3i&proud

I have done as much research as I possibly could localy and even the dealership told me the issue I would run into but, they couldn't give me a solution. so, here I am. Yesterday I installed an air/fuel gauge so I could monitor the balance between the two as I proceed to try to improve performance and perfect the air/fuel management. so everyone knows since this will be the first reply back, the gauge IS properly installed and is functioning at 100%. here is my issue, these gauges are made pretty much for 1 to 4 wire O2 sensors yet when I called the customer service hotline they assured me that it would work with the new five wire O2 sensor that comes on the mazda3. the fifth wire has to some new federal emissions law that monitors a certain oxide. "technically" by law you have to have this on the new vehicles. Well, I went to the dealership since no one has a haynes manual type deal for such a new car to look at a wiring diagram for the O2 sensor and find which wire was the signal wire. (for those of who don't know and would like that piece of info the wire is white with a baby blue stripe.) the service techy asked why I was looking for this info so I told him. He told me that you might be able to install the part but it won't be able to read it. so I asked why? he said that the air/fuel gauge reads in volts which I already knew but, what I didn't know was that this nice new sensor works in mili-volts not volts. he said the reading will never get high enough to show up on the gauge. WELL, he was right. the gauge works it just always stays in the lean cuz not enough volts show up on the reading. well, there is my story and thats where I am stuck at right now. any help or problem solvers on this please help!

xTHANK YOUx

Roddimus Prime

did you buy a narrowband or wideband gauge? which brand and model?

I've not seen a 5 wire o2 sensor yet but I'll check it when I get to work.

3i&proud

is it possible to attach a single wire o2 sensor for this????

Olestra

You could maybe ramp up the voltage using another power source. Basically a voltage multiplier.

Olestra

Uh, I think I got the terminology wrong. I think rather you want a voltage adder. We used to build them in my Electrical Eng days.
Although it may sound crazy - it's really a spool of wire, 3 resistors and an op amp.

Easier to do - like I said in my last post, all you have to do is add another power source (may be able to just use the battery, depending on how much voltage you need) and put a third wire to run current towards the gauge. The gauge actually really needs a sufficient current to display anything.
So basically this new wire you're putting in runs some current, adds it to the current coming from 5th sensor wire and sends that to the gauge. You would only have to set this extra wire up ( put a resistor on it so current can go through the wire ) and then read it with a voltage meter to make sure it's the right reading before hooking it up to the gauge (if you don't and send too much current, it might blow the gauge).

http://www.eas.asu.edu/~holbert/ece201/kcl.html

shows the electrical theory.

Shouldn't be too hard if you research it a little - it's one extra wire basically + 1 resistor. Insulate them and then hook it up.

Roddimus Prime

what you SHOULD do is just leave your stock 02 sensor alone and buy an AEM wideband gauge with a bosch o2 sensor included. Weld the bung onto the exhaust and bed one with it.

quit screwing with the OEM stuff.

3i&proud

roddimus, how much does that AEM gauge go for???

Roddimus Prime

www.protegegarage.com

look in the gauges section. He has a combo package available but your car isn't turbo'd so it wouldn't help any.

3i&proud

your from birmingham, you ever to those car meets up there on saturday nights. a friend of mines brother was telling me about it. in fact his brother works at a shop up there. one of his specialties that he does is make custom exhaust headers for turbo kits for any car. I saw one that he built for a honda accord and it looked amazing. he said everyone keeps asking for him to make one for them.
but since your from up there I wondered if you ever heard of that.

Roddimus Prime

the "skreet races" up here on saturday nights are for losers. I don't go out. When I go racing I go to Bama Drag or Lassiter Mountain. I'll start going to a new track in Montgomery when it opens in 2 months..

what shop does this guy work for? I only know of 2 guys worth a damn here that make stuff. Danny and Walker. Walker did all of my supercharger piping on my p5 and my turbo manifold on my pinto. Danny doesn't do anything but honda stuff...mainly just for himself though. You must be talking about him.

3i&proud

does he drive a boosted black eclipse with euro taillights?

Roddimus Prime

i doubt it....last I checked he had a 700hp acura.