VWVortex


+ Reply to Thread
Results 1 to 19 of 19

Thread: Lc1....pos?

  1. Member 2021cc8V's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 21st, 1999
    Location
    California...
    Posts
    848
    03-26-2012 02:55 PM #1
    So my LC1 (w/ db gauge) decided to act up recently.

    Prior, I had it programmed to read wideband just like the other ouput to my ms2 ecu.

    Everything read right and grounds were done correctly.


    Then yesterday, the db gauge started pegging at 22.2 afr while on tunerstudio it was reading normally.

    I tried reprogramming the gauge output but LM programmer would lock up.


    Even tried to reload firmware and said it wasn't able to.


    My only work-around thus far has been to take the gauge wire and hook it up with the ms2 o2 wire to the only working lc1 output.


    So any tips on getting the other output to work again, or is the LC1 that much of a pos?

  2. Member B4S's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 16th, 2003
    Location
    Marionville, Ontario, Canada
    Posts
    7,838
    Vehicles
    1997 Ford Aspire, 1989 Dodge Colt GT Turbo
    03-26-2012 04:04 PM #2
    Quote Originally Posted by 2021cc8V View Post
    So my LC1 (w/ db gauge) decided to act up recently.

    Prior, I had it programmed to read wideband just like the other ouput to my ms2 ecu.

    Everything read right and grounds were done correctly.


    Then yesterday, the db gauge started pegging at 22.2 afr while on tunerstudio it was reading normally.

    I tried reprogramming the gauge output but LM programmer would lock up.


    Even tried to reload firmware and said it wasn't able to.


    My only work-around thus far has been to take the gauge wire and hook it up with the ms2 o2 wire to the only working lc1 output.


    So any tips on getting the other output to work again, or is the LC1 that much of a pos?
    The Innovate products are the bottom of the barrel, IMO. Too much fiddling has to be done to set them up, and then they never run right. I vote POS.

  3. Member 2021cc8V's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 21st, 1999
    Location
    California...
    Posts
    848
    03-26-2012 11:31 PM #3
    yeahhh...realizing that all too much now.

  4. Member fredybender's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 17th, 2008
    Location
    Montreal Canada
    Posts
    2,064
    Vehicles
    81 Rocco,80 Rocco track, 81 Rocco Haldex twin charge Berg cup project, 84 Mk1 Jetta coupe
    03-27-2012 07:11 PM #4
    Agreed, got one in my track car, and I second the POS status.

    Read that NGK AFX was good. Anyone running it?

  5. Member B4S's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 16th, 2003
    Location
    Marionville, Ontario, Canada
    Posts
    7,838
    Vehicles
    1997 Ford Aspire, 1989 Dodge Colt GT Turbo
    03-27-2012 07:45 PM #5
    I've had one for a couple years now, love it . It's pretty basic, no datalogging, but it is easy to calibrate and can use either the NTK sensor or the Bosch LSU.

  6. Member
    Join Date
    Apr 27th, 2003
    Location
    oregon city, oregon
    Posts
    1,045
    Vehicles
    79 dual carb rabbit ( the dark green one )
    03-28-2012 09:30 AM #6
    i started off with lc1 also. allthough it worked ok, there were issues at times and sometimes doing the free-air calibration would correct it other times not. i thought about going with the aem wideband when i replaced it but instead went with the newer LM1 by innovate which simplifies the wiring with only 3 wires. it is quicker than the old LC1 i had and works just fine. no datalogging but that is fine with me. also, only $200

  7. Member Prof315's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 5th, 2009
    Location
    Melbourne, FL
    Posts
    3,128
    Vehicles
    1992 Corrado ABA and MS3-Pro powered, 84 Honda V65 Sabre
    03-28-2012 11:58 AM #7
    I don't mind LC-1s, I had some issues with my first one but Innovate warrantied it for me. I like the new MTX-L a lot.
    The Professor
    Melbourne, FL
    92 Corrado OBD2 ABA Powered by MS3Pro
    M & L EFI Performance

  8. Member B4S's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 16th, 2003
    Location
    Marionville, Ontario, Canada
    Posts
    7,838
    Vehicles
    1997 Ford Aspire, 1989 Dodge Colt GT Turbo
    03-28-2012 12:51 PM #8
    I swore off their junk when I shelled out big bucks for their dual channel LM-2, so I could have a complete tuning console. Two wideband channels, datalogging to SD card, OBD2 interface, the works...and none of it worked. I couldn't trust the wideband channels, since even after calibrating BOTH O2s, if I switched them from channel to channel, the readings would differ. Recalibrating wouldn't fix it either. Then, it wouldn't get a tach signal off a hall-equipped distributor and ballasted 12v coil (like it was SUPPOSED to). Innovate said "Oh, maybe if you purchase this other piece of equipment, it will work". Funny...the documentation for my LM-2 said I could get tach signals from a 5v/12v square wave OR a flyback pulse. DIDN'T WORK.

    The pièce-de-resistance was the fact that if I connected it to my 2000 Saturn's OBD2 port, I could check the codes...BUT NOT READ ANY LIVE DATA! As well, it pegged my speedometer and tach at maximum, and flashed all the warning lights while the LM-2 was hooked up. It wouldn't even connect to my wife's 04 Cavalier.

    I was lucky to trade it back (at a huge loss) to the shop I bought it from. I bought back my old NGK AFX with the $100 I got back from the shop. Never again will I buy or recommend an Innovate product. Even their forums are nothing but complaints about their products.

  9. Member TheBurninator's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 7th, 2009
    Location
    Colorado
    Posts
    12,322
    Vehicles
    Corrado, Mk1, LG5U Mk3
    03-28-2012 01:06 PM #9
    Really liking the 14point7 wideband. It just works, no grounding issues like the innovate and was easy to install.
    SPOONFEDTUNING - For all of your carbon fiber Corrado needs.
    Quote Originally Posted by ein View Post
    * IMPORTANT* The English language is completely inadequate for describing how spectacularly stupid this thread is.
    Quote Originally Posted by dogger View Post
    Is society really getting dumber or is it just this forum?

  10. Member
    Join Date
    Apr 27th, 2003
    Location
    oregon city, oregon
    Posts
    1,045
    Vehicles
    79 dual carb rabbit ( the dark green one )
    03-28-2012 02:51 PM #10
    sorry. i meant the new mtx-l. not LM1

  11. Senior Member ValveCoverGasket's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 20th, 2002
    Location
    its raining
    Posts
    33,126
    Vehicles
    '67 rolls royce, '67 mgb gt, and a '13 tdi
    04-12-2012 11:29 AM #11
    when they work, they work fine, and i think that LC1 is a great solution for someone who doesnt want a gauge... but if youre putting a gauge in the car anyway, i think the AEM gauge/controller all in one setup is the way to go, and it uses those other sensors too.

  12. Member ncbrock's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 28th, 2010
    Location
    Raleigh, NC
    Posts
    1,923
    Vehicles
    e36 M3 Sedan, M Coupe, FFR Cobra
    04-17-2012 08:48 AM #12
    I love my plx wideband and guage. Great product and company to deal with

  13. Junior Member
    Join Date
    Mar 13th, 2007
    Location
    The Ocean
    Posts
    56
    04-26-2012 01:37 PM #13
    AEM simpleand works....
    PLX simple and works......
    Zieotronix simple to complex...and works....

    Inovative POS ...every single one ever and there have been 8 pass through my hands,,ALL had problems and flaked out eventualy within 2-4 monthes of normal use...forget track use or road course use...FAIL FAIL FAIL...
    True story
    Last edited by Stephen McTowlie; 04-26-2012 at 01:37 PM. Reason: because

  14. Senior Member ValveCoverGasket's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 20th, 2002
    Location
    its raining
    Posts
    33,126
    Vehicles
    '67 rolls royce, '67 mgb gt, and a '13 tdi
    04-26-2012 01:41 PM #14
    Quote Originally Posted by Stephen McTowlie View Post
    Zieotronix simple to complex...and works....
    this is the only brand id absolutely avoid

    unless theyve changed their case/connector design in the last couple years, but wow... total garbage.

  15. Member Salsa GTI's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 29th, 2000
    Location
    Upper Saucon,PA
    Posts
    10,588
    Vehicles
    2000 GTI VR6 ....... A founding Member of the 8v 300+whp Club
    04-26-2012 02:09 PM #15
    Quote Originally Posted by ValveCoverGasket View Post
    this is the only brand id absolutely avoid

    unless theyve changed their case/connector design in the last couple years, but wow... total garbage.
    It is garbage connector wise...Seriously telephone jacks???
    but it never ever failed...not even when i burned the wires from the sensor together and shorted it out....repaired the harness and was good as new again...never any of that crap innovative drama and fault code garbage

  16. Senior Member ValveCoverGasket's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 20th, 2002
    Location
    its raining
    Posts
    33,126
    Vehicles
    '67 rolls royce, '67 mgb gt, and a '13 tdi
    04-26-2012 02:15 PM #16
    i move my wideband setups from car to car so the connectors get a real workout.
    the z connector failed a few times, and it burned one of the FETs down once.

    junk

  17. Member 2021cc8V's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 21st, 1999
    Location
    California...
    Posts
    848
    04-26-2012 02:45 PM #17
    Noticed that there's now an AEM gauge which is both boost and wbo2.


    Sadly, I'll be using my pos LC1 (w/ db gauge, actually a summit racing rebranded) until it is absolutely FUBAR'd.

  18. Member -RalleyTuned-'s Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 17th, 2008
    Location
    East of the Mountains, WA
    Posts
    9,555
    Vehicles
    77' Rabbit 16v, '92 Passat Syncro Wagon1.8t
    04-28-2012 01:15 AM #18
    Replace the 02 sensor, my LM1 (which I have had for over 6 years and have tuned probably 30+ cars with btw) does the same thing when a sensor is dead.

    The lm2 is a great tool, but their high end units had nothing but issues and they basically ignored the complaints and never fixed any of the units (horrible move). I have both the lm1 and lm2 (single channel) and both work reliably without issues. I havnt done too much with the lm2 though.

    Innovate LC1 and mtx series are awesome units, incredibly reliable and the most accurate widebands on the market. I'm not just saying that, there have been several independent tests done with all the widebands on the market, Innovates stuff is on the highest end for accuracy and repeatable results

  19. Member ps2375's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 13th, 2003
    Location
    Meridian, ID
    Posts
    10,116
    Vehicles
    80 Rabbit, 94 Golf
    04-28-2012 01:47 AM #19
    Quote Originally Posted by TheBurninator View Post
    Really liking the 14point7 wideband. It just works, no grounding issues like the innovate and was easy to install.
    I've been running his first kit (JAW) for 3 or 4 yrs with no issues. And we have a NAW in the race car and that seemed to be real nice too. Just need to get that car running again.
    Tradition is the art of making the same mistake repeatedly, on purpose.

    FS:MkI low back front seat upholstery(new)
    FS:Sunroof Deflector

+ Reply to Thread

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts