ThunderFox

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

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!

Braineack

iTrader: (62)

looks normal.

ThunderFox

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?

JasonC SBB

MIght be some ground related noise.

MTX-L has a single ground wire. This should be connected to the ECU power ground pin.

ThunderFox

I have, in fact I've even taken the work of welding that wire to one of the MS harness grounds.

JasonC SBB

Power ground and not signal ground?

ThunderFox

What do you mean? There's only one ground in the wideband controller...

Or you mean the ECU grounds? I have no idea which is which to be honest.

[Ode]

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.

ThunderFox

I must check that. Since I soldered the wb wire to the harness adapter, both ground wires were completely black.

So you're saying you've had a better signal than mine all along? That makes me pretty sure this isn't normal. I must re-check my wiring!

Thanks for your tips!

[Ode]

Yeah, my AFR signal actually never had such an oscillation, just checked from some old log files. It's worth a try though..

GrahamC

iTrader: (4)

I'm really sorry to be a dumbass and resurrect this thread, but I need to fix this problem properly rather than continue to fudge my AFR target table.

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?



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.

GrahamC

iTrader: (4)

Bump. I'm sure someone must know the answer to the above question.

9671111

iTrader: (10)

*

ThunderFox

I would try and wire it to 2A. Ideally it must share the same chassis ground as the ECU!

sixshooter

iTrader: (12)

2C or 2D since sensor ground is ground for the sensors, right?

Braineack

iTrader: (62)

this. And thanks, I made that diagram and run that site.

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.

Leafy

iTrader: (1)

Another option here is, what is your output set to on the controller to the megasquirt? In the advanced tab on the lc1 connect you should have a speed choice. It should be set 1/12 (or the 1/6th if you still have the jumping with 1/12) and not instant.

ThunderFox

I don't think we have that for the MTX-L... Could check though!

Leafy

iTrader: (1)

And sorry its not lc1 connect its LM Programmer, and I just checked the manual for the mtx-l and you do have this.

GrahamC

iTrader: (4)

Thanks for the feedback. I'll wire it into 2A and see what happens.