shiftless
Active Member
What wideband controller are you using? Some of them are crap. Don't waste your time with a narrowband, they are useless for tuning.

73eldoconvert said:Maybe if I was looking for cutting edge performance or working on a dyno a WB would be needed but Im starting to think a NB will be plenty for my basic street driver needs.
shiftless said:Scout, no offense intended but there are a few things you just don't understand. No, the Megasquirt does not come with a built in wideband controller, nor does it have a built in vacuum gauge or compression tester. A wideband sensor/controller is a TOOL that you use to tune a vehicle, then put back on the shelf to be used some other time in the future. The MS also doesn't offer transmission control, sequential injection, or any other number of gee whiz features that 99% of people don't need. It's nothing but a do-it-yourself, simple and cheap controller that controls fuel and spark, and it does this job well. That's it. If you need something that does everything, then save up thousands of dollars and buy a Motec.
Speaking of cost, where the hell are you getting $700-$800 from? I built Megasquirts for a living, and I have never seen a MS that costs this much, nor could I ever imagine what features you would need that would drive up the cost that high. A top of the line, fully assembled MS2 v3.57 computer is $405 from DIYAutoTune. An assembled MS1 v3.0, which is capable of doing the exact same job, is only $330. If you build it yourself or have a friend do it, the price goes way down. About the only other thing you might need is a 12' wiring pigtail for $65 and possibly a few sensors for less than $50. Now how much does the cheapest aftermarket multiport system cost? How much for the cheapest one that is actually worth a damn?
There is good reason that the MS community has EXPLODED in members over the past few years.
shiftless said:I agree the LC1 is a bad design. The LM1 is good but my personal recommendation is the Tech Edge units from http://www.wbo2.com. I had the 2A0 DIY kit. The total cost was less than $200. It was a damn nice wideband controller, and it had datalogging capabilities as well, which is handy for tuning a carb engine where you don't have an MS for datalogging.
STDog said:Scout,
What the WB Autotune and why do you want it? Same with the 12/12 tables?
I'd just run the NB emulated output to the MS, and use the standalone controller for tuning.
As to the relays, a few $5 relays and inline fuses in a plastic box.
My understanding was the stimulator was for debugging/testing the build when you build your own unit.
It's not like you'd pick up a reprogrammed GM computer at the local parts house either.
scout said:I don't think that's 100% accurate. According to Megamanual MS1 doesn't have the 12/12 AFR WB tables and a MS2 is needed for WB Autotune. Correct me if I'm wrong.
The MS relay board has all the fuses ...
plus a relay for the idle solenoid
Ok, at the risk of beating a dead horse - 2 relays, 2 relay sockets and harnesses, fuses, fuse holders, connectors, and a box. Try to buy all that for 10 bucks at Autozone.
Not a big deal just one of those hidden cost/nickle and dime issues people don't understand. I know many people would just plug crimp-on connectors directly into the relays and call it good, but those are same people I find stuck on the side of the road.
Not sure why you would think the stimulator could only be used during the build stage? Is it going to self-destruct after the build or something?
shiftless said:No, it's just next to useless after the build is completed.
shiftless said:This is incorrect. The MS1, with MSNS-Extra firmware loaded, has 12x12 tables and full wideband support.
shiftless said:So does your factory fuse box. You can draw power for the MS directly from the existing ignition power circuit, or practically any other "hot in start/run" circuit of your choosing.
shiftless said:If you are using a relay for an idle solenoid, then you have already screwed up. A proper idle control system consists of a stepper motor or PWM idle valve, not a simple on/off solenoid. If you are on a budget and just want to hack something together, then the on/off solenoid may suffice, but if you were on a budget you wouldn't be talking about spending hundreds of extra dollars on unnecessary components.
shiftless said:Why would you need two relays? You only need ONE relay to trigger the fuel pump, along with a simple inline fuse. I am fairly certain you could pick these components up for less than $10 at AutoZone. The MS gets it power directly from the ignition circuit, as stated above, and you're done. There is nothing else that would require a relay or fuse.
shiftless said:OK, I find this a bit insulting. There is absolutely nothing wrong with using standard spade connectors to connect to your ONE relay. This is standard procedure. Relay sockets are just overkill. You won't find ME stuck on the side of the road due to a wiring problem. Anybody who has ever seen one of the many wiring harnesses I've built would agree that there is no half-assing or corner cutting involved in my work.
shiftless said:As far as hidden costs and nickel and dime issues go, you are the one creating these issues. Just because you can choose to spend thousands of dollars to set an MS up a certain way doesn't mean that it can't be done correctly for a quarter of the cost.
shiftless said:No, it's just next to useless after the build is completed. When a MS is built and wired up correctly they last practically forever. I have never seen one fail from any cause that couldn't be traced directly back to assembly error. In the unlikely event that a component does fail, odds are you're not going to fix it on the side of the road with a multimeter and stimulator anyway. If you want a stimulator just in case, that's cool, but it is not necessary in any sense of the word.
scout said:Good to know. What about Autotune?
From the megamanual relay board section: Four Mini-ATO-style fuses (Buss Fuse ATM-XX) protect the fuel pump, main power, and both injector banks
From the megamanual relay board secton: Three on-board relays - main power, fuel pump, and fast idle solenoid
Not sure why you would think I was talking about you. I've never seen any of your stuff. I'm sure the quality is exceptional.
Because I actually drive my vehicle and don't want to get stuck on the side of the road for 3 days until a $400 v3.57 can get airmailed to me?
So you're saying you wouldn't use your stimulator to troubleshoot a failed MS? Anything electronic can fail. Thousands of factory computers do everyday.