A/f Meter install?

aibast · Post by **aibast** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 6:56 am

Has anyone added a A/F meter to there car? I would like to know where you hooked up the wires and where have you placed it in the dash. I was thinking of fabing a box for it in to the space unter the seatheating buttons and replacing the headligth hight adjuster that doesn't work.

This narrowband is going in.

Red · Post by **Red** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 7:35 am

i have installed a similar one in the dashboard, instead of the vertical air vent. another good position would be the a-pillar.
i've also tried the position under the seat-heating switches, but since the a/f ratio can change fast its not easy to look at the gauge all the time while driving

i wouldnt recommend you to buy this type of a/f gauge because they are imprecise, the best thing is to fit a small voltmeter display or the led type a/f meter

aibast · Post by **aibast** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 7:46 am

Red wrote:i have installed a similar one in the dashboard, instead of the vertical air vent. another good position would be the a-pillar.
i've also tried the position under the seat-heating switches, but since the a/f ratio can change fast its not easy to look at the gauge all the time while driving

i wouldnt recommend you to buy this type of a/f gauge because they are imprecise, the best thing is to fit a small voltmeter display or the led type a/f meter

OK, thanks. I think the Voltmeter would be a good idea. But this thing is a bit show also

You have any pics of the install?

martinholmesuk · Post by **martinholmesuk** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 7:48 am

pin 20 of fuel ecu (turbo 480) is the signal

aibast · Post by **aibast** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 7:51 am

martinholmesuk wrote:pin 20 of fuel ecu (turbo 480) is the signal

thanks

needed that. But where to get a good +12V. tought of sigaret ligther, cos I never use it, dont smoke and dont let anyone else smoke in the car

JohnTurbo · Post by **JohnTurbo** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 7:53 am

I have that exact A/F meter installed.

Trying to find a picture but photobucket is down.

Its nearly entirely useless.

aibast · Post by **aibast** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 7:54 am

JohnTurbo wrote:I have that exact A/F meter installed.

Trying to find a picture but photobucket is down.

Its nearly entirely useless.

Why is it useless? What does it do or show? Does it show anything?

JohnTurbo · Post by **JohnTurbo** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 8:02 am

http://volvo480.dragons.org.uk/forum/vi ... uge#107946

Theres my thread.

It flicks inbetween full lean and full rich at idle. Under acceleration it will occasionally pause at some random point on the scale.

It looks fancy but narrow band A/F meters are very little use, at least on the 480.

I wonder if modern cars keep the lambda under tighter control so that these gauges are of more use.

To be fair you can kinda glean an indication of your fuel situation from it with a little poetic licence, but if you were thinking of using it to adjust your maf settings etc its no substitute for a wideband gauge.

aibast · Post by **aibast** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 12:36 pm

I just want to be sure i don't lean out my car on full boost. That is it.

480_rocket · Post by **480_rocket** » Fri Jul 20, 2007 10:05 am

Narrow band sensors are only for getting cruise conditions right. The ECU will oscillate between lean and rich. Under wide open throttle, it won't tell you anything useful. Narrow band can only really measure 14.7:1 and thats it, if you try tuning an engine, especially turbo using only a narrowband sensor you're likely to do a lot of damage.

aibast · Post by **aibast** » Fri Jul 20, 2007 12:01 pm

for tuning gona go for a dyno not the A/F gaughe

martinholmesuk · Post by **martinholmesuk** » Fri Jul 20, 2007 2:50 pm

A/F is very helpful on a modded 480 turbo.

I'd not use the dial type however.

With the standard gauge you can see problems before they become major unless your not looking at it lol

aibast · Post by **aibast** » Sun Jul 22, 2007 3:46 pm

OK, I'll hook it up then and see what happens. Just came from a track and man was the 480 a fun to drive. Way better and faster thabn a 850 T5R. More responsice, you could force it trough the corners. Steering and handling is more agressive and gives more feedback. I just loved it. Did manage to blow of a wastegate actuator vacum hose. Thank god dint blow up my engine

In now even runs better

Headgasget is ok, no water in coolant and otherway around. Oul pressures ok. So no exessive pressure in the cranccase. I think this little overboost didn't hurt the engine. Can't wayt for nex time. Some guys by the track asked my companion (the 850T5R ovner) "What the hell is uiber that cars hood? That car is insane"

basil.dgh · Post by **basil.dgh** » Sun Sep 23, 2007 1:52 pm

Hi aibast, Hi every body,

After I changed the fuel regulator with a new one which I can set it as I want , I need this gauge!
I use an Auto gauge one

Take the 12V line from the sound stereo line!
And the signal line connected to the signal wire which comes from the Lambda Sensor.
The lambda sensor has 3 wires (2 white and one black)
The black one is for the signal.

You can find it under the battery

Many times the fuel comes lean so I have to increase the fuel pressure!

Anyway, I'll post a pic ASAP to show you where I fixed it on the dashboard.

As they said, you need a very clear to view area because it's changing rapidly.

Cheers.