PLX wideband users wanted

[ikle]

I am thinking of getting the PLX M-300TE but looking over the online instructions they seem a little confusing.They say to locate the 2.1mm power cord and unscrew the plastic cover and insert it into the red/black power wires,solder or crimp the red wire to the center of the connector and solder or crimp the black wire to the shield of the connector.I would of thought that the connector would of been assembled at the factory and that there would be pig tails for the power and ground,am I reading this right or am I just misunderstanding it ? I also see the unit has 4 terminals for analog outputs (3.3v power,ground,narrowband,and wideband), when you wire the unit to a PowerLogger do you just use the wideband analog terminal and wire it to port 1 on the PowerLogger analog box ? What do you do with the other remaining analog terminals ? Also when you wired everything up did you have to drill any holes in the firewall to connect the wideband O2 sensor to the unit ? Thanks any info would be greatly appreciated,ikle.

 

[ikle]

Does anyone run a PLX wideband ? Should I look into a different wideband system ?

 

[TurboDave]

Yes, I'm running a PLX wideband. Mine was the simpler unit (SM-AFR) which is just the sensor and the controller. I didn't opt for a gauge because mine is reading on the Scanmaster via the powerlogger.

I don't remember if I had to solder the power wires to the power connector or not, it's been a few years since I installed mine.

But yes, all you'll need to do is run the wideband anolog signal wire to the powerlogger. Should be all you need to do.

 

[TurboDave]

Oh, almost forgot, I didn't have to drill any holes. The wire from the sensor to the controller is very long, and I had enough to run it up over the engine(around the front under the throttle body to keep it away from the coil pack) and take it in through the rather large grommet under the powermaster.

 

[ikle]

Thanks for the reply Turbo Dave

 

[scojack_2001]

Agreed with TurboDave. Installed mine in late summer of the 2009 season. I too, and running the PLX SM-AFR. Works great. Mine is also tied into the PowerLogger. I found mine semi-locally from a shop in PA. It was under $200, but with the gauge it'll be $250 or so.

Mine came ready to install. The power plug was already setup, all I had to do was find a power source and install a ring terminal onto the ground wire. Plug in the wiring and plug the sensor in. I drilled a hole in my floorboard since I didn't have much install time. Put the sensor in the downpipe in the 2 o'clock position of the framerail side.

Been working flawlessly since.

Hope this helps.

Scott.

 

["Turbo-T"]

I am thinking of getting the PLX M-300TE but looking over the online instructions they seem a little confusing.They say to locate the 2.1mm power cord and unscrew the plastic cover and insert it into the red/black power wires,solder or crimp the red wire to the center of the connector and solder or crimp the black wire to the shield of the connector.I would of thought that the connector would of been assembled at the factory and that there would be pig tails for the power and ground,am I reading this right or am I just misunderstanding it ?

I have the PLX M-300 TE.

The first thing you mentioned has me confused as well. The pig tail that plugs into the back to give the unit power is pre assembled at the factory. All you have to do is find a switched 12 VDC source on the fuse block and a ground.

I also see the unit has 4 terminals for analog outputs (3.3v power,ground,narrowband,and wideband), when you wire the unit to a PowerLogger do you just use the wideband analog terminal and wire it to port 1 on the PowerLogger analog box ?

Yes. When you order your PLX-M300TE, it will come with a plastic pig tail plug in connector and a coiled up grey wire with a solderless terminal on the end of it. See pic below of how you're supposed to wire it up. Except I didn't do the ground wire and it works fine. I just slipped the wire into the end of the pig tail as shown below and made sure the solderless terminal clicked.

What do you do with the other remaining analog terminals ?

Nothing.

Also when you wired everything up did you have to drill any holes in the firewall to connect the wideband O2 sensor to the unit ? Thanks any info would be greatly appreciated,ikle.

Yes. The M-300 TE comes with a long cable that connects the box to the sensor. I used a step bit to drill the hole. I drilled it just big enough to route the cable pig tail to fit thru. IIRC it was about an 11/16 hole.

I have the PLX M-300 TE.

The first thing you mentioned has me confused as well. The pig tail that plugs into the back to give the unit power is pre assembled at the factory. All you have to do is find a switched 12 VDC source on the fuse block and a ground.

 

[ikle]

87RegalSFI,How do you like the PLX M-300TE ? Any disappointments ?

 

[nonova0074]

I have a plx dm-5 sm-afr that I had in my tbss, its going in the gn along with thier boost dm-5, I like how easy they are to install.

 

["Turbo-T"]

87RegalSFI,How do you like the PLX M-300TE ? Any disappointments ?

I like it, other than the plastic pedestal that comes with it broke. Nothing some model glue couldn't fix. Also sometimes it gets stuck on 14.6 but I think that might be the sensor. Usually I key it off and key it back on and all is good.

Here's a pic of it mounted on a GNS tach mount. I had my Scanmaster on it too. Now I have the wideband under the dash as I now have a powerlogger and can view my wideband readings thru the Scanmaster via the PLX.

 

[ikle]

First I want to thank all you guys for all of the information,its been very helpful,I will be placing an order soon.Do you know if any of our supporting vendors here at TurboBuick deal with PLX, if not where is the best place to purchase this wideband system.Also where is the best place to mount the O2 sensor.Thanks again for all the help,ikle.

 

["Turbo-T"]

I don't know of any vendors that sell the PLX but for what it's worth i bought mine new on eBay.

 

[nonova0074]

Pic of my tbss dash