing the 0-1v output from the LM-1 and that seems to be doing the trick...
                '89 325is S50 Track Montser
                '04 X5 Daily/Tow Vehicle

                http://www.avarestoration.com

                http://www.myspace.com/brendanfiddle


                Click here if you want to be my zombie slave...

                http://www.youtube.com/user/Fidhle007

                Comment


                  #9
                  the LC-1 does the same thing and is available new for $200
                  Build thread

                  Bimmerlabs

                  Comment


                    #10
                    Originally posted by nando View Post
                    the LC-1 does the same thing and is available new for $200
                    But I wanted to be able to monitor my AFRs as well and to do that you'd need the Standalone Gauge Kit which is $329. Not that I know everything is working properly I could probably switch to the LC-1 in the future and save interior clutter.
                    '89 325is S50 Track Montser
                    '04 X5 Daily/Tow Vehicle

                    http://www.avarestoration.com

                    http://www.myspace.com/brendanfiddle


                    Click here if you want to be my zombie slave...

                    http://www.youtube.com/user/Fidhle007

                    Comment


                      #11
                      i just use my laptop. :p
                      Build thread

                      Bimmerlabs

                      Comment


                        #12
                        I'm mac-based. You know, overpriced shiny crap for yuppies with soul patches. One of these days I'll get a laptop for tuning duties but for now I'm on a budget. :-)
                        '89 325is S50 Track Montser
                        '04 X5 Daily/Tow Vehicle

                        http://www.avarestoration.com

                        http://www.myspace.com/brendanfiddle


                        Click here if you want to be my zombie slave...

                        http://www.youtube.com/user/Fidhle007

                        Comment


                          #13
                          Hippy.

                          Comment


                            #14
                            Originally posted by Danny View Post
                            Hippy.
                            I kind of am. Well, a hippie with a lot of jackets from The North Face/Mountain Hardwear and a carry permit... 8-)
                            '89 325is S50 Track Montser
                            '04 X5 Daily/Tow Vehicle

                            http://www.avarestoration.com

                            http://www.myspace.com/brendanfiddle


                            Click here if you want to be my zombie slave...

                            http://www.youtube.com/user/Fidhle007

                            Comment


                              #15
                              Originally posted by Fidhle007 View Post
                              I'm mac-based. You know, overpriced shiny crap for yuppies with soul patches. One of these days I'll get a laptop for tuning duties but for now I'm on a budget. :-)
                              $200 IBM thinkpad on ebay. :p
                              Build thread

                              Bimmerlabs

                              Comment

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