I just installed it. When I'm at idle, the gauge reads to lean, then the LED will go completely OFF.

Now I had this same model a/f gauge in my GTI VR6 w/ nitrous awhile ago and at idle the gauge would read lean, and stay there. The LED never once went out (except when I shutdown the car, of course).

The gauge appears to be functioning while I'm on the throttle. So is this a problem? or just something the FD is doing to it? a/f<12:1 ?

Thanks

 

anyone?

 

Do you have a wideband?

 

as far as I know, those things are just for show and does not give you real time a/f ratios and the only thing that is good to use is a wideband..

 

They are good for something. You can't tune with them but you can notice problems if they are there.

Anyway don't compare what you see to your other car, as you must be aware the 7 is completely different. Full lean is normal at idle. One time I was having problems and saw full rich at idle. Would I have known without the gauge? No so that proves it is a useful gauge. It helped me find the problem and fix it, which is what most gauges are for.

 

I have the same gauge. Disc1 is correct they are useful (but not for tuning purposes). BTW mine does the same thing as you described. If it's running full lean at WOT you have a major problem brewing.

 

Remember the O2 sensor will heat up and cool down which will give you different readings on that auto meter gauge. If you are sitting at a stop idling for a while the gauge will tend to show leaner then normal. If you have just got done going WOT for a while and you stop to let it idle, it will tend to read richer then normal.

Don't worry about what the auto meter gauge reads at idle, Full WOT is what you need to watch. But do not use this gauge for tuning. It is good for a general idea of how you are running.

 

I have one...you wasted your money. They are worthless

 

I am tired of people saying this. If you have an opinion that’s fine but for god sakes back it up with something. I mean I could say that water temp is worthless too because unless you are running way too hot or way too cold it doesn't do anything but sit there. Same with this gauge. Unless you are running way rich or way lean it just blinks. However if you do start running way rich or lean bingo, it could save your motor.

I'm not saying it is a must have like water temp or boost but it is a nice to have gauge.
dis1

 

If you were looking to go wideband, I bought a plx m500 for my turbo/nitrous civic, it is beatiful for tuning, logs everything to my laptop with a wirless connection and has an led read out.

http://plxdevices.com/

http://streetrays.com/catalog/index.php <-- good deal on the plx stuff

Much more value then the aem wideband. Going wideband costs a little more, but it sure is nice being able to tune your engine yourself and to see problems before they become major...

my 2 cents

 

its useless, buy a wideband or dont complain. autometer a/f gauge=super rave light show

 

OK, I'll back him up, as did skunks just did...they are worthless

 

I took my A/F gaugle off. I called it a bling meter, the way it bounced around all over the place. If you are running lean enough to notice something under WOT, the you probably will hear popcorn as your engine detonates. It is worthless for tuning. Tuning without a good wideband isn't wise.

 

I concur! I took mine off recently as well. It served no purpose, especially if you have PFC w/Commander and can watch your injectory duty %. Much more useful IMO.

 

Might as well take your temp gauge off too since it is "worthless for tuning" as well.

 

Now now...I wouldn't get all in a hissy fit over this old argument. I used to have an Autometer A/F gauge in my car until recently when I did a major reworking of all my gauges, but I for one don't think the gauge was completely useless. I think it gives a general idea of the condition of the motor, particularly at WOT since I had gotten a modified gauge to read between 0.78V and 0.98V instead of 0.0V and 1.0V. I think I had bought it from this place originally.

I remember one time I was glad I had the gauge was when I was driving along the freeway, and I was going for a quick little WOT run, and as I was going, I noticed the A/F gauge go completely out (lean), so I let off the throttle immediately, at which point I noticed the car running rough. I pulled over and found that the hose going to the pressure sensor had popped off. Without the gauge, I might've continued going WOT, not realizing that the motor was running WAY lean.

Maybe this one example isn't THAT compelling, but the use of a A/F gauge isn't totally useless!