General Miata Chat A place to talk about anything Miata

LC-1 buyer's remorse

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 06-14-2008, 09:55 PM
  #1  
Junior Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (10)
 
bryanlow's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: SF Bay Area
Posts: 291
Total Cats: 0
Default LC-1 buyer's remorse

How many people here have an LC-1 and had no problems with it?

I got mine from DIY a few months ago while putting together my kit. I'm getting ready to put the thing on, but looking at the Innovative forums I'm having serious doubts. I just put a bunch of money into the motor and I don't want to melt anything because of a faulty WB.
bryanlow is offline  
Old 06-14-2008, 10:16 PM
  #2  
I'm Miserable!
iTrader: (5)
 
bryantaylor's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: jacksonville, fl
Posts: 1,711
Total Cats: -1
Default

QUICK! sell it and buy an AEM, you will thank yourself.
bryantaylor is offline  
Old 06-14-2008, 10:24 PM
  #3  
Antisaint
iTrader: (17)
 
Vashthestampede's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Danbury, CT
Posts: 4,564
Total Cats: 58
Default

How can a company with such a supposed horrible product still be selling them? I did alot of the reading on them before I bought a WB02. It seems that 90% of the problems are user related. If they are installed correctly, they should work fine, unless each and everyone of them they sell is ****. But if that's the case, then why do companies like DIY sell them?

Mine is in and wired up. I read the directions 100 times over and even asked some questions on the forum about the install. Seems as long as the grounds are shared, you alleviate the biggest problem people have.

The LC1 w/DB1 gauge was pricey, if it is indeed **** and fails on me.....I'm going to ******* break someones neck.

Vash-
Vashthestampede is offline  
Old 06-14-2008, 10:33 PM
  #4  
I'm Miserable!
iTrader: (5)
 
bryantaylor's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: jacksonville, fl
Posts: 1,711
Total Cats: -1
Default

mine read fine, when it worked, it would eat a sensor every couple of months though, and would randomly read funny/lost calibration/would "kinda" work, and i had it installed properly. but my AEM has worked perfect from day one, still on the same sensor that it came with.
bryantaylor is offline  
Old 06-14-2008, 10:37 PM
  #5  
Elite Member
iTrader: (12)
 
cardriverx's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Hermosa Beach, CA
Posts: 2,573
Total Cats: 12
Default

mine has worked perfect for like 6 months...

... and I bought it used.
cardriverx is offline  
Old 06-14-2008, 10:48 PM
  #6  
Tour de Franzia
iTrader: (6)
 
hustler's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Republic of Dallas
Posts: 29,085
Total Cats: 375
Default

mine has been great for 6-months.
hustler is offline  
Old 06-15-2008, 12:01 AM
  #7  
Elite Member
iTrader: (9)
 
Saml01's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: NYC
Posts: 5,710
Total Cats: 3
Default

I had a **** ton of issues with it in the beggining but it has worked flawlessley for the last 6 months plus after I read the manual and did exactly as it says.
Saml01 is offline  
Old 06-15-2008, 12:18 AM
  #8  
Senior Member
iTrader: (6)
 
nester's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 811
Total Cats: 0
Default

I hate innovate widebands more than any other.. i've never had one that has been worth a damn.
nester is offline  
Old 06-15-2008, 12:44 AM
  #9  
Former Vendor
iTrader: (31)
 
Savington's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Sunnyvale, CA
Posts: 15,442
Total Cats: 2,099
Default

Mine has been installed a year and 15k miles on it. Had one hiccup in really cold weather back in December, so I put a big ****-off ground on it straight to the ECU grounds at the throttle body and it's been flawless ever since. Don't buy it on eBay, don't get a defective 6-wire version, don't ground it poorly. They are finnicky, but they do work, and they work well.
Savington is offline  
Old 06-15-2008, 12:50 AM
  #10  
Junior Member
 
91NApeewee's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: San Diego to LA, CA
Posts: 297
Total Cats: 0
Default

Mine has been working alright. Some issues with it resetting itself due to a low voltage while cranking. Its all in the install. I just soldered all my grounds from it to a ring terminal. ALso, its been working much better since I installed the push button and momentary switch.
91NApeewee is offline  
Old 06-15-2008, 01:12 AM
  #11  
Antisaint
iTrader: (17)
 
Vashthestampede's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Danbury, CT
Posts: 4,564
Total Cats: 58
Default

Originally Posted by 91NApeewee
ALso, its been working much better since I installed the push button and momentary switch.
I'm just curious as to what made you install it without the push button? I assume your talking about the calibration button and LED?

Vash-
Vashthestampede is offline  
Old 06-15-2008, 01:21 AM
  #12  
Junior Member
 
91NApeewee's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: San Diego to LA, CA
Posts: 297
Total Cats: 0
Default

I installed it without the Calibration LED and switch because I bought it used and it didn't come with it. Also, my car wasn't running when I was installing it so I didn't want to find a ride to the store to get the parts so I just ran it without the LED or Button for about a month or so. I calibrated it using my laptop so I wasnt really concerned.
91NApeewee is offline  
Old 06-15-2008, 09:11 AM
  #13  
Elite Member
iTrader: (5)
 
m2cupcar's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Atlanta
Posts: 7,482
Total Cats: 372
Default

I've had mine (from diy) in for over 2k miles and never had any problems. Of course I've never run it against the WB on a dyno either. But I've done all my street tuning with it and not seen anything unusual. Only one recalibration on it in 2 years.
m2cupcar is offline  
Old 06-15-2008, 09:36 AM
  #14  
Ben
Supporting Vendor
iTrader: (33)
 
Ben's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: atlanta-ish
Posts: 12,659
Total Cats: 134
Default

Originally Posted by bryanlow
How many people here have an LC-1 and had no problems with it?

I got mine from DIY a few months ago while putting together my kit. I'm getting ready to put the thing on, but looking at the Innovative forums I'm having serious doubts. I just put a bunch of money into the motor and I don't want to melt anything because of a faulty WB.
We don't need another Hustler. Wise up.

Originally Posted by Saml01
I had a **** ton of issues with it in the beggining but it has worked flawlessley for the last 6 months plus after I read the manual and did exactly as it says.
All your "issues" were 100% user error.

Originally Posted by 91NApeewee
Mine has been working alright. Some issues with it resetting itself due to a low voltage while cranking.
Installation error. RTFM

Originally Posted by m2cupcar
I've had mine (from diy) in for over 2k miles and never had any problems. Of course I've never run it against the WB on a dyno either. But I've done all my street tuning with it and not seen anything unusual. Only one recalibration on it in 2 years.
My LC-1 is over 2 years old now. It read within .01:1AFR to the MoTec at SoG's dyno. I also have an LM1 and the LM and LC read within .01:1AFR to each other.

The LC-1 product is great. 99% of the "problems" you see are user error by people too stupid or too incompetent to install it correctly.
__________________
Chief of Floor Sweeping, DIYAutoTune.com & AMP EFI
Crew Chief, Car Owner & Least Valuable Driver, HongNorrthRacing

91 Turbo | 10AE Turbo | 01 Track Rat | #323 Mazda Champcar

Originally Posted by concealer404
Buy an MSPNP Pro, you'll feel better.
Ben is offline  
Old 06-15-2008, 11:09 AM
  #15  
Elite Member
iTrader: (14)
 
jayc72's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Edmonton, AB
Posts: 4,908
Total Cats: 1
Default

I've had mine for over two years. Besides one random recalibration while the car was running it has worked just fine
jayc72 is offline  
Old 06-15-2008, 12:08 PM
  #16  
Junior Member
iTrader: (2)
 
mikeflys1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: N/A
Posts: 359
Total Cats: 0
Default

Had mine for almost 3 years now and been installed in 2 different cars and not a single problem with it.
mikeflys1 is offline  
Old 06-15-2008, 12:13 PM
  #17  
Senior Member
iTrader: (10)
 
ApexOnYou's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: South Eastern Wisconsin
Posts: 1,274
Total Cats: 0
Default

I had a bunch of problems like everyone else until I correctly grounded it, then it worked like a charm, until one day it just took a **** on me, I still haven't figured out whats wrong, running my old AEM for the time being. The LC1/XD16 was badass while it worked though.

Originally Posted by bryantaylor
mine read fine, when it worked, it would eat a sensor every couple of months though, and would randomly read funny/lost calibration/would "kinda" work, and i had it installed properly. but my AEM has worked perfect from day one, still on the same sensor that it came with.
What would it do when it lost the sensor? I am hoping mine is just a dead sensor..

Originally Posted by Savington
Mine has been installed a year and 15k miles on it. Had one hiccup in really cold weather back in December, so I put a big ****-off ground on it straight to the ECU grounds at the throttle body and it's been flawless ever since. Don't buy it on eBay, don't get a defective 6-wire version, don't ground it poorly. They are finnicky, but they do work, and they work well.
Defective 6-wire version? I bought new off Ebay, and come to think of it, it is a 6 wire
ApexOnYou is offline  
Old 06-15-2008, 12:21 PM
  #18  
Junior Member
iTrader: (4)
 
chucker's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: santa cruz
Posts: 245
Total Cats: 1
Default

1) All ground leads go to the ECU ground
2) +12 must be hot in "run" AND cranking (see miata schematic, several leads to choose from)
3) Hook up the provided switch and LED (the LED produces useful feedback in the form of error msgs and the switch allows easy calibration)
4) Calibrate properly
5) Program properly
6) Compare digital signal to analog signal for accuracy
7) Stop sullying Innovate's name
chucker is offline  
Old 06-15-2008, 03:39 PM
  #19  
Elite Member
iTrader: (24)
 
chriscar's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Carrollton TX
Posts: 1,709
Total Cats: 15
Default

Just installed my LC-1 / XD16. Ran White/Green/Blue to the throttle body ground. +12v from the o2 sensor connector, and Analog 1 output to the MSPNP. Had to reconfig Analog 1 to wideband operation. For the XD-16 I got +12v from the connector under the console (I think it's the power window connector), and grounded it to the front console bracket. So far so good.

C

Last edited by chriscar; 06-15-2008 at 03:57 PM.
chriscar is offline  
Old 06-15-2008, 04:09 PM
  #20  
Elite Member
iTrader: (15)
 
ZX-Tex's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: San Antonio, Texas
Posts: 4,847
Total Cats: 27
Default

Originally Posted by chucker
2) +12 must be hot in "run" AND cranking (see miata schematic, several leads to choose from)
This is not correct. The 12V lead should NOT be hot during cranking. It should only be hot when the ignition is on. This is straight from two different tech support guys at Innovate. They have seen anomalies in the LC-1 when it is powered during cranking since the voltage drop during cranking can cause errors with the AFR measurements. This is also discussed in the Innovate tech support forums.
ZX-Tex is offline  


Quick Reply: LC-1 buyer's remorse



All times are GMT -4. The time now is 02:19 AM.