Howell Odd Fire V6 Fuel Injection Kit Install

Last I checked I was 128 on the integrator and 125-130 on the block learn. That was this morning on cold startup.
I would be interested to know your 02 sensor counts. I wonder if the long tube fender well headers are a putting the O2 a little far out. That header also has a couple small leaks..... but nothing major... when the exhaust gets heated up from holding 3k rpm for 10 sec or so the the counts come up. I think that if I can get the 02 sensor to count a little faster then the idle will be perfect.
I feel like I should be able to get this thing to run as good as a late 80's chevy pickup....

 

Is the o2 sensor heated, 4 wire or a single wire

 

I believe that it is a 3 wire heated. I chose the heated option when I ordered the kit.

 

What are the odds I just found a 95 Chevy PU with TBI in the yard (work not home)scanned it but it won’t go into closed loop, I’ll see what I can do maybe get some useful data out of it. Good choice on the o2 sensor, with headers a heated sensor is a must. Just a thought, could the o2 sensor cross count be on the low side because the sensor is only reading three of the six cylinders, assuming you don’t have a cross over tube.

 

Your o2 sensor cross count will increase with heat. Although you do have a heated o2 sensor, your comment "when the exhaust gets heated up from holding 3k rpm for 10 sec or so the the counts come up" is proof positive that additional exhaust heat improves the o2 sensor operation.

I agree with the comments that Howell should be more forthright that the customer may need to provide technical feedback if issues arise. A scanner is one way to do that. The $60.00 cable Norcal69 purchased and a free program that is available will produce the data both you want and Howell needs. I have a feeling every aftermarket EFI manufacture will tell you their system is the greatest thing since sliced bread only for you to find out they have issues from time to time also.

With regard to some of the tuning issues you have experienced, I am curious what data was provided to Howell in the beginning. I agree the kit probably came with a tune for a stock engine. Did you discuss the fact that the engine has had some changes from stock such as a aftermarket intake manifold, included exhaust headers and probably has a aftermarket cam. With this, Howell may have been able to provide a tune more suited to your needs.

And as Mjragan said, Once you get it dialed in and hit the trails your going to love it.

 

Correct, no cross over tube. I wonder if the counts are low due to the fender well headers being so long. My headers are wrapped, but they are quite a bit longer than the average header.

 

When I ordered the system I stated: performance intake, headers with dual exhaust, possible performance cam shaft.

 

My Jeep has been running good for 8 years now and it's running the O2 sensor only off the drivers side. It's mounted by the bell housing.

 

Interesting. The Howell purports to sell a turnkey system.

You should be able to measure the temp at the O2 sensor with your IR thermometer.

 

Good Idea! BRB

 

After idling for 10 min or so of rough idle, the exhaust temp at the o2 sensor was only 259 degrees. I super heated the exhaust @3500 rpm for 10 sec and the exhaust temp at o2 went to 575 and the idle smoothed out.

 

In my research about 02 sensors, they are very finicky. In my harness, I received a 4 pin flat connector as opposed to the 4 pin square that is stock for my specific harness I ordered and the new sensors i installed. I was going to just solder and splice in the wires for the sensors, but upon research it seems that the sensors "breathe" through the wires. Seems crazy to me, but several different sites have said the same thing. Butt connectors with good crimps and NO solder. The bungs also need to be fully welded with no pinholes. The 02 sensors use just a couple volts to change the settings.

I was told that the downstream 02 sensors are not required for engine management and only read if the catalytic converter is functional. I do however need BOTH upstream to work for my application.

In your application, maybe the sensor is in exhaust that is too cold to measure effectively. You may need to find a hotter placement. I can't imagine that running one off a single tube would be right. Maybe a shorter header, closer to the head to keep exhaust gas temp up is required?

 

Hmm. Could be an indicator.

 

Suggesting they depend on the wiring configuration for temperature equilibration?

 

Wish me luck. I'm headed out for about a 500 mile round trip/overnite this afternoon.

 

I know the O2 sensor “breathes” through wire to have a comparison of outside to exhaust O2. Never heard about a temperature comparison but possible.

 

Mine has been doing the same thing. My heated 4-wire o2 sensor is mounted in the driver's side header collector.

 

Would like to see your data after your trip.
Here is a video of a stock 95 Chevy PU 5.7L Tbi O2 sensor data, the 94,95 Tbi system uses a different Ecm that the earlier Tbi systems (Howell uses the earlier Ecm) the latter Ecm has a faster baud rate and does not display the O2 sensor cross counts. Looking at the O2 data you can see the fuel mixture switching between rich/lean, rich being above 500mv and lean being below 500mv. The number of times the O2 sensor voltage crosses the 500mv mark up or down per second is the cross counts
Probably not the best vehicle to compare to your set up but it is the same Ecm I have running my Tbi setup. The second video is from my jeep it has fender well headers the O2 sensor is in the drivers side header.

 

My not be of help, but... I replaced a few sensors on my 95' TBI V-6. After the install I notices idle surging that I couldn't solve. Today I tried to check timing. Seems the computer needs the set timing wire disconnected so that it can relearn it's base settings. After doing this it now idles fine.
You could try It. It helped me.

 

Thank you for posting this. I wonder why Howell does not use the faster ECM's.

The Howell setup does not use spark control.